Contents October 2011 Sixth Form Success Top 4 Technician World Challenge Volume 11 | issue 1 Page 03 Page 07 Page 15
A world of Challenge, Inspiration and Achievement
Yr 6 becoming Yr 7
September and October are busy months for parents of Year 6 children! It is the time when decisions need to be made about which secondary A Great Start school to choose. Continued... Page 5 I hope that you enjoy reading this special edition of H2U which once again celebrates the fine start our Year 7s have made to their time here at Highcliffe and the exciting opportunities for learning and growth that are open to them over the next seven years.
It seems only a short time since they were experiencing their first tours of They are now just 2 weeks the school leading up to Highcliffe School’s Open evening. Since then they into what I hope will be have had quite a journey, which has included among many other things: very successful Highcliffe careers, and are settling > Year 6 Murder Mystery Days on 10th, 17th & 24th June 2011 quickly into the ‘Highcliffe way’ and building a good > Year 7 Induction Day on 29th June 2011 reputation. In the pages to > Year 7 Settling in Day on 6th September 2011 come you will read about Mr Yapp wins! their early achievements and > the whole year group on 7th September 2011 the opportunities available At the end of September the time > the Year 7 Welcome Disco on 22nd September 2011 to them to develop their came once again for our Year 7 students to celebrate settling in Continued... Page 2 so well to life here at Highcliffe School, by sharing with old friends and new the excitement “I believe in using what you have, instead of mourning for that which you do not. In thirty years time, of the Year 7 Welcome Disco. I want to be able to look back at my youth and know that I used my talents fully: that I wasted nothing.” A former Highcliffe Sixth Form Student Continued... Page 2
www.highcliffeschool.com A GREAT START letter from header the headteacher
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Welcome back everyone. We hope that you enjoy reading the first edition of H2U and the new layout and style of the newsletter. After only three weeks the new year is in full swing, with everyone working hard and with a real sense of community. What a vibrant purposeful start to the new year with so much to look forward to, take pleasure in and achieve!
We have been delighted with the manner in which Year 7 have taken up their new school place and stepped out into the Highcliffe community. Year 7 made the most of their special induction day and were welcomed and supported by our peer mentors, H4U and Sixth Form students. Since their first day they have undertaken many new experiences including a very exciting freshers disco! Timetables, lockers, lunch queues, organisers and so forth will soon seem less daunting and settle into a familiar rhythm as we move on to Christmas! It is important that school nights are early nights and that students eat a healthy diet as the autumn term is a particularly testing time for their stamina! Please do not hesitate to contact school if there are any specific issues or to share valuable information about your son or daughter’s interests and achievements out of school. level of understanding and their broad range of talents. Further feedback on their progress At the same time, our Sixth Form students returned and have been welcoming new students will be sent out on 21st October in the year from other local schools into our community. Again our student Sixth Form Leadership Team: group’s first progress check. In return we would Haydn Bower, Olivia Bull, Ellis Day, Jack Field, Dale Hunter, Sam Jackson, Robin Joynson, David be very pleased to hear about any of your son Penson, Margaret Sheekey and Jessica Thompson, have been very pro-active in arranging a or daughter’s achievements outside of school. number of activities and events to help everyone get to know each other. The induction trip to You can do this by simply contacting us by email, Calshot organised by the Sixth Form team was much appreciated. using the address at the foot of p1, or by sending a note to your son or daughter’s tutor. Our Sixth Form numbers, some 300 young secure grades. Again, we will work men and women, have made a very positive together to ensure they have first Finally, I would like to thank all Year 7 parents and purposeful start. Year 12 students are class care. We have an established for their support, and look forward to welcoming particularly challenged by the size of the step track record of helping students you here at Highcliffe on 22nd November 2011 up from GCSE to A Level and will need to work secure Oxbridge and Russell Group for the Tutor Evening. Details of which will be significantly harder to make this leap. I am university places thanks to our very circulated shortly. sure with all our support they will make it. Year effective mentoring programme. 13 are realising their leadership and personal Mr. J. Dean | Head of Achievement Year 7 responsibility to meet the UCAS challenge and Year 11 look impressive in their classical black and have started the year in a very mature Mr Yapp Wins! | Continued from Cover manner. This year we have a comprehensive intervention programme which will target students on key grade boundaries and offer a tailor-made It was also the time for Mr Dean to lead the Year little dance and then got on with enjoying programme of support. We need 7 tutors in dusting off those dancing moves and themselves! In the end Mr Yapp won the all Year 11 students to ‘go for it’ showing the youngsters how it is done! dancing competition! and set their goals to achieve the highest grades possible to enable Over 160 students came along, full of energy There was dancing, competitions and secure progression onto A Level and excitement. The disco was booked, the refreshments to be enjoyed. The buzz of happy courses in the Highcliffe Sixth refreshments had been purchased and the conversations and the energy of the dancing was Form and through onto university. Year 10 Peer Mentors were on hand to offer infectious! The whole event was great fun and a Grades matter as competition is friendship and encouragement. As the music good time was had by all. By the end of the two fierce. We therefore urge all Year played, the hall began to fill with noise and hours, a lot of tired and happy Year 7 students 11 students to take part in these dancing. Mr Dean led the way with his own went home – another welcome disco completed, support strategies to secure the style of ‘Dad dancing’. The students watched more friends made and another step taken in very best grades. in admiration....well, they let him have his feeling at home here at Highcliffe!
