A Centre for the Performing Arts

 

Highfields School - A Centre for the Performing Arts

 

 

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Parents.Newsletter.

Upper Lumsdale, Matlock DE4 5NA  01629 581888

Headteacher: Ramsey Tetlow  Chair of Governors: Atholl Donaldson

4 March 2010

Dear Parents/Carers

 

During this academic year, Highfields School plans to hold a number of Enrichment Days.  On these days, the usual timetable will be collapsed and all students will participate in activities that will enhance their learning both within and beyond the classroom environment.

 

Our first Enrichment Day will take place on Wednesday 17 March 2010 and your child will be involved in one of the activities listed below:

 

· Religious Education Trip to Cadbury’s World (Year 7)

· Language Taster sessions and Rocket Launching (Year 8)

· Industry Day (Year 9)

· Textiles Enhancement (Yr 10)

· Geography Controlled Assessment (Year 10)

· Lea Green (Year 10)

· Storytelling workshop (Year 10/11)

· Theatre Performance (Year 10/11)

· Dance Workshops (Yr 10/12)

· Chemistry and Biology Taster session at York University (Year 10/11/12)

· GCSE Art Exam (Year 11)

· Design and Technology Enhancement Day (Year 11)

· English/Maths/Chocolate & Business Carousel (Year 11)

· Film Making Workshops (Year 11)

· Road Safety Workshops (Year 12)

· Music Technology Enhancement (Year 12/13)

· Independent Study and Revision (Year 13)

 

Student allocations and activity details will be confirmed over the next two weeks. This is the first time Highfields has offered such a day and it is hoped that all students will approach the event with enthusiasm and gain a positive experience from the occasion.

 

Thank you for your support with our first Enrichment Day.

 

Yours sincerely

Kate Edgar

(Enrichment Day Co-ordinator)

 

 

October 2009 Letter to Parents

 

Dear Parents/Carers

 

Welcome to the 2009-10 academic year from all at Highfields.  I would like to give a special welcome to the parents of our new Year 7 students and those from any other year who have joined us, and assure you that we will do our very best to make your child’s stay at Highfields as happy and as successful as possible.

 

We welcome the following new staff:

 

Teaching Staff - Tom Atkins (Music), Robert Meecham (Biology), Stephanie Potter (English – supply), Louise Redhead (Science & Head of Year 8), Karen Smith (Head of RE) and Stephanie Wallhead (Maths).

 

Support Staff - Margaret Davies (Mid-day Supervisor – Starkholmes), Birgit Elkington (Foreign Language Assistant), Sonya Marshall (Mid-day Supervisor – Starkholmes), Juliette Normington (PA to Y11), Marie Paurin (Foreign Language Assistant), Diane Peet (Finance Assistant, H&S, EVC), Paul Phelan (Cover Supervisor), Julie Plumb (Clerical Assistant) and Maribel Quezada (Foreign Language Assistant).

   

You may have seen our exam results in the local press this Summer.  If not, they are on our website and I would also urge you to visit this for news and information about the school. We are very pleased with students’ performance at KS3, 4 and 5.  Two things worth noting are that the gap between the achievement of boys and girls is narrowing and, secondly, the differences between the highest achieving subjects and the lower ones are decreasing, too.

 

2008-2009 Successes:

 

· The award of ‘High Performing School’ for the second year running by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust because of our % 5+ A*-Cs (including English and Maths) at GCSE in 2008.

· Gaining International School Award (Intermediate level) from the British Council for promoting the international dimension of our curriculum.

· Developing the new Diploma in our 14-19 curriculum; we are offering the Creative & Media Diploma from September 2009 and Retail Business next year.

· Building improvements at both Lumsdale and Starkholmes as part of a five year plan to bring about major refurbishment of the school.

· Launching a new policy on Assessment, Recording and Reporting then being awarded Leading School Status for Assessing Pupil Progress by the Local Authority.

· Many successes in sport at individual and team level, the continued success of Sportsleadership and the resurrection of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at Highfields.

· A huge number of visits as part of our commitment to out-of-school learning.

