New book fair launched ahead of summer holidays

A new book fair is being launched, giving students the chance to get their hands on dozens of titles at discounted prices ahead of the summer holidays.

The Scholastic Book Fair will run from Tuesday, July 4th to Friday, July 7th during lunch and break times in the Humanities LRC. It is being held following the huge success of previous book fairs that have helped students nurture their love of reading.

More than 200 books will be up for grabs to suit all tastes. For every £1 spent by students, Highfields will earn 20p in Scholastic Rewards to be used to buy books and boost the school’s stock.

Librarian, Mrs N Ward, said: “Following the success of previous events and to encourage and support pupils in their reading, we are delighted to be hosting another Scholastic Book Fair.

“There will be a vast variety of titles on offer for all ages as well as stationery and posters on sale. It is a perfect opportunity for students to pick up books at discounted prices for summer reading."

Colourful wolf sculpture completed for city trail

A life-sized wolf sculpture has been decorated by talented young artists from Highfields ready to form part of Wolverhampton’s biggest public art event.

The 5ft sculpture has been transformed into a colourful piece of art 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 were selected by members of staff from the Art department to decorate the school’s wolf before it hits the streets to form part of the city-wide sculpture trail. 

They have worked on the design with representatives from WV Active, which has sponsored the sculpture. It includes blue swirls to represent the city’s swimming pools and silhouettes to showcase the many activities on offer at its leisure centres, as well as the colours of the Highfields logo.

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

Brian's fight for future put in media spotlight

Photograph courtesy of Express & Star

Former Highfields student Brian White has captured the attention and hearts of thousands of people, after his battle to take up his well-earned place at Oxford University was picked up by the media.

Talented Brian won his place at the university - officially ranked the best university in the world - after outstanding A-Level results which saw him achieve three A* grades in Chemistry, Physics and Biology and an A in Maths.

But the life-changing experience could be snatched from his grasp due to uncertainty over his status in the UK, which threatens to end in him being removed from the country.

Photograph courtesy of Express & Star

An orphan in Zimbabwe up until the age of six, Brian was first fostered and then adopted by British-born Peter White and eventually moved to the UK aged 15. It was when he accepted his place at Oxford University and applied for a student grant that it emerged his permission to stay in this country had expired.

Former MP Rob Marris, who took up Brian’s case before his retirement, said that there had ‘regrettably’ been mistakes made by the Home Office regarding Brian’s case whilst immigration expert, Louis MacWilliam, a solicitor with London firm Bindmans, has made a fresh application for Brian to stay in the UK. He said it appeared Brian should have been granted indefinite leave to enter at the first instance.

Now 20, Brian works as a volunteer teaching assistant at Highfields whilst he waits for his future to be decided. He is living with kind-hearted Martin Leigh, the partner of Highfields teacher, Ms S Bishop, after his father was moved to a care home, potentially leaving him homeless.

Brian’s case has now been picked up by a number of media outlets, including the Express & Star and ITV Central News. He has also received support from celebrities, including former Highfields student and soul superstar, Beverly Knight, and prominent journalist and author, Sathnam Sanghera. 

Ms Bishop said: “It has been heartwarming to have received so many messages of support from people since they heard of Brian’s story in the media. He truly is an incredible young man with such potential and it is wonderful that so many people care about his future.”

Headteacher, Graham Tate, said: “Being awarded a place at Oxford is a great achievement for any student and it is always an especially proud moment for Highfields to have one of their students recognised among the country’s academic elite.

“Brian has already overcome so much adversity yet has displayed an absolute determination to do the very best with his life. He has so much potential for a brilliant future and it would be a tragedy if this is ripped away from him. We will do everything we can to support him all the way.”

Keith Sedgebeer, Chair of Governors, added: “A failure to grant him permission to stay will shatter both his future and his dreams. In my view this would not only represent a personal tragedy for him but also the tragic failure of the country to support and nurture one of its most outstanding young people who has the potential to make a massive contribution to our future.”

To read the full Express & Star article click here

Students get taste of life at busy bakery

A trip to Warburtons was the best thing since sliced bread for students.

Students who have chosen to study the GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition course next year visited the bakery in Wednesbury.

The visit gave them an insight into the mass production of bread and how flour as a commodity is utilised in the company’s many products. 

Food Technology teacher, Miss B Chima, said: “Students got to compare bread products from competitors and also take part in a small food science experiment based on producing a gluten ball. 

“The students were then given a full bakery tour with the technical bakery managers and got to see 7,000 loaves of bread being produced in one hour.”

