Students create film of remembrance for WW1 soldiers

On July 1, 1916, thousands of young men went ‘over the top’ in a highly-disciplined response to the precisely-timed signal at 07.30am. 

They advanced as planned towards the German trenches, confidently expecting that the German wire had been cut and their defences ruined.  

They were wrong. 

German wire, machine gun emplacements and artillery, although damaged and weakened, was able to respond ruthlessly, cutting down line after line of young men, and bringing chaos and catastrophe to the battlefield. 

The Staffordshire Territorials were among those troops, advancing on Gommecourt.  The casualties among the four battalions of Staffordshire - including men from Wolverhampton, Walsall, Stafford, Rugely and Lichfield, as well as the 56th London Division - amounted to almost 7,000 men. 

On the 100th anniversary year of the Battle of the Somme, a group of students from Highfields visited the battlefield to pay their respects to those who lost their lives. 

The students were not, in age, far removed from those brave 18 and 19-year-olds who fought, or the young women who staffed the casualty clearing stations and field hospitals as nurses and VADs.

They have now created a film of remembrance in honour of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

WATCH THE FILM HERE:

History teacher, Mrs C.Hall, who organised the trip, said: “Our students were stunned by the beauty and peace of the cemeteries – but horrified and awestruck by the scale of the slaughter they represented. 

“We explored the history and course of the battle, and literally walked the field of four-and-a-half months of continuous conflict at Beaumont Hamel, witnessing the closeness of enemy to enemy and the terror of locations where death in the crossfire or death by friendly fire was an equal danger.  

“We donned original tin helmets and toured the caves in Arras, where thousands of Tommies will have rested and gladly exchanged the noise and hell of battle for the stale air, but blessed quiet, underground.  

“The students were greatly struck by the irony of the peace of the cemeteries in the context of the scale of destruction and violence on the battlefields. This was brought home for them, amongst other things, by the literature and diaries we read while we were on the battlefields, from soldiers who served there.  

“They wanted to pay their respects and to honour the sacrifice made. The result is the film, which speaks for itself. The party leaders are very proud and grateful to the filmmakers and Mr D.Cooper, from the English department, who was their mentor in making it. 

“It is a very fitting contribution to our commemoration of the centenary of the battle.”

Italian feast dished up by BTEC students

BTEC Hospitality students dished up an Italian feast to showcase their culinary talents and customer service skills.

Students served up the themed two-course menu as part of their Unit 3 Merit task, which required them to demonstrate excellent customer service.

Selected members of staff were invited to tuck into the meal of lasagne, salad and garlic bread  followed by a cheesecake dessert.

Food Technology teacher, Mrs L.Meanley, said: “The students worked really hard decorating the room, organising the ordering of ingredients, cooking the food and providing attentive customer service. 

“They did a great job and received excellent feedback from their customers.”

Palace date for Chloe to celebrate Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award success

Sixth-form student, Chloe Tolley, rubbed shoulders with royalty, sports stars and TV personalities when she celebrated achieving the highest possible honour on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme at Buckingham Palace.

Chloe travelled to London for the presentation in the gardens of the palace. She was given her DofE Gold Award in the presence of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and TRH the Earl and Countess of Wessex as part of the special ceremony.

The event was held to celebrate the talented young people who have achieved the prestigious Gold Award standard in the Duke of Edinburgh’s scheme. This year’s special palace presentation was organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the international programme.

Chloe - pictured with sports presenter Jim Rosenthal and rugby ace Danny Cipriani during the ceremony - was one of a selection of Gold Award holders from across the UK and some of the 140 countries that run the DofE programme across the world that was invited to attend.

She attended the prestigious event on behalf of the school and the many students who have challenged themselves as part of the DofE programme over the years. Fellow Highfields sixth-form student, Deenah Randhawa, has also achieved the prestigious Gold standard and will attend a yet-to-be-announced ceremony later in the year to officially receive her award.