2 highcliffe school newsletTer Sixth Form Success
For Year 8, who have settled in, our Year 8 challenge access this calendar on the website. May I remind is to push themselves in all subjects so they can parents that each student receives a personal realistically plan their best options later this year. Year copy of the student weekly bulletin to their email 9 are now enjoying their new curricular programme account each Friday. This is a useful discussion based more around their personal interests and and planning document to encourage your son talents. Year 10 students are shaping up to on-going and daughter to be prepared and take part in the GCSE assessments and we need to help them realise vast array of opportunities here at Highcliffe. that each module exam and controlled assignment is part of their actual GCSE outcome. For this reason Thank you everyone for making such a positive you will understand that I am unable to authorise start to the year. Keep it going so we can realise requests for holidays during term time. the very best outcomes. We are very pleased to report a significant increase Each year group may have their own focus and Finally, I know that we will all be looking forward in the number of students particular challenges yet we all will be looking to to the forthcoming school production ‘We will joining Highcliffe Sixth continue to nurture their learning ethos and skills Rock You’ and will want to be there to support our through our attitude to learning (grade 1) and students who are hugely talented and are working Form in September. attendance focus (at least 95%). exceptionally hard to make it the very best. We were delighted to welcome our new Year 12 students recently. Very shortly, our Community Calendar for this year Judith A Potts | Headteacher Students have settled in well and will be with parents. In the meantime parents can taken advantage of the wide range of academic and enrichment opportunities available to them.
A level results were exceptionally Summer 2011 – Another good this year, with 28% of students gaining A* and A grades Great Year for Advanced and over 51% of all grades being Level and GCSE Results A*, A or B. Due to the outstanding levels of success this summer, most students progressed successfully It is always a delight for any teacher to onto their first choice Higher witness the handing over of the results Education institution or Career envelopes to those students who enter area, with many securing places at the most prestigious universities. the school on those August Thursdays. Congratulations go to all our students but in particular to Heidi Barnett who achieved A*A*AA at A level and gained a place to This year the weather may not have been as kind competitive climate of Higher Education in the read Physics at Oxford University, as normal, but certainly the contented and satisfied UK. They also represent the hard work and Samantha Millard who achieved A*A*AAB at A level and secured smiles of many of our Highcliffe students made up for commitment from students, parents and teachers a place to read Economics at the somewhat limited sunshine on those results days. in their work and support towards those Advanced Cambridge and Jenny Herrod who level goals and future career paths. gained a place to read Medicine at Much is said about school headline results and much Peninsula Medical School having is made of them – at Highcliffe we never lose touch At GCSE, 66% of students gained the achieved A*AA at A level. of the importance of individual results for individual Government’s preferred measure of school students and seek to celebrate achievement where it performance of the percentage of students Other high achieving students who is justified and deserving. gaining at least 5 A*-C grades including English gained at least 3 A*/A grades and and Maths at age 16. It was also 66% when heading off to university include At Advanced level, the school had its highest pass rate Science is included. 80% of students gained at Yasmin Dowling, Carys Gallagher, ever at just over 99% of entries gaining grade E or least 5*-C grades in the GCSE examination – Amy Gilbert, Stephen Hutt, Jay above. Over 28% of entries were an A* or A grade, over keeping Highcliffe amongst the highest achieving Pocknell, Tom Smith and Phil Sparks. 51% at grade A*-B and over 75% at grade A*-C. Those schools. Again, the results have provided a secure results represent important milestones for our students platform for students to progress beyond Year We are extremely proud of all our and many places at University depended on them, Eleven, and we are pleased that so many of our students and wish them every more important than ever in the ever-increasingly students remain with us in Year 12 this September. success in all their future ventures!
Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 3 Onwards and upwards!
Recent months have seen more advancement new Year 7s on their first day at Highcliffe School in in our Gifted and Talented programme. September. One of the highlights so far has been the Year 7 disco where the Peer Mentors enjoyed Results this summer were excellent with students showing their moves on the dance floor! achieving a string of A* and As at KS 4 and KS 5. The Peer Mentors assist the Year 7 tutors with Heidi Barnett is about to embark on the next their tutees each week and are available to chapter of her education at Oxford University as an support any younger students as they settle into undergraduate student reading Physics at Exeter life at Highcliffe School. College; whilst Samantha Millard is to read Economics at Queens College, Cambridge. We wish them every Activities Week: success and await news of their first term. Year 9s Gifted & Talented Art Trip A very tangible change is the introduction of the ‘Galaxy Roche Court, a nineteenth-century house in Room’ at Highcliffe School. It is a purpose built space parkland is a sculpture park and educational centre whereby small groups of students are encouraged to where work is shown inside and out providing a work with staff on specific projects in the tranquillity survey of sculpture for the enjoyment of the public. of a calming environment. The room was named by our Upon our arrival, our students were given a ex-Head Boy, Stephen Hutt, who viewed the room as talk about the history of Roche Court and then one which will inspire all to aim high. taken on a guided tour around the grounds, gallery and artists’ house. During the tour the Peer Mentoring - Hear4U students were asked to study the sculptures from We are very pleased to be working with our new different perspectives and develop a collection of cohort of Peer Mentors from Year 10. They have sketches. The experience has given our students made an excellent start attending two training an appreciation and understanding of sculpture as days. Our chosen venues for these were Leeson part of their cultural heritage and new ideas that House and Christchurch Fire Station. The students they can bring into the classroom. As part of their participated in learning about questioning styles and home study, the students were asked to create art confidentiality agreements among other guidelines. work inspired by poetry of which may qualify for the Roche Court competition, called INSPIRED. The Peer Mentors helped with the Year 6 transition day and the parents’ evening in July and even gave The day was very much enjoyed and proved to be an up a day of their summer holiday to support the inspiring activity for us all.
4 highcliffe school newsletTer Aspire Yr 6 becoming Yr 7
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A Young Inspiring Editor in our Midst Here at Highcliffe School, we are very It gives me such pleasure to tell you that Kathryn keen for prospective parents and children Moses in Year 9 has had articles published in the to feel that during this time they have popular magazine ‘Sponge Bob Square Pants’. had plenty of opportunities to see the school, get a feel for our ‘ethos’ and Kathryn initially won a literary competition and as ask an questions that they may have. a result was invited to edit the 100th edition of the magazine. She made such an impression that she Thursday October 6th is this year’s Year has written and illustrated in a subsequent edition 6 Open Evening. Always one of the and is now hoping to take her literary skills further. highlights of the year, Open Evening gives the whole school a chance to shine In addition, Kathryn produces her own comic with – to show the wide range of resources her own characters. Her illustrations are stunning. and activities that each curriculum area Let us hope this is the beginning of a fulfilling career. utilises across the school. Open Evening Watch this space and good luck Kathryn. is a chance for parents to meet with teaching and support staff, find out School Improvement about the curriculum that we teach and – Feedback for Learning ask any questions they may have. Most At Highcliffe we are continuing to look for ways to importantly, at Open Evening, hundreds encourage our students and staff to work more of Highcliffe School students will be on closely together, reflecting on the learning that hand to demonstrate their skills and has taken place, and plan steps for continued interests, escort parents on tours and improvement. Our focus for improvement this year show their enthusiasm for our school. is centred on embedding the ‘attitude to learning’ subject along with explanatory notes. This ethos in main school and the 6th form. However, Open Evening is only one of year we continue to be very keen in involving three planned activities in the first half students in reflecting on their Attitude to Embedding the ‘Attitude of the Autumn Term designed to help Learning in their lessons. An ATL grade of a to Learning’ Ethos prospective students and parents find 3 is no longer satisfactory; it means that