Newsletter
17 November 2023
Our newsletter aims to keep parents and carers up to date with school news, activities and key information throughout the year.
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A Marsh Headteacher Disclaimer: Highfields School is not responsible for the quality of products or organisations publicised through articles or advertisements in the school newsletter.
Message from the Headteacher How do much do you know about your child’s behaviour online? I have 13 and 17-year old kids, both of whom have phones and use them for homework in addition to myriad other things. Occasionally the younger one will share with me something particularly awful on SnapChat or TikTok and it makes me wish that the internet had never been invented. Please be aware that more and more behaviour online is ending up with the police because of the impact of cyber bullying. Hannah Smith (pictured) from Leicestershire, for example, is just one of many children worldwide who has taken their own life in response to intolerable abuse online. Please remind your children that anything they write on social media, even if intended as a joke, can have very significant consequences.
Sixth form open evening on Thursday was brilliant (see image of students and staff co-presenting to visitors). Mr Flett is Director of Sixth Form. He is the kind of person I always thought I might be before my life took a wrong turn and I ended up on the wrong side of the tracks as a hard-bitten headteacher. He is hugely, formidably intelligent and the epitome of an academic leader. I occasionally happen into his lessons which are routinely astonishing in terms of the level of challenge he provides to his students and the extent to which his students accept this challenge. I am so proud to work alongside educators such as Martin Flett and really hope that Y11 in our community will accept the offer to work with him also for their two-year career in Highfields Sixth Form. Thanks to him and his wonderful team who made the open evening such a vibrant and inspiring event. Mr Flett was one of many today who raised hundreds and hundreds of pounds for Children in Need by dressing down or dressing up. Image features him and Mrs Sargent as Peaky Blinders. Also on Friday morning I went to the excellent assembly which was one of a series this week of year briefings on the hugely concerning situation in Gaza (see right). Finally, like all SLT (and many year teams) I do lunch duty every day. This is primarily to ensure that students treat each other nicely and arrive at their next lesson ready to learn. It also gives me a chance to talk to students about how things are from their viewpoint and whether we can improve stuff for them. When I consulted a small group of year 9 girls on Thursday lunchtime the slightly unexpected improvement they suggested was for me to shave my beard and head and grow a much larger moustache that curled at the ends. I explained that this would give me the appearance of a Victorian circus performer but they felt sure that, on the contrary, it would lend me an air of authority. Bearing this in mind I was poised with razor in hand on Thursday evening only for my daughter to confiscate it explaining that the girls’ comments may have been tongue in cheek. You really can’t trust anyone these days. Have a wonderful weekend. We are (grateful to be in Matlock rather than other areas of the world currently) Highfields.
A Marsh Headteacher
Sports Leaders News
Wednesday 15th Nov… Year 11 Level 2 Sports leaders had their IV Assessment 1. Castle View Primary school attended and our leaders did very well and received lots of great feedback from Mr Molyneux, Max Marshall and the Castle View staff. Castle View pupils had a great time, even if a bit chilly and reported they are always happy to help. Wednesday 15th Nov… Youth Sport Trust (@YouthSportTrust) posted at 7:58 pm on Wed, Nov 15, 2023: Amazing news from Madrid 🇪🇸 this evening. Together with @IMMmusicUK we have WON the @ISCA_tweet award for Physical Activity and Active Ageing for the Move and Groove programme 🎉 We are thrilled to be in such strong company with the other nominees. Congratulations all. Highfields were one of 6 schools involved in the pilot project that the nomination was based on. Highfields have continued to take students to the Care Home in the last two academic years and the project has continued to bring joy to both the residents, staff and the students involved. Thursday 16th Nov... The Infant Sports hall competition took place at Lumsdale. Tansley, Darley Churchtown, Darley Dale and South Darley Primary Schools attended. The results are as follows; 1st place South Darley, 2nd place Darley Dale, 3rd place Tansley and Darley Churchtown in 4th. The sports leaders on duty were amazing and the South Darley staff reported back on an excellent event. A big thank you to Mr Molyneux. Thursday 16th Nov… Year 9 Dance leaders went Darley Hall Care home for week 2 of the Move and Groove programme. The students and staff and residents were well motivated and enjoyed a fun time together, especially on the back of the International award being won by this YST project for the 10 pilot schools in the UK. Alison Goodhall of the YST said "Projects like this only work because of the amazing work you do for young people every day and you being ready to take a risk on something new. You have helped me enormously by piloting Girls Active across the ages and Move and Groove over the years and the many other projects for the YST and always being an example of good practice to others".