Craig Moody, who runs the school’s DofE programme and accompanied Chloe to the palace for the presentation, said: “To reach the Gold Award standard in the DofE programme is an incredible achievement and this was a wonderful celebration.

“It is a day that we will remember for the rest of our lives and fitting that Chloe was honoured in such incredible surroundings for her achievements on the programme.

“We are now looking forward to Deenah’s ceremony later in the year.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s scheme was launched 60 years ago with the aim of inspiring, guiding and supporting young people in their self-development. The awards scheme challenges students and allows them to discover the world around them whilst providing them with invaluable skills and experiences to improve employment prospects.

Hundreds of Highfields students have taken part in the DofE programme since the school started running the scheme around 10 years ago. Those taking part have taken on a number of challenges including volunteering in the community and a residential trip which involves them only being allowed to know one other person and therefore building a team to complete a project with strangers.

Magical Paris trip was Très Bien

The magic of Disneyland dazzled Highfields students during a four-day Parisian adventure.

Students and staff said the action-packed trip to the French capital during the half-term break had left them with memories that will last a lifetime.

The trip included visits to The Walt Disney Studios Park and main Disneyland Park, where members of the group braved the famous Tower of Terror and Space Mountain rides, whilst downpours failed to dampen their spirits as they witnessed the colourful Disney Parade and a spectacular fireworks display.

The trip also included a visit to Parc Asterix, where they had a blast on the rides, got soaked on the log flume and had photos taken with Asterix himself.

Miss G Robinson, one of the members of staff who accompanied the group on the trip, said: “After Parc Asterix we made our way back to the Disney Village to get something to eat and buy our souvenirs. Then it was back to the hotel to pack – but not before I let the group eat candyfloss on the coach journey, making for a very funny but noisy ride back.”

Miss Robinson said the 96 students had been a credit to themselves and the school.

She added: “We travelled home from our Parisian adventure on the Thursday and, even with a delay on the journey, each group was fantastically well behaved and a credit to the school. We arrived home just after 9pm to deliver some very exhausted children to their parents and carers.

“It was the most incredible trip and both students and staff have been left with memories to last a lifetime.”

Students serve up feast fit for a Queen

From pomp and pageantry to scones, sandwiches and sponge cakes fit for a queen - Highfields got into the spirit of celebration in style by hosting a right royal ‘teas-up’.

Students from Year 8 cooked up the feast fit for royalty as part of celebrations to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The Royal Afternoon Tea event was the brainchild of Food Technology teacher, Miss B.Chima, who helped students create their culinary masterpieces. The menu included sponge cakes with themed icing, biscuits shaped as crowns, cheese scones, prawn canapes and platters of sandwiches.

Bunting was hung to set the scene and jugs of lemonade were coloured red, white and blue as selected guests tucked into the tasty treats on offer to a backdrop of music including the National Anthem and Land of Hope & Glory.

Guests got into the spirit of the occasion by donning novelty masks featuring the faces of members of the Royal Family.

Miss Chima said: “We thought we would do something special to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday by hosting a Royal Afternoon Tea.

“A group of Year 8 students created the spread, which was absolutely delicious, and they poured lemonade and cups of tea for our guests while they tucked into their food. They did a fantastic job and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their culinary creations.”

Yr 6 pupils get taste of life at Highfields

Primary school pupils due to join Highfields in September have been given their first taste of life at the school.

Year 6 pupils have taken part in a range of team-building outdoor activities.

They were set a number of problem-solving challenges, including a spider web and bridge building, whist staff from Llandrinio Outdoor Centre in Wales have been in school teaching them to abseil.

The Yr 6 transition sessions have taken place over the past week and will continue after the half-term holiday, giving all 252 students set to start in September the chance to get a feel for Highfields whilst meeting staff and fellow students from other primary schools. All pupils will then return to Highfields for two days in July for their full induction.

Mr C.Moody, Highfields’ Director of Sport, said: “The transition sessions provide Year 6 pupils with an opportunity to take part in a number of fun, outdoor activities and challenges whilst meeting students from other schools who will be joining Highfields with them in September.”

