HIGHAM LANE SCHOOL Issue 44 April 2019 Welcome To Our Cracking Easter Edition! DEAR Parents/Carers/Students, achievements, World Book Day, high- In this `eggciting’ Easter edition of HLS flying business students, continued Express, I know you will enjoy reading sporting successes, plus much, much about one of our Anti-Bullying more! Ambassadors securing a prestigious We wish you all a Happy Easter! national role, remarkable reading PHIL KELLY, Headteacher Dedicated Anti-Bullying Ambassador secures TOP-TIA impressive national role! APPOINTMENT! THE passion and drive shown by one of Higham Lane School’s Anti-Bullying Ambassadors has been rewarded with an impressive place on The Diana Award National Youth Board for 2019-20! Year 10 student, Tia, recently secured the prestigious role and teams-up with seven other students who will act as a voice for their peers by speaking on a nationwide level regarding anti-bullying issues, representing their respective schools and The Diana Award’s Anti- Bullying Programme. A delighted Tia enthused: ``I am very honoured to be given this amazing opportunity. I’m thrilled and can’t wait to work with such a kind, caring and exciting organisation which is dedicated to raising awareness and tackling all types of bullying.’’ Tia’s work on a national level will involve the following: ● THRILLED! Tia is looking forward ● Attending regular Youth Board meetings to working with The Diana Award in London to share her ideas on how to National Youth Board. Please turn to P2 Higham Lane School, Shanklin Drive, Nuneaton, CV10 0BJ Tel: 024 7638 8123 Email: [email protected] Fax: 024 7637 0550 www.highamlaneschool.co.uk 2 HLS EXPRESS April 2019 ● STANDING UP TO THE BULLIES! Tia (right) and Higham Lane School’s Year 10 Anti-Bullying Ambassadors at one of The Diana Award training sessions. From left: Hannah, Izzy, Kim, Grace, Lisa, Calli, Esther and Tia. Beating the bullies! From P1 what is right and supports her would like to organise cultural how to behave towards others tackle bullying in schools and peers tirelessly.’’ events and festivals at our and getting them to reflect on communities. Although Tia will lead on School. the impact their attitude and ● Working closely with other tackling racism and ● Explicitly create an ethos behaviour has on people, Youth Board members and be discrimination, she and culture which emphasises without actually giving them a national voice for all anti- endeavours to raise care, kindness and respect in the opportunities to learn bullying ambassadors. awareness of all types of every interaction. Moreover, about different people, their ● Support The Diana Award bullying — both within Higham she aims to empower values and ideologies, in as an organisation, helping Lane School and on a national students and staff with kind meaningful ways. them to keep up-to-date with level. words and supportive ● Give students the current trends and issues that Tia pledges to work closely gestures so they can be the opportunity to talk about their young people are facing in with her fellow Anti-Bullying best possible versions of heritage and background in a and out of school. Ambassadors to: themselves. safe space as well as learn ● Having the opportunity to ● Create awareness of racism ● Specifically focus on about others. It is important travel and speak at various and discrimination through developing a knowledge-rich students are given similar events. For example, visit drama performances which curriculum whereby students messages in each lesson so Facebook’s headquarters in portray common stereotyping are educated on citizenship that it becomes embedded Dublin and Google’s hub in and discrimination which values and have the into daily practice. London, attend a debate at people face and accept on a opportunity to learn about ● Clarify misconceptions and the European Parliament in daily basis. She would like to different cultures and establish clearer boundaries Brussels and participate in a work with local youth clubs communities more explicitly. around what is acceptable meeting at 10 Downing Street and organisations to put this Sometimes, teachers are so and what isn’t: sometimes to help co-ordinate National together. In addition, she focussed on telling students bullying can be so subtle (it Anti-Bullying Week. involves low level behaviours), ● Interviewing very special it goes undetected or is guests. labelled as ‘harmless banter’. ● Helping recruit new staff It becomes ‘normalised’ or members and adapt or escalates further down the change workshops and line. In order for the School to programmes to better support create an environment where others. students speak-up, this needs ● Being featured on The to start by educating students. Diana Awards website, in Higham Lane is very proud of newspapers, on the radio or Tia and wish her all the very even TV. best during the The Diana The School’s Student Award National Youth Board