the out about Highcliffe School. Attitude to Learning (ATL) is the system we have student is ‘coasting’ i.e. fulfilling the minimum developed at Highcliffe School through which we requirements. A number of projects are In the two weeks leading up to Open continually assess each student’s approach to school. taking place through which students are Evening all the Year 6 pupils attending This includes such aspects as effort, motivation, considering what the different ATL grades our seven feeder schools will have paid a behaviour, punctuality and working to their ability. actually mean and how this can inform their morning visit to Highcliffe School, where ATL is scored on a 1-5 scale that can be found in all learning. Opportunities are then being they will meet Highcliffe students who student organisers (p.11), on the TV monitors around created to encourage students to self-assess came from their primary/junior school, school and on tutor group notice boards. Every term their own ATL grades in their lessons. tour the school, take part in an activities parents receive either a progress check or a profile for An example of this can be found as wide ranging as key-ring making and their son/daughter; this includes an ATL grade for each in the organiser on p.12 & 13. dancing and have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. The focus weeks currently in the calendar are as follows: Then, in the two weeks after Open 10th Oct 2011 Year 12 : Independent Learning Review Week Evening, running up to half term, we are organising parent tours Work Ethic | Coursework & Home Study | Attendance | Behaviour every morning – a chance to see the 3rd – 7th Oct 2011 Year 11 : Home Study Focus Week school in action, get a feel for the supportive, working atmosphere that 31st Oct – 4th Nov 2011 Year 9 : Home Study Focus Week we have here at Highcliffe and meet a senior member of staff. 17th Nov 2011 Year 7 : ATL Focus Day All interested parents are invited to 5th – 9th Dec 2011 Year 8 : Home Study Focus Week come along and take one of these tours – they run at 9.15am and 10.15am 30th Jan – 3rd Feb 2012 Year 10 : Home Study Focus Week from Monday 10th October to Friday 21st October. Please contact the School 28th Feb 2012 Year 8 : ‘Thinking in Detail’ ATL Day Office to book a time suitable for you.
Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 5 Art, Design & Technology: header Minds on, hands on!
Nowhere across Highcliffe School is this more clearly demonstrated to comment on how the work meets the standard than through the work explored and created within the Art Design exhibited in Higher Education establishments during the end of year show. In February, students Technology Faculty, housed in the Da Vinci building. exhibit their work locally at Highcliffe Castle. The Castle management greatly enjoy our exhibition as it regularly draws in one of the largest crowds they see during the year. This year will be the first year that integrates work from Design Technology The Senior Curriculum Leader for Art Design too. Art Textiles is studied in Years 9 to 13 and Technology, Mr Nicholls, passionately believes in allows students to explore compliant materials the place that Art Design Technology occupies in the in ways that achieve practical garments or simply curriculum and believes that every child’s education works of art in their own right. Textiles Technology is enriched by the experiences they gain within the is studied from Year 7 to Year 11. Smart Materials Da Vinci Centre. The joining of Art and Technology and artistic processes are combined with traditional within the curriculum diversifies the ranges of techniques to produce fully useable, practical outcomes achievable by the students and allows outcomes. Graphics is now following an Art syllabus them to solve problems in a greater variety of ways. and allows students to independently design items using industry standard software, such as Adobe Within Art our students have the opportunity to Illustrator. They explore their thought processes in explore a huge variety of artistic media through sketchbook form and work to live briefs, such as the themed briefs from Year 7. They are accommodated School Christmas Card and exhibition invitations. in purpose built Art studios and supported by In Catering, students produce dishes of variety and extremely enthusiastic and skilled artists who also balance. They enter the Christchurch Food Festival exhibit work outside of school. The students are and also cater for other events within school. The encouraged to reflect on their work regularly and experience offered in food is vital in helping students to enhance and develop it as their thinking probes realise the ease with which healthy eating can be forward. When GCSEs and A-levels are reached achieved at home and within a budget. Photography the students produce work of huge variety and of is offered for study to our Year 12 and 13 students technical excellence, regularly encouraging people and is hugely popular. The use of digital media and powerful editing tools makes the quality of outcomes limitless.
