Budding engineers praised for innovation

Talented Sixth Form students have taken the first steps on the path to an engineering career after designing and creating two innovative products as part of a national project.

Twelve AS Physics students from Highfields nurtured their talents as part of the prestigious Engineering Education Scheme. 

The six-month 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 students were split into two teams and have designed a Remote Handling Device for nuclear waste and an Adjustable Flow Distribution Chamber for sewage works.

They were sponsored by Ansaldo NES Nuclear Engineering, based in Bilston, and Shifnal based MMB Engineering.

As part of the project, students had weekly meetings with engineers from their sponsor companies and also took part in a two-day residential at Wolverhampton University’s Engineering Campus in Telford, where they were able to start building prototypes. This has qualified them for the Gold CREST award, Britain’s largest national award scheme for project work in the STEM subjects.

The project culminated with the National Celebration and Assessment Day, where around 50 teams of budding engineers set up stands to display their projects and presented their work to a panel of judges, comprising of business directors and engineers.

Mr A Dean, Head of Mathematics & Science Learning School, said: “At the event, directors from both Ansaldo and MMB expressed their enthusiasm to continue to work with Highfields in the future.”

“Both teams had a great day. They were all awarded certificates following their presentation and after fielding some probing questions from the judges at their display stand.”

The EES was established in 1984 and was developed to respond to a chronic shortage of young people in the UK choosing to enter STEM professions with the requisite skills and experience. 

The mission of the EDT is to encourage as many young people as possible within the UK to consider entering a STEM profession and gives students in Year 12 the chance to develop skills, including team working, project management, report writing and presentation skills. Over the past 30 years, the scheme has worked with over 3,000 companies which have linked together with more than 30,000 students.

Catering students pick up top career tips

Students working towards a career in Hospitality and Catering got the chance to put their skills to the test during a visit to University College Birmingham.

A group of Year 12 students toured the facilities at UCB before trying their hands at making mocktails.

They also spent time with a professional baker decorating cupcakes and worked in pairs to dish up a stir-fry with the help of a chef.

Miss E Williams, Food Technology teacher, said: “The visit gave our students a great insight into what it would be like to go to college or university after their time at school to pursue their career dreams in the Hospitality and Catering industry.”

Year 10 students were also given the chance to learn more about a career in Catering after a visit from the General Manager and Chef de Partie at the Mount Hotel in Tettenhall.

Mr N Wyatt and Mr M Burrows held a question and answer session with students, giving them an invaluable insight into the industry, including what it is really like to produce 2,000 dishes in a single evening for special occasions.

Miss B Chima, Food Technology teacher, said: “Mr Wyatt answered all the questions the students had prepared and Mr Burrows shared all his culinary knowledge with them.

“They were so impressed with the students’ maturity and behaviour that they have invited them to have a look around the hotel and sample afternoon tea.”

Musical showcase turns volume up on talented students

Students turned the volume up on their talents during a musical showcase. 

GCSE and A-Level music students performed at the Evening of Music, which transformed the school’s restaurant and cyber cafe area into a mini concert hall.

All of the performances were recorded to form part of the students’ exam coursework.

Music teacher, Miss A.Ross, said: “We have such a wealth of talent here at Highfields and our Evening of Music gave students the chance to showcase their musical abilities to a live audience whilst working towards their GCSE and A-Level exams.

"They put on a wonderful musical display."

Students invited to audition for Summer Showcase

Students are being given the chance to audition for this year’s Summer Showcase.

The annual event gives students the chance to showcase their singing, dancing and musical talents in front of live audiences over two nights. This year’s event will take place on July 12 and 13.

Auditions will take place in The Lyceum from 3.30pm on Thursday, May 4. Students are invited to perform a short dance routine, musical arrangement or song of their choice in groups or alone.

Last year’s Summer Showcase was hosted by radio DJ Dicky Dodd and helped to raise around £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.

