Remote learning for students as coronavirus shuts schools

Highfields will close to students and staff in response to the coronavirus pandemic - with a remote learning programme now being launched to enable the school’s curriculum to continue from home.

The school will shut at 3.15pm on Friday 20th March and will remain closed until further notice, as part of a nationwide shutdown announced by the government.

Despite the closure, Highfields will support remote learning for students from all year groups through our HP Streams and range of digital applications to allow learning to continue with minimal disruption.

All students will have work set via the Show My Homework app for every lesson, which will be monitored by teachers throughout the school day. 

A range of activities, resources and online applications will be available, with students expected to be online and working from 9.00am and 3.00pm on school days to complete the work and online tests that are set.

Headteacher, Mr G Tate, said: “We have been working on contingency plans whilst closely monitoring the government response to the coronavirus pandemic, and are fortunately in a position to offer a remote learning programme, which began for students in Years 9 and 12 earlier this week.

“Following the announcement of a nationwide school shutdown from March 20th, we will be rolling this remote learning programme out for the rest of the school from next week.

“I appreciate this may cause you some inconvenience, but we are operating in a unique set of circumstances, and remain committed to allowing our students’ learning and progress to continue from home, with as little disruption as possible.”

Despite the blanket school closure, Highfields will be making provision for students whose parents and carers are key workers and cannot remain at home.

Mr Tate added: “Although the government now believes this is the right time to be closing schools in a bid to slow the spread of the virus, they have also rightly asked us to make provision for the children of key workers. 

“Whilst I appreciate that many of you will be happy to have your children working from home I can also see that some of you might prefer to have onsite physical supervision for younger students. 

“We are currently waiting for more detailed government guidance on the categories of key workers who will be able to access this, and I look forward to providing you with further details as soon as they become available.

“Could I take this opportunity to thank staff, parents and students for the exceptional way they have worked together in these difficult and unprecedented circumstances.”

• For more information about our remote learning programme, click here

• Further individual technical support is also available by emailing digitalsupport@hswv.co.uk. 

Musical students getting in tune with opera

Music students are getting in tune with the world of opera as part of a prestigious project run by Welsh National Opera.

Highfields has been invited to take part in the project, which is designed to provide students with an introduction to opera and the art of storytelling through music.

Students were invited to see Welsh National Opera’s dress rehearsal of Carmen at the Millennium Centre, in Cardiff, and will now take part in six workshops alongside other students from the West Midlands to develop their vocal and performance skills, learn operatic repertoire and create their own scenes.

Their efforts will culminate in a promenade performance at the Black Country Museum in June.

Music Teacher, Mrs A Scott, said: “The trip to Cardiff provided a fantastic opportunity for some of the students to see opera for the first time. All of our students behaved excellently and thoroughly enjoyed seeing world class performers on stage.

“They are now looking forward to taking part in six opera workshops led by Welsh National Opera, before their performance at the Black Country Museum.

“It is a wonderful chance for our students to gain experience in the Performing Arts industry, under the guidance of professionals.”

Year 11 students planning to succeed

Students on countdown to their GCSEs were given top tips and advice about making their revision really count as part of a special day dedicated to ensuring they succeed in their exams.

A number of workshops and activities were lined up for students as part of Highfields’ annual Plan To Succeed Day.

Year 11 students learnt more about the science of learning, and applying the ‘4Rs’ - revisit, reduce, rehearse, recall - to support their revision, whilst being advised how to create an effective revision timetable which runs right up until their last exam.

A competition was held in the afternoon with students asked to create a quality revision resource using the 4Rs process, and they came up with a range of innovative ideas including podcasts and board games.

They then went 'quackers' as they each left with an iconic squeaky yellow rubber duck, which will serve as a novel reminder to revise when they see it pop up around school in the run up to their exams.

Mr C Rhodes, Highfields’ Raising Achievement Manager, said: “We understand that exams can be stressful for students and do everything we can to support them so they all fulfil their potential.

“Our Plan To Succeed Day marked the start of the countdown to exams and aims to ensure students are fully prepared.