6 highcliffe school newsletTer Science at Curriculuheaderm the Cutting edge
‘I liked the dome most “The hand is the because it was funny. I also liked the way it was laid out cutting edge of rather than a classroom.’ ‘My favourite was the the mind” animal show but the planetarium and science Jacob Bronowski magic were really cool as well.’ ‘My most memorable Science in Activities Week thing was the animals because I held a snake Monday – Marwell Zoo for the first time!’ A whole day out at Marwell Zoo – who could ask for more. Apart from of course, a 45 minute workshop ‘My favourite thing was the to handle some of the gruesome creatures that magic show because it was they keep there! A yearly outing for Year 8 during Activities Week with the Science Department. funny and clever.’ Continued... Page 8
Electronics is delivered in Da Vinci whereas This year Mrs L Collins, our fabulous Chemistry many schools have cut it from their curriculum. A top four and Principal technician, has won one of the four Highcliffe is fortunate to have a flourishing national awards. subject area where students produce products technician of real diversity and gain an understanding at Highcliffe! We sent off her nomination, without her knowledge of systems and components above what is before the summer half term and were greeted on our required for GCSE or A level. Examples of quality return after the break by a very surprised Mrs Collins. Electronic Products are evident throughout the Each year the Salters’ building and interactive games are starting to We nominated her because she is always excited appear in the entrance to the space. Product company seeks by practical science and eager to try out new Design continues to develop high quality, nominations for demonstrations and class practicals. She is an challenging projects which allow students to take outstanding Science invaluable support to Science staff and gives us items home of real, practical use. This year sees technicians. Awards are inspirational ideas. the Lamp and Clock projects being enhanced presented to the four again to encourage greater variety in outcome She has been a central figure in school Science as well as the opportunity to experiment more best technicians at a Club for Year 7-9 students for a number of years. widely with materials to achieve highly creative ceremony held at Salters’ She comes up with practical suggestions, which are outcomes. A level students produce marketable Hall in London. always fun, engaging and well enjoyed by staff and products and go on to study a variety of design students alike. She is always there as an enthusiastic and engineering degrees. role model for the students who attend. Within Art Design Technology creative problem solving is at the heart of the thought processes She also helped found and run the school’s Eco Club encouraged in ADT and will prove to be which has achieved Bronze award status. The club’s invaluable skills for Highcliffe students to have school garden regularly produces an impressive in the rapidly changing world that we now live variety of top quality produce for the club’s in. Highcliffe students benefit from friendly, members to take home and share with their families. approachable staff and develop excellent The quality and quantity of the harvest owes a great working relationships across the curriculum deal to Mrs Collins’ help with planning, planting area. These relationships and the commitment and harvesting the garden as well as her help in exhibited by the staff make Da Vinci a vibrant translating the enthusiasm of the members into and exciting learning space. green-fingered skills. The healthy eating approach
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Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 7 Science at curriculum the Cutting edge
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down into the trachea (on a dummy of course!) engineers, about their project and took basic medical observations such as BP, and final product. After this pulse oximetry, temperature. Fantastic! they were required to prepare a display stand so that people Blood – Lots of information but who won the (including the Commodore!) quizzes?! A fantastic hour learning about blood, could come and quiz them about genes and what makes us who we are and then the project. a lightning fast quiz. The whole day was a real success Planetarium – Travel the universe in the school hall. and will hopefully result in Simon delivered a fantastic 50 minute space journey, gaining Gold CREST awards and a something very different from a normal lab lesson. place at the regional final of