Newsletter 17May2024
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
The enormous success of last week’s newsletter ‘bit’ which featured a mini profile of a Highfields school leader has prompted me to repeat the segment with another leader. This week it is deputy headteacher, Matt Hodkin. Matt is in charge of ‘Ethos and Operations’ which takes in everything from attendance to behaviour to inclusion to site security. He is absolutely passionate about children feeling safe, happy and included and oversees the pastoral work of the school. One of his jobs is to help me make decisions on whether students should be excluded temporarily (suspended) or permanently. It often surprises people that an inclusive school like Highfields will exclude children but Mr Hodkin knows that sometimes you have to exclude to include. For example, if a student is cruel to someone, their victim may need a short period of time where their aggressor is not in school, just to build up their confidence a bit. If the aggressor were to stay in school, the victim might not have the confidence to return and therefore would be (unintentionally) excluded themselves. He also has an absolute belief that students with additional needs can do just as well as every other student. Mr Hodkin and I have worked together in two schools over the course of 11 years and so my trust in him is absolute. He works far too hard, arriving in school at 7am and rarely leaving until 6pm. Often we speak late at night if there is a student or staff member we are worried about. I am very grateful to have him as a colleague.
In lessons this week we had a visit to my PSE lesson from civil servant and careers expert Emma who came to talk to us about careers. It’s really interesting how children perceive different roles and their remuneration. A number of students listed as ‘very well-paid job’ the position of flight cabin crew. We had a really good discussion about local employers, supply and demand in the labour market and what employers are looking for in an employee.
We are planning our Big 3 improvement plan for September 2024. At Highfields we try and take an evidenced based approach. This is where we look at all the data available and then try to figure out where we could make a positive difference. Once we have done this we look at HOW we can make that difference i.e. who else has tried something which worked? Then we try and get everyone else on board and sort out a training plan. We divide our improvement plans up and give one project to each senior leader. Mr Hodkin’s plan next year, for example, will be around reading. He wants children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to get even better at reading in order that they can access our curriculum and learn more about the world around them. He has devised a number of initiatives to make this happen. When this plan has been ratified by governors I will add it to the website.
Finally, on Tuesday night we celebrated Highfields’ sportsleaders. Jayne Allen’s event was, as usual, very well organised and included inspirational contributions from elite professionals including Antony Cotterill, a fabulous sportsman and member of Team GB (wheelchair tennis): a brilliant role model for children.
Have a peaceful weekend. We are Highfields.
A Marsh
Coming up next week…
Remindersfortheweekahead WeekB
Monday20th May
Tuesday21st May
Wednesday22nd May
Thursday23rd May
Friday24th May
QuadKidsAthleticsSportsLeaders
KwikCricketSportsLeaders
SchoolclosesforsummerMayhalfterm-reopensMonday3rd 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
Tuesday 14th May
Highfields Sports Leadership Academy Awards evening 2023-24. The Guest of Honour was Anthony Cotterill GB Tennis player alongside Guest Rob Watson from the Leadership skills foundation who spoke about the impact sports leadership has on the school and local community and the transferrable skills the courses bring to the students for life. Georgia Ball, FIFA Official, spoke about the role models in women's football, how to be resilient when facing difficulty and how to approach life when you make decisions, sometimes getting it wrong but always moving on and supporting one another.
Certificates were awarded for the 9 Leadership Skills foundation courses that we follow in school and medals were awarded for YST projects, FA Girls Activators, FA Whistlers referees, Young Ambassadors and Highfields school Voice of Sport members. Special awards were made to Year 13 students Harry and Lucy for excellence in their roles as senior mentors in the Voice of Sport group (they have represented their peers since Year 7) and to Sophie for her role in school developing Girls Football. Year 12 leaders Callum and Sam received an award for their Multi Sport project for the YST and Erin for her Community Sport leadership at Belper Hockey club. Antony spoke about his journey into elite sport and it proved to be an inspirational talk about coping with what life throws at you, sometimes that can change your path in life.
