Issue 15 by Highfields School

27th June 2025

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

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

This week on Wednesday I met the staff joining us in September and they looked really, really good! I cannot wait for them to get into our school, learn the Highfields way and then bring to us what they have learnt elsewhere. We have made brilliant ground as a school community over the last few years but I will never stop believing that our students have a way to go before they are the BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.

I absolutely loved seeing the best of the best in action on Thursday when I had time to get into a load of lessons at Starkholmes. In a Y7 lesson I found the teacher and the class wrestling away with volume of a cone. VOLUME OF A CONE!!? WITH Y7??? It was so brilliant to see the teacher gently pushing the students towards the very edge of their cognitive ability.

And in the Y7 art exam these studies from Lenny and Holly’s submissions really caught my eye as being right at the top of what Y7 students can achieve in art.

Alongside our curriculum we try to use our meagre resources to support an Outdoor Learning group. This week, the activity involved Egg Drop Challenge. Students began by learning different types of knots, then applied these skills to construct a tripod using sticks and rope. Each team was also given a cup and elastic. The challenge was to launch an egg as far as possible without it breaking. To protect their egg, each group could choose only three items from a selection of materials. Both groups managed to send their eggs a considerable distance, but there was a clear winner, as one egg unfortunately broke on impact. In previous weeks, the group has taken part in a variety of activities, including team-building exercises, rock bouldering, bushcraft skills, caving, and the Skyline Challenge at Lea Green. This programme is delivered by outdoor instructors from the Engagement Service at Derbyshire County Council. With support given by school colleagues M Robertson and M Ward.

We are Highfields. A Marsh, Headteacher

Oh, and I found a kitten for my daughter’s birthday who this morning climbed up my suit jacket and started on my scrambled eggs (kitten not daughter).