· Unauthorised absence this year halved from 2007-8.

 

School Refurbishment:

 

Starkholmes (Lower School) Site

Removal of three dilapidated terrapins; resurfacing to the lower part of the driveway; new computer benching and work surfaces for teaching staff; new roller blinds in many of the classrooms; upgraded stage lighting and sound system; replacement of fencing along main driveway; installation of new kitchen equipment; installation of new interlocking kitchen ventilation system, refurbishment of both Technology rooms and total refurbishment of the Art room, to incorporate Textiles as well as Art.

 

Lumsdale (Upper School) Site

Refurbishment of the Coffee Bar; installation of air conditioning into rooms L4 and IT1; upgrade of stage lighting in the Drama Studio; replacement of all of the remaining steel doors with aluminium doors; conversion of the Caretakers’ rest room into a new seclusion unit; new floor coverings in several Languages classrooms and in the Textiles room.

 

Both Sites

Replacement of roller blinds in offices and teaching areas; replacement of light fittings in classrooms; replacement of carpets in classrooms and offices; painting and decorating of several areas, including admin offices, classrooms and toilets; continuation of the programme to replace locks, using the new suited master system; extended the Intruder and the Fire detection and alarm system and replacement of all shower thermostatic mixing valves.

 

Our improvement objectives for this year are as follows:

 

· Act on the recommendations of Ofsted following their 2009 Inspection of the school

· Improve attainment at all key stages through better teaching, sharing good practice and thorough preparation for exams

· Improve the quality of the target-setting and reporting-to-parents processes

· Continue curriculum developments at all key stages, including the Diploma and apprenticeships

· Improve communication between school and home via ParentMail® etc

· Continue building and equipment improvements at both sites

· Develop our new ICT learning platform to improve learning and communication

· Develop learning partnerships eg, Peak 11

· Gain Investor in People status, ArtMark, ICT Mark and International School Award (Full award)

 

Year 11 Celebration Evening / Sponsorship

 

Our Year 11 Celebration Evening held on 24 September was a great success.  If you were present and have any views on the event and how it can be improved, please write to me.  I would like to see sponsored, named prizes.  Our guest of honour this year, the Composer Andrew March, has contacted me to offer a £25 annual prize for music – ‘The Andrew March Prize for Music’.  If you are interested in sponsoring a prize or know a business or organisation which might, please contact me.  

 

Swine Flu Update

 

Over the Summer the number of people with flu-like symptoms fell, but we are advised that we should remain vigilant and that there may be a second, more virulent, wave during Autumn.  Therefore, it is important that staff and children follow basic hygiene practices that can help prevent flu from spreading.

 

It is also essential that adults or children with flu-like symptoms stay away from school until they are free of those symptoms.  They should be advised to contact the National Pandemic Flu Service, tel 0800 1513 100.  It is only people with symptoms who need to stay at home, not if siblings / parents / relatives have symptoms, unless they have been advised differently by their GP/Consultant.

 

Highfields is operating as normal and we are advised to remain open for as long as we can safely do so in terms of numbers of teachers.  Regular updates are posted to the school’s website for your attention.  

 

No Parking on School Site

 

The school has no legal duty or obligation to allow parents vehicular access on to the school sites and there is no County policy which requires us to do so.  We discourage strangers from coming onto school property for three health and safety reasons – the physical safety of children and staff from traffic, to protect children from persons who might seek to do them harm and, ironically, if we allow people unrestricted entry to the site we then have a legal duty of care for them.  The exceptions to this are visitors, whom we require to sign in at reception, and when disabled students are collected and dropped off, in which case a member of the staff should be present to supervise the process.  The issue of safe traffic control measures on school sites is something that the Health and Safety Executive is keen to enforce.

 

Can I ask parents, therefore,  not to come onto the school site unless they have specific business with the school.  

 

 

Progress of ParentMail®

 

You should all have received a letter regarding the ParentMail®  service we have signed up to which is used by over 2,000 schools across the UK to communicate with home by email and text message.  ParentMail®  is currently inputting the details you have provided in order for school to communicate with home by email and text. 

