Highfields School Newsletter

2022-23

Issue31: 16June2023

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

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Message from the headteacher

The puzzling thing about my Personal and Social Health (PSE) lessons with Y7 is that almost always it appears to be me that makes the changes. For example, when we discussed health and fitness, it was me who committed to 20 minutes per evening of exercise (still doing it). In a project on healthy eating, I agreed to reduce both my consumption of biscuits and red wine (partial success). That would be frustrating enough even without the fact that they ask me in each week (in quite a patronising manner) how well I am doing with my lifestyle changes. I made the mistake of mentioning this to my Y8 daughter and now she has taken to grimacing at me every time I go anywhere near anything even mildly enjoyable. We are studying sleep next and I am NOT going to agree to any of their suggestions regarding changes to my bedtime or avoiding screen time before sleeping without THEM agreeing to make some changes too. (Although I have to admit the biscuit thing is working in reducing my waistline a little…)

I wanted to write about something funny a student said on the subject of cheese in one of these lessons on healthy eating but I have now forgotten what it was. I was hoping that beginning to type the sentence would bring it back but it hasn’t. I have now pasted in a picture of cheese but it still hasn’t triggered anything. It was so funny. Come to think of it I’m wondering now whether it may have been said in a dream.

This week we had training/ planning days for a group of leaders at Highfields. We used theDesignatevenue in Matlock which was totally wonderful and helped us avoid constant knocks at the door from staff and students. I wish you could be there to see how much staff care about Highfields’ students. We have two plans each year- one is the Big 3 which introduces new ideas and the other is the Core Plan which is our bread and butter (get students into school, keep them safe, teach them well, get them some qualifications kind of stuff).

Thank you to CM for her email this week about uniform and weather. As a parent she had an important point to make but managed to make it in a balanced and reasonable way, even employing a wry sense of humour. I want to assure everyone again that we take all feedback seriously, whatever form it comes in. If overblown or aggressive language is used (I still remember a Highfields parent calling me a ‘Brexit Fascist’ over a survey about blazers) it tends to make staff defensive, stressed and less focused on seeking a reasonable outcome. Nevertheless, we will still seek to take it into account.

The set for Grease is emerging and we are all getting very excited. Have you bought your ticket yet? My daughter and I are coming on the Wednesday night because, having been inspired by Highfields shows to get involved in school productions, she is now appearing in her own school show on all other evenings. Can you believe that the Grease film came out 45 years ago?

In lessons this week I saw an English teacher very carefully picking out particularly successful elements of Y7 creative writing. Purposeful and targeted praise is harder to do than you might think.

Cooler weather forecasted next week- huge thanks to all of you who ensure that your children attend with water/ a hat/ sun cream or whatever you think the conditions demand. Have a lovely weekend! We are Highfields.

A Marsh, Headteacher