
3 minute read
Message from the headteacher
from Issue 13
Highfields School Newsletter Message from the headteacher
I feel sorry for people who don’t work in education. I mean, each to their own and I understand that there are sectors which may be less stressful and better paid than education but really…there is no other job which can possibly give you as big a buzz as working with young people. This week we’ve been up to the rafters and down in the basement. Some of the meetings I’ve been involved in have been intense and it’s been important to focus hard on the challenge of looking after the wellbeing of each student equally. In these meetings the adrenalin sometimes flows because feelings and tensions can run high. Sometimes I can actually feel my hair greying as I try to make (or lead others towards) half decent decisions. And then, a few hours or even minutes later, you are up in the rafters, completely exhilarated as you watch young people spread their wings and do something astonishing. For example, on Wednesday night the Christmas concert was bewitching and dazzling in equal measure. Michael H played a cornet piece so fiendishly difficult that at times during the performance I was on the verge of summoning a first aider, so sure was I that his physical collapse was imminent. The senior choir sang a piece of Ukrainian origin that was haunting and lyrical and couldn’t help but make you think of our Ukrainian students so far from home at this time. And Maria T…People…wow. She made Streisand sound like a second-rate bar singer (well almost). The mood and the humour and the sheer joy of music making at this event was infectious and this is entirely down to their Maestro, Kris Rowley, who is a stunning pianist and an even better head of music. To make the evening even more special we were joined by the Ernest Bailey Foundation members (left) who, after years of support for creative arts at Highfields, recently donated their remaining £20,000 to fund our wonderful Creative Media Suite
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On Thursday night the Y8 disco was bangin’ and notable because at least 10 staff showed up to support the fabulous Y8 leadership team. These evenings bring students together to enjoy a communal experience. They are very much as important, along with clubs, sporting fixtures and educational visits, as our traditional lessons. A parent email read, “My son said he had one of the best nights of his life! He’s quite a reserved person and I often wish he could feel more free and he came home absolutely full of energy and so animated! His face was totally beaming!”
In lessons this week I massively enjoyed covering Y11 drama when their teacher was unavailable. I always feel you can tell a lot about a teacher by the way their students behave when they are not around. In this case the students had been trained brilliantly by their teacher and were focused, disciplined, creative and thoughtful - everything you need from top drama students.

Finally, leaving my house on the way out to the Y8 disco I grabbed what I thought was a clean hanky from the laundry basket. It was only when I took it out to blow my nose during the event that I realised I was using a pair of my son’s white underpants. At least they were clean. It’s getting to that point in the term… Я знаю, що ви святкуєте Різдво в різні дати, але я сподіваюся, що вам вдасться якось відсвяткувати різдвяний період. Мої найкращі побажання вам у цей важкий час. So, as the term draws to a close, from all at Highfields we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
A Marsh Headteacher