 

The service will be activated after October half term, once staff have received training.  Once activated, a message will be sent to test the system to those parents who have responded with their contact details.  If you have not completed the ParentMail®  information form, they are available from the school office.

 

ParentMail® is registered with the Data Protection Registrar and guarantees that all information you provide will be kept private and not be passed on to any other organisation.

 

Christmas Holiday

 

School breaks up for the Christmas holiday at 12.45pm on Friday 18 December and resumes at 8.40am on Monday 4 January 2010.   Students will attend normal lessons until 12.45pm where a register will be taken and students will be free to leave school for the start of the Christmas holiday.  We will arrange for the contract buses to collect students at 12.50pm.  However, please note that students who usually catch service buses will need to make their own arrangements to return home.

 

Your support in helping to achieve our objectives is invaluable.  Please take an active role in your child’s education by supporting our policies and procedures.  Ensure that your child attends regularly and punctually; please do not take your child out of school in term time, be tough on them when they malinger and don’t want to come to school and report absence promptly when it occurs so that we can keep our records up to date.  Uniform and behaviour are two other issues.  I want Matlock to be proud of the way our students present and conduct themselves on the way to and from school.  Please support us by insisting on high standards from your child.  The student planner is free (£2 if they lose/deface it!)  Please monitor homework (every day should have two or three homework entries; if they don’t please contact your child’s tutor) and sign planners weekly.  If you want to help in additional ways join our Highfields School Association, and support their events, apply to be a Governor etc, the list is endless.

 

Finally, if you are concerned about anything to do with your child’s education contact school; the management chain starts with the tutor, then the Head of Year, Head of School and finally me.  If it is a subject issue go via the subject teacher, then the Head of Department, through the Head of School to me.

 

Let me wish everyone a happy and successful year, where by working together we can all prosper.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

Ramsey Tetlow

Headteacher

 

 

 

Open Day

 

Monday 12 October 2009 for parents and Year 6 students - Intake September 2010

 

Highfields lower site on Starkholmes Road will be open between

2pm – 4pm and 6.30pm – 8pm

 

Highfields upper site on Upper Lumsdale will be open between

2pm – 4pm

 

Talks for ‘out of area parents’ will take place at 6.30pm and 7.30pm

 

Parentmail

 

Parentmail are currently inputting the details you have provided in order for school to communicate with home by email and text.

The service will be activated after October half term once staff have received training.  Once activated a message will be sent to test the system to those parents who have responded with their contact details.  If you have not completed the ParentMail information, a form is available at the school office.

ParentMail® is registered with the Data Protection Registrar and guarantees that all information you provide will be kept private and will not be passed on to any other organisation.

 

Swine Flu – Update – September 2009

 

Over the Summer the number of people with flu-like symptoms has fallen but we are advised that we should remain vigilant and that there may be a second, more virulent, wave in the Autumn. Therefore, it is important that staff and children follow basic hygiene practices that can help prevent flu from spreading.

It is also essential that adults or children with flu-like symptoms stay away from school until they are free of those symptoms. They should be advised to contact the National Pandemic Flu Service, tel 0800 1513 100. It is only people with symptoms who need to stay at home, not if siblings / parents / relatives have symptoms, unless they have been advised differently by their GP/Consultant.

 

 

 

Letter to Year 9 Parents

 

23 September 2009

 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

Year 9 Student Information

 

Welcome back!  We are very pleased the students have settled in to Upper School so well, adapting quickly to their new surroundings.

 

This is an important year for your child who will choose his/her GCSE options after Christmas and in May 2010 the Year 9 exams will take place.

 

We wish to draw your attention to the following key dates, which will involve all Year 9 students.

 

· Year 9 Profiles to Parents: October 22nd 2009, March 30th 2010

· Year 9 Options /Parent Consultation Evening: David Marshall Sports Hall, Tuesday 9th February 2010 (4.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.)