Mrs Allen thanked Mr Molyneux and Miss Judson for the leadership they had exhibited and the support they have given whilst Mrs Allen had her knee operation. The awards evening programme thanked the whole staff leadership team, Mrs Hollinrake and Mrs Scattergood for the Dance leadership courses that they lead and Max Marshall from Galactico coaching and Ross Jillings from Derbyshire Dales for the impact that they have had on the Primary school's events programme. Also, thanks were given to the numerous NGB's who come to train our leaders in specific officiating roles, ensuring the sports leader’s roles are carried out with confidence at the Primary events. Thanks also to Mrs Cruise and Mr Marsh for their support and all the staff behind the scenes who form part of the event preparation team: the caretakers, Mr Rowley, Mrs Bromwich, Mrs Leverton, Mrs Radcliffe, Young's Florists and the IT team. More importantly, a huge thanks to our amazing Sports leaders, those who attended the awards and those who couldn't join us. Keep pursuing your dreams and believe that if one door closes another will open.
Jayne Allen
Wednesday 15th May
Year 10 Sports leaders Practical assessment and IV session for the level 1 Qualification. Darley Dale Primary school pupils came to support this event. The Year 10 students showed how confident they are in the delivery of sport and excelled in every aspect of their practical assessment. Well done to Pasha, Alex, Joel, Sophie, Francesca, Emily and Charlotte. Exciting times ahead for you in Year 11 on the level 2 qualification.
This ends the Practical IV assessments for the level 1/2/3 qualifications and all the students assessed have passed this practical element. We now await the external verification of the Course booklets in June. Reminder to all levels - the theory Booklets must be handed in by May half term.
Thursday 16th May
Multi Sports lunchtime club continued with our 6th form level 3 Sports Leaders. Last weeks’ session was led by Callum and week 2 by Sophie. Students get to decide which sports they take part in.
Thursday 16th May
Year 3 and 4 Primary Golf tournament took place at Lumsdale.
The British Golf development officer John Selby Sly had trained the leaders previously to be golf activators for this event. Results were as follows;
1st Wessington Wallabies
2nd Darley Dale Dolphins
3rd Lea Leopards
4th Lea Lions and Darley Dale Sharks
6th Wessington Wolves
7th Darley Dale Dingoes
Friday 17th May
Helen Hawes from Rounders England was in school today to deliver an Umpires course to our Sports leaders before they embark on officiating at the primary tournament on Thursday 13th June. More news on this in next weeks’ newsletter.
Key dates & Calendar
2023-24academic year
Term5:15April2024to24May2024 (Holiday27May–31May)
Term6: 3June2024to23July2024
INSETdays(nostudentsin school)
Friday5July2024
2023-24provisionalschoolevents (TBC - further details will be issued prior to each event) HigherEducationEvening Thursday13June2024
Y11Prom
IcelandTripmeeting
Friday21June2024
Monday24June5.30-6.30pm
Y13Prom Thursday27June2024
GeologyFieldworkPembrokeshire
Y10WorkExperienceWeek
SchoolMusical
Exam sessions
Y12 Exams Y12 Work Experience
Monday1July
Monday1–Friday5July2025
Wednesday10-Saturday13July2024
3 – 14 June 2024 17 – 21 June 2024 2024 exam resultsdays: A Level exam results: 15August2024TBC GCSE examresults: 22August2024TBC 2024-25AcademicYear INSETDays
Term1:4September2024to24October2024 (Holiday28October–1November)
Term2:4November2024to20December2024 (Holiday23December–3January2024)
Term3:6January2025–14February2025 (Holiday17February–21February)
Term4:24February2025to4April2025 (Holiday7April–21April)
Term5:22April2025to23May2025 (Holiday26May–30May)
Term6:2June2025to24July2025
Wednesday4th September2024 Thursday5th September2024 Friday25th October2024 Monday2nd December2024 Monday30th June2025
