Young engineers showcase their innovative designs

Talented Sixth Form students travelled to Loughborough University to work on their innovative engineering designs as part of a national project.

Two teams of Year 12 students have been working with industry experts to bring new designs to life as part of the prestigious Engineering Education Scheme.

One team is working on the creation of an Air Entrapment Solution, alongside professionals from Mott Macdonald Bentley, whilst the other group of budding engineers have partially built the prototype of their Nuclear Waste Dissector, which they have developed with the help of ANSALDO Nuclear.

Students were able to work on their projects using the facilities in Loughborough University’s engineering workshops and will now continue with their prototype builds after school and in weekly meetings with their supervising companies.

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.

Later this year, the teams will take part in a National Celebration and Assessment Day where they will get the chance to display their projects and present their work to a panel of judges.

Physics teacher, Mr A Britton, said: “The students all enjoyed the trip to Loughborough University and found it very useful.

“The MMB team built a test rig and carried out lots of experiments, whilst the ANSALDO team have managed to partially build their prototype.

“Both teams will now continue to work on their prototypes with their companies during weekly meetings in the school’s workshops.”

Year 9 students 'Moving Forward' with course choices

Year 9 students have been looking ahead as part of Highfields’ ‘Moving Forward’ event, which supports them in making the right course choices to achieve their future career dreams.

The event provides students with advice, guidance and inspiration, enabling them to make informed decisions about their subject choices for Years 10 and 11.

The day kicked off with a launch assembly, before two volunteers from Wolves Women FC - Manager, Daniel McNamara and Non Technical Development Coach, Nick Hitchman - inspired students with a motivational talk focused on the importance of working hard to achieve goals.

The pair, who are both in the RAF, were also joined on stage by the school’s Assistant Sixth Form Manager, Mr N Maxfield, a former Highfields student who is also the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wolves Women FC.

Current Sixth Form students spoke about their course selection experiences, whilst the event also featured sessions on evaluating strengths, career options and revision skills.

Mr P Rose, Highfields’ Head of Middle School and Careers Leader, said: “Our motivational speakers gave an excellent talk about working hard to achieve your goals, and the importance of making the right decisions to succeed. They were really down-to-earth, relatable people, who struck a chord with our students.

“This ‘Moving Forward’ event kicks off the process of students making choices for the future and it aims to support them to make informed decisions, which will allow them to fulfil their career dreams.”

During the day, Highfields was also delighted to welcome undergraduates from Aston University Medical School, who talked to a selected group of 30 Year 9 students about pathways to healthcare.

All Year 9 students will sit school exams in February to aid the course choice process, before final subject selections are agreed in March.

Careers Fair set to inspire students for the future

Highfields will stage a Careers Fair to give students the chance to learn more about the vast range of opportunities available to them after school.

Dozens of exhibitors will be showcasing their services during the event, which will take place from 6pm - 8pm on Wednesday, January 30th.

The event is open to all students from Year 9 through to Sixth Form.

A number of colleges, universities, training providers and employers from a range of industries will be represented at the Careers Fair, including Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, The British Army, The Royal Navy, Barclays, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wolves Women and Gunnebo.

Mr P Rose, Highfields’ Head of Middle School and Careers Leader, said: “At Highfields School, we are fully committed to doing all that we can to ensure that all our students are fully aware and understand the possibilities open to them in every sector of employment and the huge variety of careers on offer to them.

“As well as providing students with the academic foundation to succeed, we pride ourselves on the wide range of opportunities we provide, from Year 7 through to Year 13, for students to explore future pathways and receive quality advice and guidance so that they are able to make the right choices, whether that be Further Education, Higher Education, an Apprenticeship or Employment.

“In January each year, the whole school focuses on CEIAG, with special events scheduled across the years, including the annual Highfields School Careers Fair. This year will be the biggest Careers Fair to date and is an exciting opportunity for all students to meet and talk with local businesses and apprenticeship providers, as well as further and higher education institutions.”

Highfields welcomes guide dogs to showcase charity work

Highfields welcomed three guide dogs into school as part of a special visit to mark the start of the new term and give charity volunteers the chance to showcase their life-changing work.

Staff and students got the chance to meet the dogs - Ulma, Bracken and Orla - whilst learning more about the vital role guide dogs play in the lives of their owners.

The dogs were accompanied by Guide Dogs charity volunteer and fundraiser, Lisa Wharton, who previously worked at Highfields as Chief Librarian.

Assistant Sixth Form Manager, Mr N Maxfield, who organised the visit, said: “We were delighted to welcome these very special visitors into school and it was a fantastic day for all involved.

“It was great to spend time with the dogs and hear more about their incredible work. We are looking forward to organising many more events with the charity to raise awareness and funds in the very near future.”

Guide Dogs was founded in 1934 and supports thousands of blind and partially sighted people across the UK. The charity is currently responsible for around 8,000 dogs.

MP hands out awards at Celebration Evening

Dozens of former Highfields students were recognised for their efforts and achievements during their last year of school as part of the Year 11 Celebration Evening.

More than 50 students - some of whom have now moved on to Sixth Form, college and training - returned to Highfields for the event to be presented with awards by special guest, Wolverhampton South West MP, Eleanor Smith.

During the night, eight Outstanding Learning School Awards were given out, along with three Pastoral Awards and two Headteacher’s Awards.

The students were nominated by staff for their commitment and achievements during their last year of school, before winners were chosen from the shortlisted candidates.

All nominees received a medal and certificate to celebrate their success, whilst trophies were given out to the winners.

Mr C Rhodes, Highfields’ Raising Achievement Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome back our former Year 11 students to officially recognise their efforts and achievements during the last academic year.