· Year 9 Industry Day: Wednesday 17th March 2010

· Year 9 Exams: Tuesday 4th – Friday 7th May 2010

· Year 9 Reports to Parents: Friday 9th July 2010

 

It is pleasing to see such a smart turnout of students and our expectations of uniform remain unchanged.    This site gets particularly cold and I would urge that when the weather turns colder, students should wear a black school jumper or sweatshirt for warmth and a black coat/cagoule.  May we respectfully remind you that hoodies are not allowed on site.

 

On the subject of mobile phones: may I remind you that these are not allowed into school at any time during the day.  Any emergency phone calls can be made from my office.  We are keen to protect your child from being bullied through text messages or by photos being taken without permission and, finally, to prevent such an expensive item being lost or stolen.

 

Make-up and chewing gum are not allowed nor are visible body piercings such as to the nose and eyebrow.  We would also like to remind you that school is a smoke free campus.  Highfields has operated as a smoking-free site for years but the newly introduced legislation means that individuals and organisations not complying with the ban will now be committing a criminal offence, for which there are fixed penalty notices. We very much hope that we can count on your support over this issue.

 

The move to Upper School marks an exciting change and during the year students will be considering which subjects to take for exam courses in Year 10.  In February 2010, students and parents will be given detailed information regarding the options available in year 10 and there will be an opportunity for parents to talk to subject staff at the Parents Options/Consultation Evening.  Further information about this, and other school events, will be sent home and put onto the school website.   We suspect that many letters and communications from school don’t reach you because they remain in students’ bags!  Please check frequently whether they have any letters.  Incidentally, there are also at least five publications of Highfields News each year, usually in September, November, February, April and June.  In addition, we would be grateful if you would check and sign your son/daughter’s homework diary on a regular weekly basis.

 

We’ve had at least six students returning to school on crutches!  Should your child be unfortunate enough to need crutches, please do not send him/her into school without contacting me first.  A Risk Assessment will need to be carried out and parents will have to sign it before the student can return.

 

We are confident that the year will be a successful one for your child.  In particular, we wish to draw your attention to the Year 9 exams which will take place from Tuesday 4th May until Friday 7th May and remind you that it is important that all students are in school and not on family holidays during these days.  In general, as a school, we do not encourage students to take their holidays during the school terms as this can prove detrimental to their academic progress.

 

We are confident that your son or daughter will enjoy life at Upper School and that we can look forward to even greater successes in the next three years.  In the vast majority of cases the attitudes and achievements of our students are of a very high standard and we wish to maintain and develop this through a continuing, close working partnership with you, the parents/carers and your child.  Should you have any concerns or questions about your son or daughter’s progress, please contact us immediately at school.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

J. Rickels                      L. Davies

Head of Year 9             Assistant Headteacher

 

 

 

Letter to Year 10 Parents

 

24 September 2009

 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

I am very pleased to be able to write and inform you that the students are settling in well in Year 10, beginning their new GCSE courses.  I hope that the coming year in school will be a successful one for them all.  The students have returned looking very smart in their uniforms – I hope you will feel able to support us in keeping up this high standard.

 

As this is such an important year, we do thank you for your cooperation in not taking your child out of school during term time unless it is absolutely unavoidable.  Work over the next two years builds up to the GCSE examinations in May/June 2011.  Coursework deadlines will be made by all subject teachers and will have to be honoured.  Absence from school is thus problematic.  May I also remind you that students are not allowed to leave the site at lunch time.

 

Almost all the GCSE courses have a considerable coursework component and homework is therefore of paramount importance.  All students have been provided with a homework planner by the school.  These will be signed in school on a weekly basis; your cooperation and support at home in signing and checking planners and keeping a general eye on homework is much appreciated.  

 

During the course of Year 10 there will be new challenges to meet.  Some of the students will complete modular examinations as part of their coursework in Maths and Science.  There is also an R.E. examination in June.