Leadership Co-ordinator, Miss assignment and with her Arshad, said: ``I’m absolutely invaluable Anti-Bullying work delighted for Tia. She is a very within School alongside fellow ambitious, compassionate and Ambassadors. positively headstrong young ● DREAM TEAM! Higham Lane School’s Year 10 Anti- MISS ARSHAD, Student lady who always stands up for Bullying Ambassadors. Leadership Co-ordinator HLS EXPRESS April 2019 3 How are we doing and Readers where are we heading? IN A recent address to staff regarding the teacher training, and has a partnership future of Higham Lane School, with 11 partner schools across both Headteacher, Phil Kelly, answered the primary and secondary phases in big questions on everyone’s lips: How collaboration with the University of are we doing and where are we heading? Warwick. Mr Kelly was pleased to report the Looking forward, the School is working School is doing really well! With a on a curriculum review, further enhancing Progress 8 score of 0.46, it places staff wellbeing and making improvements Higham Lane among the top 15% of to its facilities and site. schools nationally and eighth out of 55 However, schools in England are facing schools with similar intakes nationally. the first real-term cuts to their funding In addition, the Sixth Form chalked-up since the mid-1990s, a leading think tank an impressive first set of A-level results has warned. Spending per student is to in 2018 while its intake is growing year- fall 6.5% by 2019-20, according to the on-year. Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Attendance is significantly above the School funding must be increased by national average with persistent absence £5.7 billion if every child is to receive the well below the nationwide figure. education they deserve, says a new An effective Behaviour for Learning report from the Association of School and Policy is in place with very low numbers College Leaders. of fixed term exclusions and zero Higham Lane is proud of its excellent permanent exclusions, while the School curriculum but realises that changes provides effective internal sanctions by ● 2020 VISION! Headteacher, Mr need to be made to the taught curriculum way of internal exclusion, inclusion and Kelly, was pleased to report that and extra-curricular opportunities to cater detentions, and provides active on-call Higham Lane School is doing really for the needs and interests of all learners support every lesson. well but will continue to make in an ever-changing student intake. Higham Lane also has an excellent improvements for the benefit of Changes being considered include reputation for work with Children Looked students and staff alike. courses for students struggling with After and students with special needs GCSEs and more focus on `soft skills’ — and disabilities. Professional Development to its staff, teamwork, problem solving, inter- It is highly-regarded by parents/carers, complemented by bespoke career stage personal skills and resilience. prospective parents and the local training programmes for improving and In a nutshell, the 2020 Vision for community, resulting in every year group outstanding teachers. Higham Lane School is to continue to being over-subscribed. Higham Lane is also an Aspiring improve and make it an even greater The School offers excellent Continued Teaching School, providing expertise in place to be for students and staff alike. Music exam successes Staff farewells and new arrivals! CONGRATULATIONS to the following Higham Lane School Music students have recently passed their AT THIS time, we say farewell to We would like to thank Amanda Associated Board Examinations. several colleagues. Hampton, who has done a superb Matt Lardner has taught Maths on a job as Acting Subject Leader. Grade 5 temporary contract. We thank him and Sarah Beaumont, Subject Leader wish him every success in his next for Art and Photography, will also be Alicia (10H2) Clarinet Pass position. returning, but not until May half term. Rebecca Temple has also assisted We are really grateful to Stacey Holt Grade 4 us in Maths. We are grateful for her for doing such an excellent job as positive contribution and wish her Acting Subject Leader. Ruby (11H2) Clarinet Pass continued success in her teaching. Changes of Role Duncan Bailey has worked hard as Shanice Moore has done an Grade 3 Assistant Subject Leader for excellent job as Subject Leader for Milee (9H1) Piano Distinction Geography. We are grateful for his Geography in terms of increasing the contribution and wish him every profile of the Department and Grade 2 success in the future. enhancing the quality of its resources. Nirvana Plante has helped us out in She is now stepping down from this Scarlett (9L1) Flute Merit the MFL Department teaching French position to take up the Assistant and Spanish. We are grateful for her Subject Leader post. Craig Eddon is Mylo (8H1) Clarinet Merit fine teaching and wish her well.