“All of our Year 11 students were involved, giving them the chance to work with peers to develop effective revision methods. It is 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.

“We were amazed at the innovative ideas they came up with for their own quality revision materials, ranging from podcasts to mind maps and even board games.

“After an afternoon of activities, they were all given a Plan to Succeed Day folder containing an array of useful resources to take away, and we will continue to work together to ensure they have all the support they need to sit their exams with confidence.”

Thrill-seeking students hit slopes for Austrian adventure

Thrill-seeking students hit the slopes for an action-packed Austrian adventure.

Highfields ran its largest ever ski trip during the half-term holiday, with a group of 69 students and eight staff travelling to Gerlitzen to take to the slopes under the guidance of professional instructors.

With a large proportion of students having only experienced Telford Dry Ski Slope for just two hours back in November, and a handful of students being lucky enough to have skied on snow several times before, Gerlitzen offered an ideal location to accommodate all abilities in the group.

Mrs R Coldicott, who organises the Highfields ski trip every two years, said: “Day One of skiing was certainly quite a daunting one for many of the beginners, as they were told that their first real experience of ‘proper’ skiing would be half way up the mountain, after a 2.7km ride in the Gondola that was then to be followed by a further 350m ascent on a two-man chair lift. It was certainly a lot different to their experience of the button lift at Telford!

“Luckily, the few anxious looks soon turned into relief as the beginners’ slopes came into view.

“Whilst the lovely blue skies overhead made for great visibility all week, the record temperatures in resort certainly didn’t make for easy skiing conditions underfoot. 

“Luckily, however, the snow cannons were on hand throughout the resort to help keep the slopes open and the students very quickly realised that all those layers of clothing that we had dutifully warned them to make sure they packed, did not all have to be worn, every minute of every day! 

“By days two and three on the slopes, students were certainly in the swing of things, and were quickly progressing up the slopes without even realising.”

After a day on the snow, students and staff enjoyed a number of other evening activities, including ice skating and bowling. They also enjoyed a quiz and challenge night, which saw students put their trivia to the test along with chopstick, cup stacking, and skittle sorting skills.

Mrs Coldicott added: “Highfields students were, as usual, an absolute credit to the school and staff were told on numerous occasions by the hoteliers, the reps, the instructors and the coach drivers, that the group were genuinely one of the best school groups they had come across, so well done to them all. 

“In addition, I would like to thank the staff - Mrs Clowsley, Ms Stevenson, Mrs Frost, Miss Nearn, Mr Lee, Mr Brittle and Mr Hewett - who gave up their half-term holiday to make such a trip possible.

“Whilst is was without doubt an exhausting week for everyone, it will also be a trip we will look back on fondly for many years to come and, for some at least, we hope it will mark the start of a lifelong passion for skiing.”

Students look to future for National Careers Week

Highfields marked National Careers Week 2020 with a packed programme of activities, workshops and trips, encouraging students to look forward to life after school.

Each day began with a CEIAG-themed assembly, delivered by special guest visitors from various industries and higher education providers, before students took park in quizzes, research sessions and hands-on workshops. 

The event ran from March 2nd-6th, giving students from all year groups a greater insight into a range of professions and pathways available to them to fulfil their career aspirations after school.

Throughout the week, students have been inspired to think about their dream jobs and and have written them down to add to pillar displays around the school.

Monday 2nd March - Uniform Day

Year 10 students got an insight into the vast range of careers available in the British Army, with a special assembly from an Army Corporal.

A 'Super Lab’ was then set up at lunchtime, with a representative from the RAF speaking to students individually, answering questions and giving guidance on future career pathways in the Armed Forces.

Year 8 students enjoyed a whole day of glider building, under the supervision of RAF engineers and Design teachers, before launching them onto a runway in the sports hall.

Certificates were given out to the best team, most spectacular nose dive and furthest distance flown.

Tuesday 3rd March - Apprenticeship Day

Apprenticeships were put in the spotlight throughout the day.

An assembly for Year 10 students highlighted the range of apprenticeships available with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the process they should take to find and apply for those most suited to them.