Dates for these exams and other important dates for your diary are as follows:  

 

Date                                                              Activity

Thursday 21st January 2010                        Maths GCSE Modular exam

Tuesday 30th March 2010 Y10                     Parents Evening – David Marshall Sports Hall

Tuesday 4th May – Friday 7th May 2010       Y10 internal examinations

Wednesday 9th June 2010                           Biology  GCSE Modular exam

Wednesday 16th June 2010                         Chemistry GCSE Modular exam

Monday 21st June 2010 Maths                     GCSE Modular exam

Thursday 24th June 2010 Physics               GCSE Modular exam

Monday 28th June – Friday 9th July 2010      Y10 Work Experience fortnight

 

More information will be given nearer the time.  It is very important that students do not miss any examinations.

 

A number of students have returned to school on crutches.  Should your child be unfortunate enough to need crutches, please do not send him/her into school without contacting me first.  A Risk Assessment will have to be carried out and parents must sign this before the student can return.

 

The coming year promises to be a busy one.  If you have any worries, however small, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Thank you for your continued cooperation and support which we value.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

M.P. Basford                    L. Davies

Head of Year 10              Assistant Headteacher

 

Letter to Year 11 Parents

 

17 September 2009

 

Dear Parents/Carers

 

The students have returned refreshed and well prepared to face the challenging year ahead.  They look extremely smart in uniform; may I thank you for your cooperation with the school on this issue.  I hope this year, the last one in the school for many, will be both a happy and successful one.

 

Key dates for your diary

 

· Inset Day - Friday 23rd October

· Half Term – Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October

· Year 11 Parents Evening (David Marshall Sports Hall) Wednesday 4th November – 4.00 to 7.00 p.m.

· Sixth Form at Highfields Evening – Monday 16th November at 7.00 p.m.

· Year 11 Mock Examinations – Monday 30th November to Friday 11th December

 

 

Year 11 is inevitably an intensive year for the students and requires a diligent and organised approach.  Help is always available in school if problems arise.  As this is such an important year we do thank you for not taking your child out of school during term time unless this is absolutely unavoidable.  There are still many coursework deadlines to meet; your support and encouragement is much appreciated in this area as it is weekly in the signing of their planner.  A copy of the year 11 homework timetable which has been issued to the students is printed on the reverse side of this letter.

 

As a matter of health and safety, could I also point out that should any student have the misfortune to need to use crutches, parents must phone school to arrange an appointment for a risk assessment to be carried out before the student returns to school.

 

If you are concerned about anything however trivial or you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Yours sincerely

 

J. Hughes

Head of Year 11

 

 

pper site on Upper Lumsdale will be open between

2pm – 4pm

 

Talks for ‘out of area parents’ will take place at 6.30pm and 7.30pm

 

 

Record-Breaking GCSE Results

 

The 2009 GCSE results have surpassed all previous results. In brief 241 students took a total of 2484 examinations in 29 subjects. The percentage of 5 or more A*-C grades was 78%, bettering last years result by 7% points. The percentage of 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths at 70% also bettered last years figure by 7% and the average total points score for students was 427, a significant increase on last years figure of 395.

What was particularly pleasing was the movement in all subjects towards the performance levels of those traditional higher achieving subjects at the school.

 

Notable Performances

 

Percentage of A*-Cs in Sociology, Science, RE (Full Course), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music, History, Geography, English Language, English Literature, Business and Communication Systems and Business Studies (vocational)

 

Percentage of A*-As in History, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

 

Individual performances of excellence included 17 students with 10 or more A*/A grades.

Congratulations to all students for a superb effort, staff for their hard work and parents for their support. We are indebted to Maureen Wilson, the retiring Head of Year 11, whose guidance and support were instrumental in ensuring the high success rate of our students.

 

Full details will be made available in due course.

 

Ramsey Tetlow

Headteacher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 March 2009

 

Dear Parent / Carers

                OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT – MARCH 2009

 

We have now received the official report of our recent Ofsted Inspection.

Following their two-day scrutiny of the school, the Ofsted team recognised our strengths and highlighted:

· examination results which, at GCSE, are above average and which have improved over the last three years;

· a curriculum which is now ‘good’ and, with the other opportunities provided by the school, benefits the students;

· the ‘impressive’ difference that becoming a Performing Arts school has made to students’ education;

· teaching and learning which, at its best, is outstanding;

· a good pastoral curriculum providing ‘good’ care, guidance and support, ‘good’ community cohesion and ‘good’ personal development and well-being.  The behaviour of the students was described as ‘impressive’.