“It was great to have our local MP, Eleanor Smith, there to address the audience and present the awards. It was a fitting celebration for all of our students’ hard work.”

Young designers make finals of national contest

Young designers have made it through to the finals of a national competition with their creative new product idea.

As part of the Product Design curriculum, Year 9 students Rohan Bagley, Remy Caddick-Guy, Tommy McGinn and Harjan Sidhu have taken part in the London Design Museum competition, ‘Design Ventura’.

The project has replicated a live design experience and students were given the brief of designing a product to improve people’s lives.

Around 13,000 students entered nationally for the chance of having their product manufactured and sold in the Design Museum shop.

The team from Highfields worked on the project from September to November and came up with the idea of ‘Photo Feet’, a unique way of displaying postcards and photographs. Photo Feet are miniature stands, each in the shape of famous London landmarks.

The design was shortlisted in the top 10 entries nationally and our students were invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of expert design judges on Monday 10th December.

As part of the day, students also attended the Design Museum exhibitions and participated in discussions with industry experts, informing their design thinking and giving them valuable design experience. 

A final presentation will take place in February when the winning design will be announced.

Students shave hair to raise 2k for Cancer Research

Three Sixth Form students shaved their hair to raise almost £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Highfields’ Head Boy, Feargus Flanagan, along with his two friends, Joe McNally-Woods and Sam Guest, took on the head shave challenge to raise cash for the charity, which pioneers research into cures for all cancers.

Feargus said: “I knew it would be cold at this time of year having our heads shaved but it was definitely worth it to raise money to support the vital work of Cancer Research.”

Mr N Maxfield, Assistant Year Manager, said: “It is a fantastic achievement to have raised so much for such a worthy cause. They should be very proud.”

Ding Dong Merrily on Highfields

Talented students have been spreading festive cheer with a series of performances across the region.

A group of singers were in fine voice when they performed for shoppers at Co-op supermarket, in Penn, before entertaining residents at The Firs Care Home in Sedgley, and then patients and staff at Compton Care.

The festive ‘tour’ came after students showcased their singing and acting talents at an annual church carol service. St Bartholomew’s Church, in Penn, hosts the carol service for Highfields School students every Christmas.

Members of the school’s Drama Club performed A Christmas Carol while the choir sang Silent Night and Joyful Joyful, from Sister Act. In addition, the school’s Head Team read four Christmas Bible readings and led traditional Christmas carols, before the congregation enjoyed mince pies and hot drinks.

Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Extra Curricular Performing Arts, said: “Our students put on some brilliant performances and really spread Christmas cheer across the Midlands.”

Creative student designs Highfields' official Christmas Card

Students got artistic as part of a competition to create Highfields’ official Christmas card.

The content was open to students in Years 7 and 8, with this snow globe scene, created by Taranjot Sandhu from form 7G, coming out in first place. The Christmas card has now been sent out to partnering organisations in digital form.

Students were given the choice of either drawing, painting or submitting their designs digitally. Dozens of creative students submitted their colourful entries, before the winner was selected.

Ms J Parker, Head of Lower School, said: “We are always proud to add a personal touch to Highfields’ official Christmas cards by getting our students to design them.

“We run the competition annually for Year 7 and 8 students, and we were delighted to have received dozens of entries. They were a great standard and, although it was a close contest, Taranjot is a very worthy winner.”

Budding chefs showcase culinary talents in national contest

Year 11 Catering students showcased their culinary talents as part of the national Futurechef competition.

The contest, run by Springboard, is aimed at students aged between 12 and 16-years-old and has been running for 19 years with schools all over the country getting involved. It consists of four stages: school heats, local finals, regional finals and ultimately, the national final, which will be hosted by Westminster Kingsway college.

Food Technology teacher, Miss E Williams organised Highfields’ heat, which saw Chirag Verma and Charlie Baker named as winners after making standout dishes on a £5 budget.

The winning pair then went on to each create a two-course meal in the ‘local heat’ at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, being judged on a number of factors, including skills and techniques, creativity and presentation, nutritional balance, composition, taste and flavour.

Chirag came second, missing out on the top spot by just two marks, and Charlie came fourth.

Miss Williams said: Futurechef gives students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their culinary talents, competing against others who share their passion for food. Chirag and Charlie both worked really hard and I’m very proud of how well they performed.”

Chirag came second, missing out on the top spot by just two marks, and Charlie came fourth.

Miss Williams said: Futurechef gives students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their culinary talents, competing against others who share their passion for food. Chirag and Charlie both worked really hard and I’m very proud of how well they performed.”

Chirag came second, missing out on the top spot by just two marks, and Charlie came fourth.

Miss Williams said: Futurechef gives students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their culinary talents, competing against others who share their passion for food. Chirag and Charlie both worked really hard and I’m very proud of how well they performed.”

Chirag came second, missing out on the top spot by just two marks, and Charlie came fourth.

Miss Williams said: Futurechef gives students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their culinary talents, competing against others who share their passion for food. Chirag and Charlie both worked really hard and I’m very proud of how well they performed.”

Chirag came second, missing out on the top spot by just two marks, and Charlie came fourth.

Miss Williams said: Futurechef gives students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their culinary talents, competing against others who share their passion for food. Chirag and Charlie both worked really hard and I’m very proud of how well they performed.”

Chirag came second, missing out on the top spot by just two marks, and Charlie came fourth.

Miss Williams said: Futurechef gives students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their culinary talents, competing against others who share their passion for food. Chirag and Charlie both worked really hard and I’m very proud of how well they performed.”