Students in Years 9 and 11 then got the chance to work in small groups with representatives from DWP and ASK Apprenticeships where they were encouraged to ask questions and research apprenticeships that could be suitable for them in the future.

Year 10 Construction students enjoyed a practical session run by Jessops Construction, which gave them chance to learn more about the development of buildings and various careers available within the construction industry.

As part of the event, they created their own structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows, with the team that created the tallest and longest-standing structure winning the competition.

Wednesday 4th March - University Day

Representatives from various universities were invited in to school to give students a greater insight into university life, and the extensive range of courses on offer to them.

An Aspire Ambassador from Wolverhampton University led an assembly, whilst stands were set up at lunchtime allowing students to seek advice about the routes to take to successfully progress on particular courses at various universities.

Artist Rob Woods also ran a workshop at lunchtime giving a taste of the creative careers available to Art and Design students, whilst workshops were held focusing on interview techniques.

Year 9 Health and Social Care students travelled to Molineux to learn more about Wolves’ initiatives to improve community health, whilst enjoying a tour of the stadium and a close-up glimpse of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students visited the Mount Hotel in Tettenhall to get a taste of the industry they are hoping to pursue a career in. As well as touring the kitchens and meeting the hotel’s head chef, students also got a glimpse of VIP rooms and suites, had the chance to question the hotel manager about his role, and learnt more about the work of the hotel’s HR department.

Thursday 5th March -  Confidence Day

Representatives from the Metro Alliance kicked off the day with assemblies for students in Years 10 and 12, showcasing the vast range of career opportunities the organisation has on offer in the local area - including a number of roles that don’t fall within the engineering and construction industries.

Five local businesswomen also encouraged female students in Year 12 to be confident in pursuing their career dreams in ‘Passionate About Confidence’ sessions. 

Friday 6th March -  STEM Day

The day focused on the vast range of STEM careers available, and was mostly aimed at students in Years 7 and 9.

Graham Shaw, from railway infrastructure services company VolkerRail, led an assembly focusing on the employability skills of students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Mr Shaw also held sessions with members of the school’s STEM Club, whilst students got the chance to take part in a lunchtime CV writing workshop.

Mr P Rose, Highfields’ Head of Middle School and Careers Leader, said: “We had lots going on around school every day throughout the week to mark National Careers Week. 

“The event encouraged students from all year groups to look forward to the future and learn more about the opportunities available to them after school. Our students got a great insight into the range of pathways they can take to fulfil their career dreams.

“A huge thank you to all of our visitors who came along to lead informative and interesting assemblies, presentations and workshops to inspire our students for the future.”

Students wow audiences in magical musical

Talented young performers brought magical fairytale, Beauty & The Beast, to life on stage with three enthusiastic performances that wowed audiences.

More than 60 students from Years 7-9 took to the stage in the Disney classic, performing to more than 300 people.

They rehearsed for months to stage the musical production, including after-school, weekend and half-term sessions - and Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Extra-Curricular Performance, said their efforts and commitment had resulted in a fantastic production.

Ms S Bishop, added: “For some of our students, this was their first experience of performing in front of a live audience, and they put on a fantastic show.

“Beauty & The Beast is a family favourite, filled with lots of singing and dancing, and bright costumes, and audiences were really impressed by our students’ enthusiastic performances to bring the musical to life.

“It takes a lot of hard work over a number of weeks to put on our shows, but the effort was all worth it, and students thoroughly enjoyed showcasing their stage talent over three nights.”

Make believe brought to life on World Book Day

The world of make believe was brought to life when students and staff dressed as their favourite fictional characters to celebrate World Book Day.

Harry Potter, Snow White and The Gruffalo were among the colourful characters who turned up to school as part of the festivities, alongside the entire cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The annual World Book Day is a celebration of books, authors, illustrators and reading which aims to ignite imaginations and help students gain a lifelong passion for reading.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘reading is power’, and Lower School students will continue to explore this idea in their English lessons throughout next week.

