Students serve up scrumptious Christmas lunch for veterans

Veterans were treated to a Christmas lunch cooked by Highfields students.

Dozens of veterans from the Army, Royal Air Force and Navy were joined by representatives of Age UK Wolverhampton and Rotary Club members for the three-course lunch.

The meal was prepared by Sixth Form Catering students, supported by Health & Social students from Years 8 and 9, and with the help of Mitchell Burrows, Junior Sous Chef of the Mount Hotel in Wolverhampton. Service was conducted under the supervision of The Mount Hotel’s General Manager, Neil Wyatt.

Mr Burrows praised our ‘exceptional’ students and said they dished up a ‘fantastic’ meal.

Organised by Wolverhampton St George’s Rotary Club, the event formed part of the friendship scheme run by Age UK Wolverhampton and supported by Armed Forces charity, SSAFA, to ensure veterans are not alone.

As part of the festive celebrations, guests were also treated to a performance by the school’s choir.

It is the second time Highfields has hosted the event, and guests said they had enjoyed a fantastic afternoon.

Keith Sedgebeer, Highfields’ Chair of Governors, said: “We are delighted to welcome our group for the second time for their Christmas lunch.

“As always, it was a great treat to see them all - and not looking a year older.

“We very much hope we will be able to host them again next year.

“We are very grateful to the Wolverhampton St George’s Rotary Club for yet again organising the event. Finally, we’re incredibly grateful to all the youngsters at Highfields who helped in so many ways to make it such as successful event."

Miss B Chima, Interim Head of Food Technology, said: “It was a huge undertaking and we have been planning the event for weeks, but it has been great and we have enjoyed every minute of the process.

“It is the second Christmas we have welcomed Rotary Club members and veterans into school, and we were delighted to treat them to a delicious Christmas meal.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the students involved for their hard work, as well as chef Mitchell Burrows, Mount Hotel General Manager, Neil Wyatt, and Events co-ordinator, Chris, who supported the event.

“Thank you also to Mr Thompson for supplying artwork to showcase at the event, and to Mr Brittle for providing Christmas decorations.

“It went really well and the students did a fantastic job. Our guests were very impressed with their efforts.”

Rotary Club Members described the event as ‘phenomenal’.

Steve Glass, said: “It was absolutely phenomenal. They improve every year and the service was brilliant. The entertainment was also great, it was lovely to hear such beautiful voices.”

Fellow Rotary Club member, Val Astbury, said: “The students were all very polite and helpful, and the food was beautiful. I think the choir are just amazing.

“I’ve had a lovely afternoon and I look forward to coming next year.”

Students said they had learnt so much from the experience.

Year 13 Catering student, Simran Bigra, said: “It has been a great experience through which I have learnt a lot of new skills. My favourite part of the event was being able to cook on a professional level for a large group of people.”

Hundreds attend Sixth Form Open Evening

Highfields welcomed more than 400 visitors to its annual Sixth Form Open Evening, showcasing everything it offers post 16.

Prospective students and their families flocked to the event, where they got the chance to speak to current Sixth Form students and staff about their work, curriculum, examination results and life at Highfields.

They also got the chance to learn more about the extensive range of A-Level and Applied courses we offer and tour the school’s facilities.

Presentations were made by Head of Sixth Form, Mr S Pycroft, and members of the Student Leadership Team. Representatives from a number of universities were also on hand to provide advice about life after Highfields Sixth Form.

Mr Pycroft said: “It is always pleasing that so many of our Year 11 students choose to stay on to study at our Sixth Form and we were delighted to host this Open Evening so other students could get a feel of what we have to offer.

“Highfields is proud of its thriving Sixth Form, which offers an extensive range of courses. We have a reputation for providing high quality teaching in a supportive, friendly and challenging environment, giving our students the best possible foundations to succeed on whatever life path they choose after Sixth Form.

“This year’s Open Evening was another great success and it was wonderful to welcome so many people through the doors to give them a flavour of our Sixth Form.”

The Open Evening was held following a positive set of 2019 A-Level results, with record numbers of students having now moved on to university. Sixth Form students achieved a 100% pass rate - 73% of them being A*-C grades. Thirty per cent of students achieved A*-A grades in Science and Maths, 11 of them being the top A* grade.

For more information about our Sixth Form, please email spycroft@hswv.co.uk

Staying in Learning Day inspires students for future

Year 11 students were inspired to look forward to life after Highfields and understand the options available to them during this year’s Staying in Learning Day.

The event is an annual fixture on Highfields’ calendar which allows all Year 11 students to take part in a range of hands-on workshops and activities to support them with both their short and long-term educational and career goals.

The day was tailored to suit individual needs as students chose to take part in workshops and lectures based on the pathways they are interested in taking after finishing their GCSEs.