Sports days announced

Students are being given the chance to showcase their abilities on the track, field and football pitch during sports days in June.

Sports days will take place for Year 9 students on Friday June 17; Year 7 students on Monday June 20 and Year 8 students on Wednesday June 22.

Forms will compete against other forms in their year group in rounders, athletics and football. Prizes will be handed out to the winning forms in each discipline and overall winners of each day.

PE teacher, Ms L.Stevenson, said: "Our sports days are always really popular so we are delighted to announce this year's events.

"We have already been told how excited forms are that we will be running sports days again this  year because our students loved taking part in last year's events so much." 

Team sheets are being distributed to form tutors and must be completed and returned to the top floor LRC by Friday June 10.

Still time to submit Active Kids vouchers

Thousands of Active Kids vouchers have been submitted to enhance Highfields’ sports equipment - and we’re making a final shout out for any more to boost the total before the final deadline of June 17.

Highfields has once again thrown its weight behind the annual Sainsbury’s Active Kids campaign to boost its sporting equipment.

Sainsbury’s runs the Active Kids scheme every year to give schools and sports clubs the chance to redeem vouchers for sports equipment.

Almost 5,000 vouchers have been collected so far.

PE teacher, Ms L.Stevenson, said: “Sainsbury’s Active Kids is a great initiative that has allowed us to really enhance our sporting equipment in school.

“The Active Kids scheme allows us to introduce new sporting equipment and supplement our existing equipment which is of great benefit to our students. 

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has collected vouchers and brought them in to school. We're now making a final push for anyone who may still have vouchers at home to bring them in before the final deadline of June 17.”

Highfields has been able to fund a range of new equipment through the scheme in the past, ranging from hockey sticks and netballs through to bean bags and jumping frogs.

Good luck to all students sitting exams

GCSEs are now under way and we would like to wish all of our students taking their exams the very best of luck.

Around 250 Year 11 students will sit their GCSE exams over the coming weeks following months of intensive study and revision sessions.

Mrs N Clifton, Head of Upper School, said: “We are incredibly proud of how hard our Year 11 students have worked towards their exams. 

“Exam season can be a daunting time but our students have approached their studies and revision with positivity and a desire to succeed.

“The focused and conscientious manner with which they handled their mock exams earlier this year was good preparation for the real thing and I would like to personally wish them all the very best of luck.”

Last year’s GCSE results were the best ever for the school, with 74% of pupils achieving A*-C grades - including in English and Mathematics - and 51% achieving the top A* and A grades. 

Here's a step-by-step revision guide, which will be updated every week in the 'Parents' section of the website. To download the document click here.

Click here for our exam timetable. New timetables will be uploaded in the 'Parents' section of the website during the exam period.

Young engineers praised for innovation

Talented sixth-form students who created an innovative cable racking assembly as part of a national engineering project have been honoured for their work.

The team of Year 12 students created the system as part of their work on the Engineering Education Scheme. 

The invention aims to significantly reduce the man hours required when installing cable racking around corners and it has now received critical acclaim from engineering experts.

The national scheme is run by the Engineering Development Trust and allows small teams from different schools to take part in designing, building and presenting an engineering project that could be of significant use to a local engineering company.

The team from Highfields - made up of India Uppal, Ryan Lucas, Kuljit Singh, Jake Badger, James Wilson and Gursharon Sansoia - was sponsored by Mott MacDonald Bentley, an engineering company which specialises in water treatment plants.

As part of the project, members of the group took part in a two-day residential at Loughborough University where they were able to start building a prototype of their project using the facilities in its engineering workshops. 

They then recently took part in a National Celebration and Assessment Day where they displayed their project and presented their work to a panel of judges.

Mr A.Britton, Physics teacher, said: “The day proved to be very successful with some very positive feedback from the judges.”

All of the students have now gained their EES award and will also be presented with Gold CREST certificates to honour their work in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

Mr Britton said he was delighted to announce that Mott MacDonald Bentley had also agreed to support next year’s Highfield’s EES team.