the Engineering in Education Big Bang event at Bath University. Watch this space! Tuesday – Forensics Day Salter’s Chemistry Camps A real life forensic scientist setting up a murder I participated in a Salter’s scene! Crime scene analysis, forensic testing Chemistry Camp event from 17 – culminating in a court trial. Be the suspect, a witness, 19 August 2011, at the University the judge or a police officer in this day of fun and of York. I stayed there for three real life science. days in the halls of residence, along ‘I liked the court part best. It was interesting finding with 50 other students that attend out how much evidence was used.’ schools from around the country. ‘I think it was imaginative and interesting.’ There were people there from ‘My favourite part of the day was when we did the other countries such as: Germany, work on the finger prints.’ Belgium and even Russia. ‘My favourite part of the day was the trial. It was great fun to have the experience of a real court.’ Throughout the day we took part in various Chemistry-related Wednesday – INTECH Science Learning Centre practical experiments, following The South of England’s hands-on interactive science a lecture from one of the five and technology centre is an Activities Week outing teachers. The experiments we speciality of Science. The day included the UK’s performed involved making largest capacity digital Planetarium! Featuring paints from basic chemicals, 100 interactive exhibits, which demonstrate the using chemiluminescence to science and technology of the world around us in identify a contaminated drug and an engaging and exciting way. It’s ‘hands-on’, not finding out how much of a copper ‘hands-off’ experience of science. coin is actually copper. During the evening we got involved in Thursday Science Day - On May 5th, Steven Alton, Thomas Smith and Sarah several activities, for example: a A whole day of science – sounds a bit dull? Brougham, represented Highcliffe at HMS Sultan competition, a materials lecture, How about ; Jonathan’s Jungle – Jonathan brought for the 2011 Engineering in Education Scheme, quizzes, sports day-type activities along a selection of creepy crawlies, ones that Celebration and Assessment Day (CAD). Felix Lazenby and a ghost walk in the city jumped, ones that slithered and others that was also on the team but unable to attend the event. centre. I thoroughly enjoyed my were just a little bit scary. Good Biology and the time spent at York and I would opportunity to be that little bit brave. The team had spent the past 6 months working on a definitely do it again if I had the project for the Royal Navy to design and manufacture chance (despite having to be Do Science – Ian wowed with science magic, made an alternative method for the ceremonial lighting ready for breakfast at 7:45!) us laugh with physics oddities and in general had and highlighting of naval vessels . The whole process Bradley Tombleson – Year 11 a really good time. has consisted of a launch day back in October at the University of Southampton, a 3 day residential Classroom Medics – We met Stan the patient in January at the University of Southampton and simulator to diagnose different conditions, used culminated in the assessment day in May. a real needle to take fake blood from Andy the injection arm, practised intubating a patient with At the CAD the team were required to make a 15 a special airway that has a camera so you can video minute presentation to naval personnel, including
8 highcliffe school newsletTer Q: What’s buzzing in MFL? Highcliffe High Flyers A: The Spelling Bee!
During activities week, the mathematics department invited 15 This is a Year 7 Spelling “Highcliffe High Flyers” from Highcliffe St Mark to come and spend competition in French, the day with some of our gifted Year 8 mathematicians. German, Italian and Spanish.
There are 4 Heats with National Finals for the successful students. Your language teacher will launch the first round of the Spelling Bee towards the end of September and the first heats (class heats) will be towards the end of the Autumn Term.
What you will need to do is Learn your alphabet in French/German/Italian/Spanish. Learn how to spell the first 50 words for your class heats in French/German/Italian/Spanish.
You are sure to have lots of questions about the competition, for example, ‘How can I win?’. The best way to get these questions answered is to explore the wiki at http://www.flspellingbee.co.uk/. Here you can also find the words which you need to learn. A good tip is to work in pairs and see how many words, at random, you can spell in 1 minute! Get busy! Get buzzing!