Dozens of students performed in last year's Summer Showcase, which raised money for Prostate Cancer UK

Wolf sculpture arrives for city art trail

Highfields has taken delivery of a life-sized fibreglass wolf that will form part of Wolverhampton’s biggest public art event.

The 5ft sculpture wolf will now be decorated as part of the Wolves in Wolves project, which will see 30 of the sculptures placed around the city at points of interest, allowing people to explore its best attractions.

Students will be selected by members of staff from the art department to decorate the wolf before it goes out on the streets to form part of the city-wide sculpture trail.

They will work with representatives from WV Active, which has sponsored the sculpture, on the design. 

Wolves in Wolves is being organised by The Outside Centre and Enjoy Wolverhampton, with support from Wolverhampton City Council.

The trail will run from July to September before the wolf sculptures are auctioned off for charity.

The project has drawn comparisons with The Big Hoot, which saw owl sculptures decorated by local businesses and organisations placed around Birmingham.

Thousands of people flocked to the city to follow the trail and the auction of individually-designed owls raised £508,035. The money was used to support Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s £3.65m Star Appeal to create a unique Rare Diseases Centre in the UK specifically for children. 

Compton Hospice named as Highfields' chosen charity

Students have chosen Wolverhampton’s Compton Hospice as Highfields’ nominated charity.

All 1,600 pupils were given the chance to  vote from a shortlist of three charities to become the focus of their fundraising efforts, which have been taking place since September and will continue throughout the summer term.

Compton Hospice provides care and support for families living with incurable illnesses across the Black Country, South Staffordshire and East Shropshire. It is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Mrs C Hartshorne, said: “The students were all given the chance to vote for what charity they would like to donate money from their fundraising efforts to.

“Compton Hospice does a wonderful job in caring for people living with incurable illnesses as well as providing invaluable support for their families. We are delighted to be able to help their work.”

Highfields raises thousands of pounds each year for its nominated charity as well as other good causes, including Comic Relief and Children in Need.

Kelsi tackling charity run in memory of tragic friends

Highfields student, Kelsi Pratt, will be taking on a tough running challenge in memory of close family friends who tragically lost their lives in the Tunisian terror attack.

Year 11 student Kelsi will complete the Great Birmingham 10k Run to raise funds for the Smile For Joel charity, which helps families who have become victims of traumatic bereavement.

The charity has been set up in memory of 19-year-old Joel Richards, his uncle Adrian Evans and the teenager’s grandfather, Patrick Evans, who were all killed by Islamic State terrorist Seifeddine Rezgui on a family holiday to Tunisia in 2015.

The fundraising charity was launched by Joel’s mum Suzy along with her 16-year-old son Owen, who survived the horrific ordeal. Money raised will be distributed through Victim Support to help bereaved families.

Kelsi is now hoping to raise funds for the charity by taking part in the Great Birmingham 10k Run on April 30th.

Kelsi’s mother, Louise Brittain, said: “In 2015, we lost three very special people in the Tunisian terrorist attack. This deeply affected our family and to this day we are still are trying to come to terms with what happened on that day.

“In memory of Pat, Ade and Joel a charity was set up by Suzy Evans, my best friend and her son, Owen, who survived that day to raise money for families who have been affected by terrorism and homicide.  

“We as a family are heavily involved in fundraising to support the charity and on April 30th Kelsi shall be running in the Great Birmingham 10k marathon with Owen for Smileforjoel.”

For more information about the charity, visit http://smileforjoel.com or donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Owen-Richards2?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Owen-Richards2&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Shakespeare to be celebrated during arts festival

The life and works of Shakespeare will be celebrated by students from Highfields, Penn Fields and Wolverhampton College as part of an exciting Olympic legacy-funded arts project.

Students have spent weeks rehearsing as part of ‘The Shake of Things’ project, which will culminate in an action-packed festival for all the family at The Arena Theatre on April 23rd.