Highfields School Careers Fair Tuesday 21st November - Upper Site Sports Hall - 3:50pm to 5:45pm Open to all year groups and their parents/guardians A great opportunity to talk to employers, colleges, universities and more. A chance to think about what might be next after Highfields! Parking will be limited due to a high number of visitors to the site please car share where possible. It doesn’t matter if you do or do not know what you want to do after your time at Highfields. A Careers Fair is a great chance to learn more about what is out there. It gives you a chance talk to different employers, colleges or universities. You can gain a better understanding of what jobs or courses are available. Pathways you can take to get there or where they might lead. You can learn about different industries or what jobs entail. It can give you an opportunity to learn more about the skills that are needed to be successful in tomorrows world. Examples of some exhibitors -
Chesterfield College
Penguin PR
Work Pays
Trivium Packaging
Chatsworth
Worksop Town FC
Volker Rail
Coventry University
University of Nottingham
Nottingham Trent
Buxton & Leek College
Trademark Yorkshire
Derbyshire Police
University of Lincoln
Sheffield Hallam
Minerals Matter (STEM)
EMA Training
University of Huddersfield
Rolls Royce
IDOM/ Institute of Physics
Chesterfield Royal
The University of Sheffield
Killingley
National Horseracing College
British Army Careers
Derby County Community Trust
Experian
MasterMover
Derby College
Galliford Try
University of Northampton
Bishop Grossesteste Uni
Learning Curve Group
Oxford Brookes University
Lancaster University
Bangor University
German Careers Fair in Warwick University Thurs 9th Nov Highfields languages department has been busy explaining why it is worth learning German! 30 students from years 9-11 visited a German careers fair at Warwick University on 9th November. The German government is promoting the opportunities available to German speakers by providing seminars and talks about careers. Highfields attended workshops about how to choose the right career, intercultural awareness, business opportunities in Germany, and job possibilities in translation and interpreting. It was fun being on a university campus and getting a glimpse of the world beyond Highfields and Matlock. This careers fair trip follows July's successful trip to Berlin for GCSE and A level students. In December 40 students are participating in the languages department's trip to Germany to visit Aachen's beautiful Christmas market.
Please support Highfields School in raising funds for Children in Need 2023. Non-Uniform day is today on Friday 17th November, if you would still like to donate please use the link below; https://app.parentpay.com/ParentPayShop/Foc/Default.aspx?shopid=13282
Key dates & Calendar 2023-24 academic year
INSET days (no students in school)
Term 1: 4 September 2023 to 27 October 2023 (Holiday 30 October – 3 November)
Monday 4 September 2023, Friday 27 October 2023
Term 2: 6 November 2023 to 22 December 2023 (Holiday 25 December – 5 January)
Monday 4 December 2023, Friday 22 December 2023
Term 3: 8 January 2024 to 16 February 2024 (Holiday 19 February – 23 February) Term 4: 26 February 2024 to 28 March 2024 (Holiday 29 March – 12 April) Term 5: 15 April 2024 to 24 May 2024 (Holiday 27 May – 31 May) Term 6: 3 June 2024 to 23 July 2024
Friday 5 July 2024
2023-24 parent consultation evenings Y13 parents evening (4-7pm)
Tuesday 21 November 2023, 4-7pm (sixth form area)
Y12 parents evening (4-7pm)
Tuesday 5 December 2023, 4-7pm (sixth form area)
Y9 options / parents evening (4-7pm)
Tuesday 16 January 2024, 4-7pm (Wheeldon Hall/Sports Hall)
Y11 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 30 January 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
Y8 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 13 February 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
Y10 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 5 March 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
Y7 parents evening (4-7pm) virtual
Tuesday 19 March 2024, 4-7pm (via School Cloud)
2023-24 provisional school events (TBC - further details will be issued prior to each event) Sports Leaders Awards Evening
TBC
Flu Vaccine – Y7- Y11 (6th form TBC)
Monday 6 November
Sixth Form Open Evening
Thursday 16 November 2023 6pm
Careers Fair
Tuesday 21 November 2023 1.30pm - 6pm
Y13 Certificates Evening
Tuesday 19 December 2023 7pm
Y9 Christmas Disco
Thursday 14 December 2023
Evening of Theatre
Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 January 2024
Higher Education Evening
Thursday 13 June 2024
Y13 Prom
Thursday 27 June 2024
Y10 Work Experience Week
Monday 1 – Friday 5 July 2025
School Musical
Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 July 2024
Exam sessions Y11 & Y13 Mock Exams
27 November – 8 December 2023
Y11 & Y13 Mock Exams
26 February – 8 March 2024
Y10 Mock Exams
29 April – 3 May 2024
External Exam Season Commences
9 May 2024
2024 exam results days: A Level exam results: 15 August 2023 TBC
GCSE exam results: 22 August 2023 TB