Foundation Certificate in Modern Languages This qualification has been a great success since it has been introduced providing an opportunity for all students to gain a language qualification and acting as a stepping stone for GCSE. Well done to the current The students took part in an activity called “Outbreak” where they played the part of Year 10 students for Highcliffe’s best-ever FCSE results: scientists trying to stop the spread of a fatal disease. The first thing they had to do was find the infected people by solving some mathematical clues which gave them co- 147 distinctions (Level 6) ordinates of locations around the school grounds. 77 merits (Level 5) 46 passes (Level 4) Once they’d discovered the infected population, they made vaccines using different ratios and proportions of lemonade and fruit juice which got a bit messy! The final task was to Good luck to all of Year 9 who completing their FCSEs use a spreadsheet and formulas to decide which people in the population would get the in French, German, Italian and Spanish this year. vaccine. They had to present their decisions with reasoning to the rest of the group. A busy year for exchange trips It was a really successful day and gave the Mathematics Curriculum area the opportunity to see Also good luck to all the students who will be just how gifted some of our new Year 7s are! We’re looking forward to repeating it next year! taking part in exchange trips and visits this year. Not only those that are being organized by the MFL New Learning Tools department (France, Germany and Spain) but also to those involved in the sports tours and exchanges in Mathswatch the revision tool for GCSE and KS3 tests will be available on ‘myhighcliffe’ the domain of other subject areas across the school. soon. In previous years students have brought individual CDs at £4 each, this year a site There seem to be more and more each year and this licence has been brought so it is totally free for all students. Grades range from A* to E year they include visits to India, Italy, USA and Japan. with all topics covered. An audio and visual display helps with each topic and interactive revision exercises are given to help test what has been learnt. There is even more practice Many thanks to all the parents, students and staff for in worksheet form if more is needed. If you want a C or above at GCSE this is a must! their enthusiasm and dedicated support in planning, fundraising and hosting without which the students might be denied these fantastic opportunities.
Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 9 Expressive Arts: header Connecting for Growth
The Expressive Arts staff and students continue to find new ways to Instrumental Music Lessons work in the community. In addition to the theatrical shows, talent The instrumental Music Service is undergoing some shows, sports fixtures and dance performances they are to the fore changes and as part of this, we are pleased to be in linking strongly with our primary schools. able to welcome our new electric and classical guitar teacher, Ben Tassell, to the team. IMS offers a wide range of instrumental tuition including woodwind, vocals, guitar, drums and strings. We are currently encouraging the uptake of brass, string and woodwind instruments and we have a wide range of more unusual instruments that students can hire at a small cost. Any student who would like to learn an instrument after Christmas, should collect a letter from the Finance Office.
Sports Links in the Pyramid The PE Curriculum Area at Highcliffe is continuing to extend its expertise and experience to the school’s feeder schools this year. Mrs Webber and Miss Fellingham will be spending half-termly blocks in Hordle Primary School, Tiptoe Primary School, Bransgore Primary School, St Luke’s CE primary school in Sway, Mudeford Infants and Juniors and Highcliffe St Mark. Both teachers will be sorting staff and leading students through a range of activities. The 6th Form sports leaders will also be going into the schools to help out with and lead activities. There are also a number of competitions being held at Highcliffe for the primary schools. They include Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 multi-skills competitions, a Year 2 football festival and a Year 5 sports day. This is an exciting time for thePE Curriculum Area and we are looking forward to continually strengthening our links with our primary schools.
We Will Rock You A Star is Born! We are fast approaching the performances of this year’s school production ‘We Will Rock Former Highcliffe School student, Matthew Jeans, You’. Everyone involved, both staff and students, are working hard in rehearsals and back is following his dream of being a star of musical stage to make sure that it is a success. The performances will be on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th theatre with his recent appearance in the professional of November and tickets will be on sale through the school shortly. Please check the We production of the musical ‘Grease’ at the Mayflower Will Rock You link on the Music section of the school website, which will be updated with Theatre, Southampton. Matthew was the understudy more information. We know that this will be a popular event and ask that you request to two main roles in the show: Vince Fontaine and the early to avoid being disappointed. teen idol as well as performing in the ensemble.
