It is generally believed that education staff hate coming back to school after the six-week holiday. Some may, but I don’t. I like my own kids but after a few weeks we really get on each other’s nerves. By the time early September rolls around I’m usually itching to get back into the hurly-burly of life in our big, vibrant secondary school.
Early highlights this term have been manifold. Martin Flett (director of sixth form) set the standard for assemblies by providing a twenty minute briefing for years 12 and 13 entitled ‘they are coming to eat your dog’ which focused on press coverage of the US Presidential Debates. This PowerPoint referred in detail to the debate between Harris and Trump which took place at 2am UK time on the morning of the assembly (I have no idea when Mr Flett sleeps). I watched the sixth formers’ rapt faces as they reflected on his call for them to contextualise the standpoint of the journalist (be it via Fox or The Washington Post) before accepting their version of ‘the truth’. It was a truly brilliant bit of education based on current events.
Furthermore, we have welcomed our new Y7 crop of Highfielders. When I visited Starkholmes at lunchtime on Thursday there were no fewer than 8 members of staff clad in hi-viz to supervise them including their year team leadership which comprises these two illustrious figures.
Also this week we had a visit from Lisa Walton who is the deputy chief executive at EMET (our trust) responsible for secondary schools. She is the person, alongside our governing body, who holds me to account for the way I lead Highfields. On Wednesday she was looking at special needs and safeguarding at Starkholmes. As part of this she visited an assembly, went to lessons, watched students during unstructured times and spoke to students in small groups. She then fed back to me whilst I diligently scribbled down notes in order to plan for any improvements required. She was pretty glowing this time but that doesn’t stop me obsessing over any areas where tweaks are needed. We are hoping for an Ofsted inspection sooner rather than later. I say this not because we are particularly looking forward to this experience but rather that we are keen to get it over with and move onto other things.
Last academic year we made 816 documented visits to lessons in order to celebrate best practice and recognise teachers who are making such a difference to our students’ lives. I was responsible for a decent share of these visits and this is because I LOVE visiting lessons and seeing what is going on in Highfields’ classrooms. This week I came across Ayla T who is a very quiet student who lets her work do the talking for her. This is some early work this term.
Regular readers seem to enjoy accounts of my clumsiness which I feel sure will one day result in a bizarre fatal accident. This week I pulled up half asleep at 7.15am at work and, in an effort to reach something slightly out of my reach, I fell into my own boot. Thankfully there were no students around to see what, to all intents and purposes, must have looked like a man trying to kidnap himself.
Have a restful weekend if you can. We are Highfields.
A Marsh, Headteacher
Destined for Broadway…
Some news to share (and to be celebrated!)…
Our superstar student, Imogen Clark (Y13), has recently been successfully chosen out of HUNDREDS of applications/auditions to be a ’solo superstar’ in Kerry Ellis’ upcoming UK tour.
Kerry Ellis is an English actress and singer who is best known for starring as the principal role Wicked on the West End and Broadway, taking over the role from legendary Idina Menzel. Kerry has also played lead roles in Les Mis, Chess, Rent, We Will Rock You and Oliver, to name but a few. She is also good friends with Brian May and supported him on his ‘Candlelight Concert’ tour in 2014.
10 years on, she is being supported on her tour by Highfields student, Imogen. You may remember her taking on many major roles at Highfields, including Patty (School of Rock), Teen Angel (Grease), Sister Mary Robert (Sister Act), Rafiki (Lion King) and Fagin (Oliver!). Imogen will sing a solo and converse with Kerry on stage at Derby Theatre on 20th October 2024.
We are very proud of you Immy and know you will shine like the star you are!
Did you know you can hire out our school facilities?
