Tributes paid to former Deputy Headteacher

The school was very saddened to hear of the sudden death last week of a former Deputy Headteacher – Mervyn Brooker.

Mervyn was appointed as a Deputy Headteacher in September 1988, at a very difficult time for Highfields, and he played an important role in the Senior Leadership Team as it sought to help the school move forward. His calm presence, good humour and professional integrity were much valued.

He had a very strong belief that everyone deserved the best education possible, both in and out of the classroom, and did his best to ensure that was the case for Highfields’ students. Mervyn was a passionate and excellent teacher of Geography and always sought to instil his love of the subject in his students. He was a very active supporter and participant of the Geography Department’s fieldwork activities, wherever they were and whatever the weather!

In his leadership role, Mervyn also worked tirelessly to support his colleagues’ professional development with generous encouragement, valuable advice, wisdom and good humour.

Whilst at Highfields, Mervyn helped to run several school sports teams, including soccer and cricket. He was a notably able cricketer, having previously played for Cambridgeshire and Staffordshire at county level, but Mervyn also had the ability to coach and encourage budding young Highfields players, many of whom are still playing at local clubs.

Mervyn went on to become the Headteacher of King Edwards Camp Hill and then Bolton School where his contributions to education continued to be of the highest standard. On his retirement, Mervyn returned to Wolverhampton, renewing his acquaintances with former colleagues and students, particularly when watching Wolverhampton Wanderers! He also expanded his fieldwork activities by undertaking numerous long distance walks in this country as well as climbing in Nepal.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and we send the condolences of the Highfields community to his wife, daughters and their families.

Highfields maintains position among City's top schools

Highfields has maintained its position among Wolverhampton’s top schools for both attainment and student progress in the latest performance tables.

Progress 8 and Attainment 8 - which mark students’ progress and achievements over eight GCSE subjects - are among the headline measures now used to calculate official school league table positions.

Highfields recorded an Attainment 8 score of 50.7 out of 80, putting it in third position of the city’s schools in this category, whilst our Progress 8 score of 0.26 is above the national average and among the city’s top five schools. Progress 8 looks at the advances a pupil makes from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school, comparing students’ results with the achievements of other youngsters with the same prior attainment.

The league tables have also taken into account the fact that 56% of Highfields students achieved a strong pass (Grade 5 or above) in English and Maths - second only to Wolverhampton Girls’ High School.

Headteacher, Mr Graham Tate, said: “We are delighted to have maintained our position among the best schools in Wolverhampton for both progress and attainment. As always, it is testament to the hard work of our students and staff over many years, especially the tough months leading up to exams.

“Our current Year 11 students are already working hard in preparation for this year’s exams to maintain these excellent academic standards.”

Highfields celebrated another successful year of GCSE results in 2018, with 25 students achieving the highest Grade 9 rating, which is equivalent to an A** under the old grading system. In addition, an exceptional six students achieved three or more GCSE Grade 9s, placing them among the country’s elite.

Prior to 2017, the key metric of performance tables was the percentage of students achieving grade C or higher in five GCSE subjects, including English and maths.

Students get taste of careers in Health & Social Care

Sixth Form students enjoyed hands-on experience of a range of University courses, including healthcare, early years development and crime scene analysis, as part of an event encouraging them to look ahead to the future.

University College of Birmingham staged the ‘Future U’ event to give students a taste of a number of career options they may wish to pursue after Highfields.

Twelve Year 12 students went along to the event, which saw them complete five sessions, each focused on a different career path.

Sessions included a health suite simulation, which focused on hygiene in hospitals, changing beds and taking temperatures, whilst a session in learning and play taught them the importance of play in the cognitive and emotional development of children.

Sessions were also staged in crime scene analysis, developmental baby massage and public health, which allowed them to look at obesity and alcoholism.

As part of the event, they also got the chance to question several lecturers about the wide range of courses available, and learn more about University life.

Miss E Williams, Health and Social Care teacher, said: “The students thoroughly enjoyed the visit and now have a much better insight into what they would like to do in the future.

“Quite a number of the students said they hadn't realised the range of courses on offer or what lessons/lectures would be like at University.”

One student said: “I enjoyed learning that University isn't all about lectures and sitting in a classroom. This visit has made me more excited about the course that I want to take and has made me consider going to UCB in the future.

“The event was really helpful and they gave us lots of information about what to expect at University. It has inspired me to look more in detail about what I would like to do in the future in Health and Social Care.”

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.”