Highclare School
2017
Achieving Individual Excellence
WINTER ISSUE
Welcome to the Winter edition of the Headmaster’s Termly Newsletter The issue of the UK’s productivity record has been in the news a lot recently. It has suddenly become a short-run political phenomenon in the country in addition to the more commonly considered long-term ‘headache’. It is right and proper that we give due consideration to productivity because standards of living directly correspond to it. It is not a surprise that the most productive nations in the world tend also to be the most wealthy. The text book determinants of productivity tend to be numerous but the most productive economies tend to have high levels of investment in capital and in human capital; a supportive business infrastructure and regulatory environment; an effective and sustained government supply-side strategy and a general national pre-disposition to innovation and sensible risk-taking. All of these things are significant in their own right but, since all producers can have world-wide access to the latest technology, components and materials, the key test of success is the extent of the productive use to which these
recourses can be put. The productivity playing field is the one on which competition takes place. Human resources, therefore, take centre stage since the skills, knowledge and experience, the professional learning and development and the innovation capability of the workforce are all vital components in the search for greater productivity. This is why education is so important for the nation’s future prosperity. We are engaged in securing our current and future prosperity through the process of creating a high-functioning, flexible and responsible workforce. Highclare’s contribution to this process is to educate young men and women to have values and attitudes that enable them to be good citizens, and also have the confidence and ability to go out and take up a productive role in society. One way of achieving this is to engage with the Mindshop Excellence organisation who offer a one-week, employer-hosted work-experience immersion aimed at fostering skills such as team work and self-confidence. The young men and women act as company executives immersed in a real business solving real problems which you can read more about on page 3. This experience plays an important role at Highclare School in preparing our young people for their future. There are tens of thousands of young people nationally, similar to our delegates, who are able and willing to meet the challenge of raising the country’s productivity levels. As a society, we just need to find a way to effectively harness their individual and collective energy and potential. Over to you, Mr and Mrs Politician…. Best wishes Dr R Luker - Headmaster
Highclare pupils ‘fly’ in the ISA Competition Pupils of all ages have received recognition for their artwork in the 2017 Midlands Independent Schools Association Art competition. This has been our most successful year to date, with winners in 6 categories and a total of 11 pupils gaining awards. Pupils in EYFS and KS1 scooped first, second and highly commended awards in both the 2D Individual Art and Drawing categories. Highclare artists also achieved 6 first place wins with 3 being awarded to pupils in the Senior School. William Dawson’s stunning photograph of an owl in flight achieved the top prize in the KS3/4 Photography category. This marks the third year running that Highclare School has achieved top place in this class. Congratulations to all our talented students.
List of Winners
FIRST PRIZE
SECOND PRIZE
HIGHLY COMMENDED
ART 2D Individual EYFS
Bella Colreavy
Arya Gunputh
Ethan Biddle
Charlotte Haslam
Jessica Kellett
ART 2D KS4
Cameron Day
DRAWING EYFS/KS1
Sajan Shinh
Aoife Whiskens
ART INDIVIDUAL 3D EYFS/KS1 ART INDIVIDUAL 3D KS2
Alice Griffiths
ART INDIVIDUAL 3D KS3
Joe De Waele
PHOTOGRAPHY KS3/4
William Dawson