Highfields launches ‘Couch to 5k’ charity fitness drive

A fundraising fitness drive has been launched by Highfields, with the aim of getting people healthy whilst raising money for charity.

The ‘Couch to 5k’ drive is open to all students, parents, staff and the wider community to raise funds for the city’s Compton Hospice.

Training sessions are taking place every Wednesday evening at 6.30pm on the Hamble, in Hamble Road, Penn. Sessions last around 45 minutes.

The training programme will culminate with a 5km run on a date to be confirmed in July, which will take place at Highfields or around West Park.

Mr C Brickwood, Head of PE, said: “The sessions are open to all levels of fitness and all running abilities from novice to advanced. This is an ideal opportunity for you to exercise with your family whilst supporting a great local charity.

“All you need to participate is a pair of trainers and some comfortable sports clothes. A thin waterproof is desirable as the club will run in all weathers.

“Sponsorship forms will be made available to allow you to get as much support for your hard work as possible.

“We have already held our first session and it was a great success. We did not really know what the turnout would be like but, as my watch struck 6.30pm, we had just over 30 people from the wider Highfields community join us. There was a fantastic atmosphere, with a range of abilities and everyone went away having enjoyed the session.

“We would love to see even more people at the next session!”

Rehearsals under way for Summer Song & Dance Showcase

Rehearsals are under way for this year’s Summer Song & Dance Showcase. 

The annual event gives students the chance to showcase their performance talents in front of live audiences over two nights. This year’s event will take place on July 12th.

Dozens of students auditioned to perform in the show and audiences are set to be treated to a packed line up of groups and soloists performing musical arrangements, dances and songs.

Rehearsals are now taking place every Tuesday evening in The Lyceum, from 3.30pm-5pm, ahead of the showcase.

Ms S Bishop, Head of Performance, said: “Our Summer Song & Dance event is always a popular event on the school calendar which gives our students the chance to showcase their talents to a live audience.

“We once again have a variety of performances lined up. Rehearsals have now started to give our performers the time to perfect their routines in time for the shows.”

Wolf sculpture taking shape ahead of city trail

A life-sized wolf sculpture that will form part of Wolverhampton’s biggest public art event is taking shape with swirls of colour.

The 5ft sculpture is being 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 have been selected by members of staff from the Art department to decorate the school’s wolf before it hits the streets to form part of the city-wide sculpture trail.

They are working with representatives from WV Active, which has sponsored the sculpture, on the design. It includes blue swirls to represent the city’s swimming pools and silhouettes to showcase the many activities on offer at its leisure centres.

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.

Students get behind the camera ahead of Film Studies launch

Budding movie directors have been getting to grips with the tricks and techniques used to bring movies to life on screen ahead of the launch of a new Film Studies course.

Film Studies is being introduced as a course option for Year 9 students from September.

A pilot scheme was held for students to get a better insight into what the course will have to offer, including analysing film trailers as well as planning and producing their own short film.

They used skills such as understanding the effect of camera angles, using animation, a green screen, special effects, drama, editing and working with different people.

English and Film Studies teacher, Mr A Beesla, said: “Students thought carefully about the influence and power of film, as well as how to present different messages.

“They are all very proud of their work and many are looking forward to taking Film Studies as a Year 9 option.”

Watch one of the films our students made here:

Hundreds of extra students to benefit from HP Streams

HP Streams are being rolled out to hundreds more students after proving such a success as an educational aid.

HP Streams were introduced for the latest intake of Year 7 students at the start of the academic year in September 2016.

The devices were brought in to aid students’ school and homework as they allow them to access the full Microsoft Office suite of programs from anywhere at any time, as well as the ‘Show My Homework’ portal.

They have now been rolled out to all students in Year 9, with all Year 8 students set to start using them by the end of the summer term.

In a recent school survey of Year 7 students and parents, the system was given a big thumbs-up. Students commented on how their HP Stream had made it easier to research information about subjects at any time, as well as helping them with spelling.

Parents, who pay a monthly contribution towards the lease of the devices, also gave their backing to the scheme, with 97% saying they are happy with the system. 

Mr A Cheetham, Deputy Headteacher, said: “We introduced HP Streams for all Year 7 students in September 2016 and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“As a result, HP Streams are now being rolled out to students in other year groups. During a recent survey, our current Year 7 students and parents commented that the devices had been ‘invaluable’ in aiding with school work so we are delighted that hundreds of extra students will now benefit from them.”

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.