 

This backs up our own view, with an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted inspection of the History department a year ago, quality marks like Careers Mark, rising exam results and improved performance by boys and recognition by The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust in 2007 and 2008 that our exam results at Key Stage 4 were those of a ‘high performing school’.

 

Ofsted called, too, for a range of improvements to help get the best out of all students. In particular, they recommend that we:

 

· raise the achievement of lower attaining students and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities;

· ensure that all lessons cater well for the needs of different students;

· improve the use of assessment, reporting and recording so that prompt action can be taken when underperformance becomes evident and the impact of actions undertaken are subsequently evaluated;

· increase the accountability of middle managers by ensuring greater consistency of monitoring and evaluation.

 

Overall, the Inspectors consider Highfields to be a satisfactory school with some good features and good capacity to improve.  “Highfields has improved since the last inspection and through the incremental changes which are being introduced the momentum for change is gaining impetus and enriches the learning of students.”

Although it was a brief inspection, it is useful confirmation of what we know needs to be done to improve standards and opportunities for all our students.  

 

Staff and Governors know there is still work to be done.  You can be assured of my commitment to make these improvements.  We have an excellent and committed team who are keen to do their best for the school and to take it from strength to strength.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Ramsey Tetlow

Headteacher

 

 

 

 

 

September Letter to Parents - 29 September 2008  

 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

Welcome to the 2008-09 academic year from all at Highfields. I would like to give a special welcome to the parents of our new Year 7 students and those from any other year who are joining us, and assure you that we will do our very best to make your child’s stay at Highfields as happy and as successful as possible.

 

We welcome the following new  staff -

 

Teaching Staff:

Gillian Anderson (Maths teacher)

Sarah Burns (Food Technology teacher)

Kerry Fairbank (Head of Art)

Charles Franczak (Science teacher – Supply)

Clive Hawkins (Head of English)

Rebecca Wildey (Art teacher)

Hossein Zadeh (Maths teacher – Supply)

 

Support Staff:

Paula Bumby (Administrative Assistant to Years 11-13 and Performing Arts)

Robert Chambers (Teaching Assistant)

Jill Fearn (Teaching Assistant)

Tina Green (Pastoral Assistant to Years 7-8)

Robert Mosley (Teaching Assistant)

Lucy Protheroe (Teaching Assistant)

Louise Robinson (Library Assistant)

Alma Spencer (Teaching Assistant)

Emma Warburton (Cover Supervisor)

 

Not even the flooding of Lumsdale coffee bar area and the adjoining classrooms, severe though it was, could dampen the positive feeling which has pervaded the school since the beginning of the academic year. You may have seen our exam results in the local press. For the first time in the school’s history our GCSE results topped 70% for students gaining 5+ A* - C grades. This maintains the improvement shown last year and is a good foundation for reaching even higher levels next year. The exam results are on our website and I would urge you to visit this for news and information about the school  

 

A Level Results

One hundred and ten year 13 students took A2 exams. Our overall pass rate (A-E grades) was 98.1% and for the higher grades (A-B) 48.5%.

A level grades for 2008 %

A 27.3  

B 21.2  

C 21.5  

D 18.6  

E 9.5  

U 1.9  

Two students, Jamie Allen and Connie Dennis gained 5 straight A grades.

 

GCSE Results

We are very pleased to report a significant improvement on our GCSE results this year. Two hundred and forty year 11 students took GCSE examinations. Our overall pass rate (A* - G grades) was 99% and 71% of all grades were higher (A*-C) grades.

240 students took GCSE examinations in 2008

 

GCSE All students  % Boys  % Girls  %

5+ A*-C 170 70.8 87 66 83 76.5

5+ A*-C inc E & M 151 63 75 57 76 70

5+ A*-G 219 91 118 91 101 93

1+ A*-G 233 97 127 97 106 97

Average points score per student 381.5* - 368.6 - 397.4 -

 

*This figure is expected to increase to 396 after the inclusion of additional qualifications.

