Issue 16

Newsletter 24May2024

Our newsletter aims to keep parents and carers up to date with school news, activities and key information throughout the year.

If you have any feedback on or suggestions for the newsletter, please send your comments via email to newsletter@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk

Don’t forget to visit our website (www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk) for more news and information.

Thank you for taking the time to read our news and for your support.

A Marsh Headteacher

Disclaimer: HighfieldsSchoolisnotresponsibleforthequalityofproductsororganisationspublicisedthrougharticlesor advertisementsintheschoolnewsletter.

Message from the Headteacher

Recently I have been doing little profiles of leaders in the school and, if nothing else, it has cheered up the leaders themselves so I have decided to carry on. One of my jobs since becoming headteacher in 2018 has been to save money. This has been necessary because costs for schools have been increasing far more quickly than the funding we receive. One of the ways I have tried to save money is by shrinking the senior team. When I joined in 2018 we had ten members which we have now reduced to seven. This does save money, but it also increases workload. Claire Rifkin, for example, is an assistant headteacher who has oversight of safeguarding (which, in itself, is huge), personal development, personal social health education, admissions, careers, the early help team and also teaches drama (when she gets a second). Despite this pressure she is completely dedicated to children and their safety. On a number of occasions I have seen Ms Rifkin engage in extended battles to ensure that a child was not overlooked by social care or other agencies. This often requires her to make numerous phone calls, occasionally late into the evening, to repeatedly challenge any professional who is looking like they may not give the student in question the attention they deserve. She is inspiring and reminds me all the time that, when push comes to shove, we are here to protect the safety of children: not the feelings of adults. It’s a great pleasure to work with her.

Aren’t you just so excited about our ‘Big 3’ strategic plan? Aren’t you desperate to find out what we will be trying to improve next year? Well, I can’t reveal the whole thing because Miramax want to buy the film rights BUT…I can give you a little taster…

We are really into the ‘five-a-day’ principles of Adaptive Teaching (AT). This is because the evidence suggests that AT is the best bet for SEND students and these are some of the children we worry about most. AT is how I started teaching in the mid-1990s before I was bullied into writing long formulaic lesson plans with lots of patronising ‘entry level’ tasks for struggling students. This always seemed a very unambitious approach to me. AT is how the best teachers already teach- we are just trying to get everyone up to the same standard. I told you it was exciting! (Tom Cruise is lined up to play Mr Cole.)

Finally, may I just say a huge thank you to Alfie in Y7 regarding the cherry topped cookie. I don’t know how you read my mind, Alfie, but my tummy rumbling was almost drowning out the engines on Tuesday’s bus duty when you offered me one of the treats you had just made in Food Tech. That cookie was the nicest tasting thing I have had for months. You are very kind (and a very promising pastry chef)

Have a lovely weekend and half term. We are Highfields.

A Marsh, Headteacher

Coming up next week…

Remindersfortheweekahead WeekA

Monday3rd June

Tuesday4th June

Wednesday5th June

SchoolReopens

KwikCricketRescheduled-SportsLeaders

Beyondthebaseline-Sportsleaders

Thursday6th June

Friday7th June

Summer 2024 GCSE/A Level Timetables

Timetables for the summer external exams starting in May are now available on the school website on the Exams page. Final versions of the timetables, with afternoon start times added, will be published nearer to the start of the exams, and paper copies will be issued to students at this time. Please note when planning holidays after the end of exams for Year 11 and Year 13 students, that they must be available to sit exams up to and including the exam boards' contingency date of Wednesday 26 June.

GCSE timetable: https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Student-GCSETimetable-Summer-2024-v.1.pdf

A Level timetable: https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/A-LevelStudent-Timetable-Summer-2024-v.1.pdf

Year 12/13 Vocational timetable: https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2024/01/Student-Vocational-Timetable-Summer-2024-v.1.xlsx.pdf

Did you know you can hire out our school facilities?

 3G Pitch

 Hardstanding Courts

 Large Sports Hall

 Small Sports Hall

Pleasevisitwww.schoolhire.co.ukformore information,toviewavailabilityandtobook.

Tickets will be on sale from 3rd June. All sales are cash or cheque (Cheque can be made to East Midlands Education Trust) only please.

New Sports Club at Starkholmes every Thursday.

Sports Leaders

Friday 17th May

Helen Hawes from Rounders England came into school to deliver the Young Officials training to Sports Leaders. They excelled in learning the rules for umpiring and we are confident they have been trained well for the Primary Schools Tournament on Thursday 13th June.

Tuesday 21st May

Year 5/6 Quad Kid Athletics

The Athletics took place at the Starkholmes site. Leaders were from year 7 and 8, they officiated the 75m and 600m standing long jump and howler javelin throw. The Sports leaders who did the officiating were brilliant. Many thanks to staff Ross and Ruby from Derbyshire Dales Sport for their support too.

Wessington won the small school trophy and Darley Dale the large school. Bella and Beau both from Lea were the best boy and girl winners. All of the 60 pupils involved took part in all 4 events.

These schools now go to the SSP finals later on in the term.