Those planning to stay on at Sixth Form or moving to college to study A-Levels were given a glimpse of further education with workshops in a host of subjects ranging from Maths, Science and English Literature to Film Studies, Catering, Health & Social Care and Law.

Professionals also visited the school to give practical advice and demonstrations, allowing students an insight into typical working expectations in a range of careers including Travel and Tourism, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality, Media and Engineering.

Mr C Rhodes, Highfields’ Upper School Raising Achievement Manager, said: “The event provides students with information and guidance on the pathways and progression routes available to them post 16. 

“It is a great opportunity for them to process the decisions they will be having to make shortly."

Staff and students qualify in First Aid

Staff and Sixth Form students have completed a nationally-recognised Emergency First Aid at Work qualification - with parents now being encouraged to sign up to learn the life-saving skills.

Nineteen Sixth Form students and three members of staff voluntarily attended three two-hour sessions after school to work towards the qualification in November.

Six lunchtime supervisors have also gained the qualification after completing training during an INSET day.

They learnt a range of skills, including CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), together with how to treat major bleeding, burns, seizures, choking, fainting minor injuries and anaphylaxis.

The First Aid courses are organised by Sixth Form Manager, Mrs L Corbett. Over the past four years, she has trained 231 staff, students and parents in First Aid.

She said: “We have run 29 courses over the past four years, the majority of which being Emergency First Aid at Work, which run for six hours usually across three sessions.

“Every member of our Year Teams are trained to the full First Aid at Work standard, which is the equivalent of a three-day course, as well as technicians, a number of PE staff, LRC staff and outdoor education leaders.

“It is wonderful that so many of our students and staff are being taught skills that could potentially save lives.”

Mrs Corbett said the school was keen to get more parents/carers involved in the First Aid courses. Anyone interested should email lcorbett@hswv.co.uk

Performers showcase talents at dance celebration

Performers showcased their talents during a dance extravaganza featuring more than 100 students from six Wolverhampton schools.

Highfields hosted the event, called ‘I Am Dance’, allowing students to share their work in front of a live audience.

Dance students from across the city took centre stage in the Lyceum Theatre, wowing with an eclectic mix of performances ranging from lyrical to upbeat jazz, street dance and Bollywood.

Organised by Highfields Dance teacher, Miss E Weblin, the event is the first of its kind for the school, but it is hoped it will now become an annual fixture on the calendar after proving such a success.

Miss Weblin said: “The event was all about celebrating the subject of Dance and honouring the commitment of students. It gave them the opportunity to share their work, which rarely gets performed to an audience.

“The students were really excited for their efforts to be seen and they put on a fantastic show. It was great to welcome students from other schools in Wolverhampton and we hope we can make this celebration of dance an annual event.”

Highfields bids fond farewell to Head of Upper School

Highfields will be bidding farewell to our longstanding and much respected Head of Upper School, Mrs N Clifton, as she takes up her new appointment as Headteacher of Kinver High School.

Mrs Clifton will be leaving to take the helm of the South Staffordshire school on December 1, after more than 7 years at Highfields.

A Spanish teacher, Mrs Clifton’s Highfields career started in 2012 when she joined as Assistant Headteacher with special responsibility as Head of Upper School. She was promoted to Deputy Headteacher in 2016 whilst maintaining her overall responsibility for Upper School.

In this role, she has been integral in raising the aspirations and achievements of thousands of GCSE students, helping Highfields to secure record-breaking exam results year on year. 

She has worked tirelessly to ensure all students achieve their potential; organising and running daily revision sessions, residential revision and team-building trips, as well as numerous rewards celebrations and social events to recognise the efforts and achievements of students. 

As a member of the Senior Leadership and Management Team, she has been influential in maintaining Highfields’ position as one of Wolverhampton’s top schools and its glowing feedback from Ofsted inspectors.

She said: “This really is a bittersweet moment for me. It has been an absolute pleasure to have spent the past 7 years as Head of Highfields Upper School and member of the school’s SLT.

“Our students have never failed to impress me, working tirelessly throughout the stressful exam process to fulfil their potential and do themselves, their families and the school proud.

“As a teacher, it is a privilege to play a part in helping to shape the future for students, and it has been an honour to have worked with so many talented, hard-working and enthusiastic young people at such an important stage in their lives.

“I would like to thank all of the staff, parents and students who have made my time at Highfields so positive and rewarding, and I am now looking forward to this exciting new chapter and challenge as Headteacher of Kinver High School.”

Headteacher, Mr G Tate, said: “On behalf of all of us here at Highfields, I would like to thank Mrs Clifton for her tireless work ensuring all of our students aim high and fulfil their potential.

“Her positive influence as Head of Upper School and valued member of the Senior Team are evident in Highfields’ record-breaking GCSE results. We wish her every success in this exciting new chapter of her career.”

