New Beginnings First Days at Highcliffe School Year 7 Disco
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SUMMER RESULTS 2 BATTLE OF THE SOMME 5 YEAR 9 CHARITY DRIVE 11 Highcliffe Newsletter H2U New Beginnings Year 7 have settled into life at Highcliffe school brilliantly. They have amassed almost 4000 commendations and have already begun representing the school in sports matches and helping with the year 6 tours. We have had a wonderful welcome Disco with about 200 year 7’s and a few year 10 peer mentors dancing the night away and getting to know one another. It was a fantastic evening and the year group were exceptionally well behaved and friendly. We have also had a “Freshers’ Fair” to advertise all the different clubs and activities that are on offer this term. All the students were engaged and inquisitive, trying to find out which clubs they would like to attend, with some enthusiastic students spotting a gap in the market and requesting a girls rugby club to start. I have been really impressed with the responsible attitude taken by all of year 7 so far this term and look forward to a fantastic first year at Highcliffe school and a very successful five or seven years with them. Some of the next things to get involved in are the school production of “Little Shop of Horrors” and tutor group assemblies. Mr Edmonds, Head of Acheivement First Days at Highcliffe School On my first day I was nervous and excited, when we were all in school we were told there was an assembly. There were hundreds and hundreds of students and it makes you feel quite small. However, you shouldn’t, after people start asking you questions and being friendly you realise everybody feels the same way. Once you leave assembly most people get a little lost, but there are loads of teachers and other students that want to help you. We have spent a lot of time in our tutor group during the first week. It is really nice to get a feel for the school and have one teacher that can answer all your questions or point you in the right direction. You also get to know the other students in your tutor group quickly. I found the Cafeteria really noisy and confusing to start with. However, by the end of the first week, I knew where I needed to be and who I could sit with. The food is lovely and the dinner ladies are really helpful. Now that I have been here nearly a month I know where all my classrooms are and where my friends and I meet at break and lunchtimes. I know which clubs I want to attend and where I need to go to attend. I am now really enjoying being a Highcliffe student, I know my locker code and my cashless catering PIN. I feel able to take responsibility for all of my equipment and homework, for getting to lesson on time and trying my best in lessons. I also know that if I am struggling with anything it is my responsibility to ask for help. Daisy, Year 7 Year 7 Disco When you first walk in to the disco, there was a box full of fancy dress you could wear for a picture (if you wanted one of course) and if you looked past it there was a tuck shop with sweets, chocolate, crisps and drinks. In the hall there was the stage with the DJ and his lights that were flashing off the wall in all directions. There were a lot of people just for year 7. Eventually people started to dance to the awesome music that the DJ was playing. It was hard to find your friends let alone where to go. There were Year tens there that were dancing to the whip nay nay and near the end two of the year tens had a dance off I don’t know who won though. The teachers got the tutor groups one by one to get their picture taken I almost didn’t get my picture taken because I didn’t hear Mr Edmonds call my tutor group but my friends and my tutor came to get me. The next day everyone who went to the disco was extremely tired but had really enjoyed it. Thank you for reading. Harry, Year 7 1 | Highcliffe School H2U - Volume 16 - Issue 4 | October 2016 GCSE Examination Results Summer 2016 Highcliffe School is delighted to report another year of continued examination success. The new Progress and Attainment measures, which replace the old 5 A*-C including Maths and English measure which is no longer used, are a credit to our students, our staff and to parents who provide that all-important support from home. The average grade achieved by Highcliffe students over 8 GCSEs has increased by nearly a whole grade compared to 2015, and the amount of progress made from Key Stage 2 across 8 GCSEs also increased on 2015. “We are so proud of our students. This is fantastic news! Thanks go to all the students and their parents as well as the staff at school. We have worked together to achieve these results and I am delighted that so many students have excellent grades to move on to their A level studies and other programmes in the Sixth Form. This is a great day to celebrate! Year 11 now have the opportunity to progress in our Sixth Form and continue their success at A level. I am very proud of the results achieved by all of the students at Highcliffe”. Mr Edmonds, Head of Acheivement A Level Examination Results Summer 2016 Highcliffe School is celebrating an exceptional set of A Level results this year which have improved for the second year running, bucking the national trend of declining grades in the same period. This year’s A level examination results maintain the School’s position as a leading provider of Sixth Form education in the Christchurch, New Forest and Bournemouth area. Close to a third of the individual grades achieved by students were the prestigious A*/A grade, up from last year, while close to 60% of grades were between A* and B; both substantial improvements from last year’s very good results and far higher than national results. We are delighted to announce that the trend of gaining Oxbridge places every year continues. Our congratulations go to these three students and their exceptional achievements. “I’m delighted on behalf of Highcliffe’s students who have worked very hard and are now heading off to the best universities and apprenticeships. Highcliffe’s reputation for academic excellence and the ability to successfully place students on top courses is the result of the commitment of our talented staff who offer rigorous teaching and academic support, combined with strong links with universities and employers.” - Mr Earnshaw, Headteacher 2 | Highcliffe School H2U - Volume 16 - Issue 4 | October 2016 Oxford University Open Day On the 29th June, eight Year 12 students along with Ms Karanja and Ms Dedman, were given the opportunity to attend the University of Oxford’s open day, hosted by Keble College. The open event was an opportunity to spend two days exploring the university’s huge range of colleges, as well as the city of Oxford itself - to really get a feel of what it’s like to live and study in the city. I’m happy to report that it’s awesome. The city of Oxford itself is beautiful and diverse, and the university’s magnificent buildings are dotted across the town centre, which made strolling through the streets visiting the departments and colleges that interested us an absolute pleasure. Being in a bustling city around so many people was a breath of fresh air, and really showed us the breadth of opportunity available in Oxford. - Eoin, Year 12 Army Officer Scholarship awarded to Head Boy We are delighted and proud to extend our sincerest congratulations to our Head Boy, Nathan, who has received notification this month of his Army Officer Scholarship. The Army awards only a limited number of scholarships each year from a large number of applicants. It is testimony to how well Nathan has done and how dedicated he has been in achieving this opportunity to become an Officer in the British Army. It has been Nathan’s aspiration to enter into a military life since the age of 14 when he attended a careers seminar at Highcliffe School held by the Royal Marines. Nathan’s drive and commitment to pursue a career with the British Army has led him to complete the rigorous 2 nights/3 days of testing at the Army Officer Selection Board at the age of 17, which is exceptional as he undertook the same testing programme taken by adults. Future Pathways Programme – Apprenticeships We were very pleased to welcome back Adam Rose – a former sixth form student who has gone on to be very successful since leaving Highcliffe. Adam completed a Higher Apprenticeship at Cobham, where he gained a first class Honours Degree and is now working at Cobham as a Systems/ Project Engineer. He delivered a brilliant presentation to Year 12 in assembly, outlining his career progression since leaving Highcliffe and providing a summary of what is involved in an apprenticeship, including the benefits to both the apprentice and the employer. Adam gave an excellent insight in to the apprenticeship programme and I am sure he will have inspired many of our students to apply for an apprenticeship! 3 | Highcliffe School H2U - Volume 16 - Issue 4 | October 2016 Year 11 Cricket – County Champions On Monday 10th October, the Year 11 cricket team played BSB in the County and Town cup final.