Key indicators

 2008 2007 2006

% students with 5+ A* - C grades 71 68 63

% students with 5+ A* - C incl Eng and Maths 63 61 56

There were some excellent individual performances, not least that of Ruth Mitchell who gained A* grades in twelve GCSE subjects.

The percentage of boys achieving 5+ A* - C grades has again increased and the gap between the achievements of girls and boys continues to narrow.

At GCSE there were no significant changes to the percentage A*-C pass rates for individual subjects over the past year. The triple sciences, examined for the first time at Highfields this year have been very successful. Of the 60 students who were entered for the triple sciences over 50% gained A* or A grades in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Key Stage 3 SATS 2008

% Gaining level 5+   % Gaining level 6+   

Subject Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total

English 86  90  88  48  56  51  

Maths 84  85  85  71  62  68  

Science 85  80  83  63  55  59  

 

Last year, Highfields moved forward considerably. Most of our planning objectives for the year, outlined in my letter to you of September 2007, were achieved, namely:

 

There has been considerable refurbishment at both the Starkholmes and Lumsdale sites over the Summer in order to produce a safer and more attractive learning environment for our students.

 

In the performing arts there were many high quality and hugely enjoyable activities and events last year, showcasing the considerable talents of our students in Music, Drama and Dance - Joseph and the Amazing …, the Extravaganza and the Christmas Concert are some which quickly come to mind. 2008-09 promises much more.

Other successes were in Sport, where several of our teams became County champions and where the Sports Leaders Programme goes from strength to strength, and our school trips abroad and in this country to the theatre, higher education institutions or just for fun, are some of the many examples of the rich curriculum our students experience at Highfields.

 

In 2007-08 we gained the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust’s certificate for high performing schools because of our 2007 GCSE results. Other awards gained last year include the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Health Promoting School Award, the Derbyshire Healthy School Award, the Derbyshire Excellence Plus Anti-bullying Award (the first secondary school in the Local Authority to get this), Careers Mark and the Basic Skills Quality Mark. In November 2007, Highfields was presented with a national award at the annual School Sports Partnership Conference and in December our History department received an outstanding subject report from Ofsted. In July 2008, we were selected as one of only five schools in the East Midlands to become a Gold Star Centre for the delivery of the Sports Leaders UK courses. Also in July 2008, we received the Quality Catering Award (Bronze) and certificate for the school with the ‘Highest Meals Uptake’, 2007-2008, of any school with Derbyshire County Caterers.

 

Now to 2008-09. We must continue our push to higher attainment and crucial to this is the quality of teaching and learning. Year 10 students just beginning KS4 will enjoy much broader curriculum choice than previously with new courses designed to bring the best out of all alongside traditional GCSE subjects. There are changes to the Sixth Form curriculum and at KS3 too.

 

Our improvement objectives for this year are as follows:

 

That is quite a list and your support in helping to achieve our objectives is invaluable. Please take an active role in your child’s education by supporting our policies and procedures. Ensure that your child attends regularly and punctually; please do not take your child out of school in term time, be tough on them when they malinger and don’t want to come to school and report absence promptly when it occurs so that we can keep our records up to date. Uniform and behaviour are two other issues. I want Matlock to be proud of the way our students present and conduct themselves on the way to and from school. Please support us by insisting on high standards from your child. The student planner is free (£2 if they lose/deface it!) Please monitor homework (every day should have two or three homework entries; if they don’t please contact your child’s tutor) and sign planners weekly. If you want to help in additional ways join our Highfields School Association, and support their events, apply to be a Governor etc, the list is endless.

 

I am also pleased to announce that we have two new parent governors, Paul Peat and William Simpson - congratulations to you both on your election to the governing body.

Finally, if you are concerned about anything to do with your child’s education contact school; the management chain starts with the tutor, then the Head of Year, Head of School and finally me. If it is a subject issue go via the subject teacher, then the Head of Department, through the Head of School to me.

 

Let me wish everyone a happy and successful year, where by working together we can all prosper.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ramsey Tetlow

Headteacher