A number of events were held in school to celebrate World Book Day, including poetry and creative writing workshops, whilst students and members of staff donated 50p to dress up. The money will go to the Book Bus charity, which aims to improve child literacy rates in Africa, Asia and South America by providing children with books and the inspiration to read them.

Lower School students have also each received a World Book Day token, which can be used towards the purchase of books from a number of High Street stores until March 29th. 

School Librarian, Mrs N. Ward, said: “Staff and students in Years 7 and 8 were invited to dress up as characters from their favourite books. 

“There was lots going on around school to inspire our students and ignite a lifelong love of books and reading. It was a very enjoyable day.”

For more information about the list of books on offer with World Book Day tokens, as well as the participating bookshops and supermarkets, click here.

Students mix study and adventure on revision residential

Year 11 students preparing for their upcoming GCSEs enjoyed some freedom from the classroom for study sessions with an adventurous twist.

Around 100 students travelled to Borreaton Park, in Shrewsbury, for the two-night revision residential from February 13th-15th.

The aim of the trip was to support students in English and Maths, to ensure they achieve their full potential in exams.

Despite battling Storm Dennis, students supplemented study time with a range of outdoor activities, including the trapeze, kayaking and archery.

Mr C Rhodes, Year 11 Raising Achievement Manager, said: “The aim of this two-day residential was to support students specifically with their English and Maths studies, so they were taught in small groups of no more than 15.

“They also got the chance to relax and have fun by taking part in a number of outdoor activities, with a highlight of the weekend being a campfire on the Friday evening, when students listened to music and danced the evening away.”

Highfields to mark National Careers Week 2020

Highfields is marking National Careers Week 2020 with a packed programme of activities, workshops and trips, encouraging students to look forward to life after school.

Each day will begin with a CEIAG-themed assembly, delivered by special guest visitors from various industries and higher education providers, before form time quizzes and research sessions.

Careers-based lessons will be taking place throughout the week, whilst there will also be talks about apprenticeships, interview skills and CV writing workshops.

The event runs from March 2nd-6th, with activities taking place every day to give students from all year groups a greater insight into a range of professions and pathways available to them to fulfil their career dreams.

The school has teamed up with a number of universities and businesses, as well as apprenticeship and training providers, to support the national event.

The programme of activities includes a trip to Molineux organised by the Wolves Foundation, whilst Sixth Form students will get an insight into career opportunities in the Armed Forces.

Mr P Rose, Highfields’ Head of Middle School and Careers Leader, said: “We’ve got lots going on around school every day throughout the week to mark National Careers Week.

“It is all about encouraging students from all year groups to look forward to the future and learn more about the opportunities available to them to fulfil their career dreams after school.”

The week-long event comes after Highfields hosted its biggest ever Careers Fair, which featured dozens of exhibitors and was attended by hundreds of students and their families.

Click here for our full National Careers Week programme.

It's showtime! Stage set for magical Disney musical

Talented students will bring magical fairytale, Beauty & The Beast, to life on stage following months of rehearsals - with a handful of tickets still available for the feel-good family favourite.

It’s time for curtain up on our production of the Disney classic, which will run from tonight (Wed 26th February) until Friday 28th February, featuring students from Years 7-9.

More than 60 performers have been rehearsing for months to stage the musical production, including after-school and weekend sessions. The dedicated students also gave up some of their half term holiday to put the finishing touches to the show.

Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Extra-Curricular Performance, said: “The entire cast is looking forward to showtime and the chance to showcase their performances to live audiences.

“We have such a wealth of talent at Highfields and so have triple cast the principal characters to give more students the opportunity to per. 

“It takes a lot of hard work over a number of weeks to put on our shows, but the process is always such great fun and a wonderful experience for our students. We are looking forward to welcoming in audiences to join with us in celebrating our students’ hard work and talent.

"Audiences can expect lots of singing and dancing, bright costumes, enthusiastic performances and lots of fun."

Shows start at 7.30pm every night. Tickets, which cost £6 for adults/£4 concessions, are available through our Box Office or Humanities LRC.

We made the news! Our production has featured in the Express & Star:

-All photographs courtesy of the Express & Star