The role of Head of Upper School will be taken on by Mr D Treble, currently Head of Upper School Maths, until the end of the academic year. He will be supported by Deputy Headteacher, Mr A Cheetham.

Mr Tate said: “We are delighted to appoint Mr Treble to the role of Head of Upper School. He has years of experience working with students towards their GCSEs and we are confident he will do a fantastic job.”

Creepy and kooky Addams Family musical is spectacular success

Talented stage stars of the future wowed audiences with spectacular performances of toe-tapping musical, The Addams Family.

Creepy, kooky, and altogether ooky, the show ran for four nights in the Lyceum Theatre and has been described as the school’s best musical showcase to date.

Students from Years 10-13 rehearsed for months to stage the production, which depicts a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre. 

Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Extra Curricular Performance, said: “It was an excellent show. I would go as far as saying it was our best yet. With pyrotechnics, smoke, a really funny and modern script, and a great score of original rock music, it was a show with it all.

“Our students put on some fantastic performances and overcame a couple of technical issues, including a power cut, with the ease of professionals. 

“This was the last Highfields production for our Year 13 students, many of whom have been appearing in our annual school musicals since they started in Year 7, and they put on another amazing show.

“Putting together our shows takes a lot of work over a number of weeks, with the performers and musicians staying after school until 8pm every Thursday as well as some Saturdays, and throughout holidays.

“They all worked so hard to ensure The Addams Family was a success, and it was fantastic to see that all their efforts were worth it.

“As always, it has been a pleasure to work with such a delightful, talented and hard-working group of young people. They should be incredibly proud.”

Following the success of Addams Family, rehearsals are already in full swing for Highfields’ next musical, feel-good family favourite Beauty And The Beast, which will be staged by students from Years 7-9 from February 26th-28th 2020. Rehearsals are now taking place every Thursday from 3.30pm.

We were delighted that our production of The Addams Family made headlines in the Express & Star (below).

Hundreds of pounds raised for Children In Need

Students and staff wore fancy dress and battled it out in Tug of War competitions as part of Highfields’ ‘spotacular’ efforts to raise hundreds of pounds for Children in Need.

More than 200 fundraisers gathered in the Sports Hall to take part in the Tug of War challenges, whilst they snapped up samosas in a charity food sale. Students also donated £1 to the charity to wear official Children in Need merchandise or spotty t-shirts and ties. The event has raised more than £600.

Ms J Parker, Head of Lower School who organised the fundraising activities, said: “We wanted to do something fun that would get lots of our students and staff involved to raise hundreds of pounds for the Children in Need campaign.

“It was great to see so many people taking part, having a brilliant time and raising so much money for this worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who got involved.”

Highfields throws its weight behind the Children in Need campaign every year and has staged a Mannequin Challenge and danceathon in the past. 

Children in Need is the BBC’s charity which works to change the lives of disabled children and young people in the UK. It has raised more than £972 million since it was launched in 1980.

Highfields to host dance extravaganza

Highfields will stage a dance extravaganza featuring more than 100 students from six city schools.

The event, called ‘I Am Dance’, will give students the chance to showcase their talents and share their work in front of a live audience.

The celebration of dance will be staged in the Lyceum on Wednesday, November 20th and feature an eclectic mix of performances ranging from lyrical to upbeat jazz, street dance and Bollywood.

Organised by Highfields Dance teacher, Miss E Weblin, the event is the first of its kind for the school, but it is hoped it will become an annual fixture on the calendar.

Miss Weblin said: “We want to celebrate the subject and the commitment of students. It will also give students the opportunity to share their work, which otherwise doesn’t always get performed to an audience.

“They are really excited for their efforts to be seen, as they work so hard and it’s a shame that sometimes it is only seen in lessons."

Highfields maintains position among Wolverhampton's top schools

Highfields has maintained its position among Wolverhampton’s top schools for both attainment and student progress in provisional league tables published last week, based on 2019 exam results.

The provisional tables have been released following another record-breaking set of GCSE results for the school, which saw 80% of students achieving a standard pass (Grade 4 or above) in both English and Maths. A total of 51% of students achieved at least one 9-7 grade, with 31% of students attaining three or more 9-7 grades.

This year’s attainment has been particularly strong with 55.4% of Highfields students achieving a strong pass (Grade 5 or above) in both English and Maths - second only to Wolverhampton Girls’ High School.

Attainment 8 and Progress 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 achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52.1 out of 80, putting it in third position of the city’s schools in this category, whilst our Progress 8 score of 0.38 is well 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.

Headteacher, Mr Graham Tate, said: “We are delighted that the provisional league tables, based on our 2019 exam results, show such a strong picture in terms of performance. 

“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. Congratulations to them all for this achievement.”