The project has been made possible thanks to ‘Spirit of 2012’ Olympic legacy funding and has seen dozens of students working with industry professionals on a number of live performances as well as film production. 

Rehearsals have taken place on Tuesday evenings at Penn Fields School over a number of weeks and Ms S.Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Performance, said everyone was excited about showcasing their hard work at the festival.

The festival will take place from 12-5pm and includes free entry and buffet for all visitors. Our students will be performing a short version of Macbeth from 12.45pm, followed by dance duet Superficial Love - based on Romeo and Juliet - at 1.30pm. A film created by students also based on Romeo and Juliet will be screened at 1.45pm before members of Highfields’ own dance group, Barefoot Dance Company, will perform a selection of contemporary numbers based on Shakespeare works from 3-3.45pm.

The event will also include workshops celebrating the Bard’s life and works. 

Ms S.Bishop, Highfields' Head of Performance, said: “It has been wonderful to collaborate with Penn Fields School and Wolverhampton College on such an exciting project.

"It is a true privilege to have been awarded this 'Spirit of 2012' Olympic legacy funding and to be involved in this high-profile arts project, which has given students the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals to celebrate Shakespeare’s works.

“After weeks of hard work, we are now looking forward to seeing the results of all of our students’ efforts at the festival on April 23rd. The day is packed with lots of activities and performances to provide fun for all the family. We hope to see you all there.”

Sprit of 2012 is an independent trust, established with a £47m endowment from the Big Lottery Fund, that works to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It promotes wellbeing and social cohesion and challenges limiting perceptions of disability by funding partners that provide opportunities in sports, physical activity, arts and culture, volunteering and social action.

Funding for the project was secured under the category of collaborating secondary schools, special schools and Further Education providers.

Students pick up revision tips during 'Plan To Succeed' Day

Year 11 students were given top tips and advice about making their exam revision count as part of a special day dedicated to ensuring they succeed in their GCSEs.

Students took part in a number of workshops and activities as part of the Plan To Succeed Day, which took place on March 22nd.

They learnt about applying the ‘4Rs’ throughout the day and each received a goody bag featuring a clear pencil case, pen, pencil, post-it notes and highlighters to aid their revision.

Students worked in groups to construct their own revision timetables and materials making use of a range of techniques including mind maps, flash cards, route systems and quizzes with prizes handed out for the best materials created on the day.

Mrs N.Clifton, Head of Upper School, said: “The purpose of the day was to allow Year 11 students to develop their revision skills and strategies and raise awareness of the need to be revising now.  

“Our school exam results were positive and the experience gave our studentsan indication of the areas in which they need to improve on for the real thing.

“This day was all about giving them the advice and ideas to make sure they get the most out of their revision time and adopt revision methods that best suit them so they achieve their potential in their exams and put themselves on the road to success in the future.”

Students are now being encouraged to share their own revision resources through the Create Like Share area on the school website. Four prizes worth £25 each will be given out for the best resources shared between students over the Easter holiday.

Budding lawyers shine in mock court competition

Budding lawyers took to the stand to argue a moot problem as part of a law competition hosted by the University of Wolverhampton.

Lauren Callaghan and Reece Leel represented Highfields in the competition. They analysed a legal problem, researched the relevant law, prepared written submissions and presented a legal argument before a panel of judges from the University's Law School in the form of a simulated court hearing. 

Highfields was one of six schools to make it through to the finals of the competition and secured second place, missing out on first place by just two points.

Lauren and Reece were presented with a finalists trophy and received a £20 Amazon voucher each, presented to them by High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Dr Keith Bradshaw.  

Teacher, Mrs C.Madden, said: “The judges praised the students highly for their efforts in preparing and presenting their case, likening the standard of their moot to that of undergraduate level students.  

“The experience has been extremely valuable in building up the confidence of our students, in particular their presentation and public speaking skills.  

“There was a great sense of team spirit throughout and the students should be very proud of their achievements in the competition.”