African Drumming Whilst at Highcliffe, Matthew took part in numerous performing arts events and musicals and even at an Year 7 students are currently studying music from the west coast of Africa where they are early age showed an exceptional talent in dance, music enjoying using the djembes, authentic African drums, which are new to the department and acting. We wish him all the best in his chosen this term. There are 30 drums in total, which means that students often have the chance career and look forward to seeing him in the West End! to play as a class; strengthening the communication skills within the group. They will be using these instruments to compose and perform their own African drumming pieces. Highcliffe Acting Students Get Creative! One year 7 student commented ‘I really love the drums because we get a chance to play together and it allows us to be really involved in making music. I think it is really good that Year 12 BTEC Acting students are involved in an we get to use the exact instruments we are learning about.’ exciting Theatre in Education project in conjunction with the Red Cross. Students have been working with Gaynor Smith, an experienced Red Cross
10 highcliffe school newsletTer a top four technician curriculuheaderm at HIGHCLIFFE
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the club fosters will hopefully boost the life chances in their support. One of our Year 13 Chemistry The members of the committee who of its members. The club also organises the school students, Rachel Chance, was not able to get into visited Highcliffe to assess Mrs Collins wide recycling scheme as well as fund raising for school to meet the panel, but was not going to let were:- David Waddington - ex Head seeds for the garden by raising and selling plants that stop her supporting Mrs Collins, so she emailed of the Department of Chemistry (tomato, chilli, pepper, etc.) to staff and students. in the following statement for the panel: at the University of York, founding director of the University of York She values the school community and is always “Without the efficiency and all-round capability Science Education Group which in keen to help out with and go on science trips to of Mrs Collins, I definitely wouldn’t have been turn produced the Salters’ courses. inspirational lectures, to the Science and Natural able to achieve the kind of coursework results I History Museums and to hands on events at IBM was lucky enough to obtain. She has a wonderful John Lawrence - trained at Salford (and that’s just in the last few years!), bake gorgeous talent of being able to foresee and solve problems and London University, PGCE charity fund raising cakes, take a full and active role before they have arisen, which is paramount at Christ’s College, Cambridge, in Activities week, despite needing the time to sort when restricted with a limited time scale. Working became a chemistry teacher. out other parts of her role. She also takes on work with such a gifted technician has been a real He then joined the ASE as a experience students (both from Highcliffe and from pleasure, and I personally believe that Mrs Collins member of staff and is currently other schools in the local area) making sure that should win this award, 100%.” Deputy CEO with a responsibility for Finance and Operations. they gain a lot from their short time with her. We are looking forward to the award ceremony in John has serviced both the November and to seeing all Mrs Collins does for Technicians Committee and She coordinates school activities for Science and Highcliffe being recognised nationally. The Salters’ Safeguards Committee at ASE. Engineering Week, Chemistry Week (annually!) as Institute, founded in 1918, is the flagship charity John was involved in the two well as for this year’s International Year of Chemistry. of the Salters’ Company, ranked 9th in order of the reports on Technicians by RS/AS Twelve Great City of London Livery Companies. and managed the Gatsby funded Mrs Collins progressed into the final eight based on The Institute aims to promote the appreciation of Techcen Project which provided her nomination form. She was then visited by a very chemistry and related sciences among the young, and online assessment of the LATA distinguished panel to assess her contributions to to encourage careers in the teaching of chemistry and NVQ at levels 2 & 3. Highcliffe. The panel assessed all 8 finalists and they in the UK chemical and allied industries. decided which of them would receive awards. The panel Chris Peel - is currently an interviewed Mrs Collins, teachers in the department, The Salters’ Institute, in collaboration with the Advisory Technician for CLEAPSS other technicians and some of our students. Association for Science Education, CLEAPSS, the and previously worked at various Institute of Physics, the Nuffield Foundation, the Royal schools and colleges as Chief Mrs Collins makes an enormous contribution to help Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Society Technician. make Science such a positive experience for all the of Biology established the first National Awards for students who join us at Highcliffe. This is reflected Science Technicians in 2002. The annual awards are in the strength of our students desire to support open to science technicians in schools and colleges Mrs Collins’ nomination. Some of our Sixth Form who have a total of 5 or more years experience (either students met the panel and were very eloquent full-time or part-time).
volunteer, and have been tasked with devising a refugees and dispelling the myths surrounding this improvisation. The powerful performance based on the theme of Refugees. sensitive topic. selection of photographs taken of refugee camps around the For the first part of the process, students were involved Also working with the Red Cross world which were shown to the in a fascinating range of drama workshop activities students, stimulated thought Recently, Year 9 Expressive Arts GCSE students were in which they developed their knowledge of asylum provoking discussions. Through treated to a Drama workshop organised and delivered seekers, refugees, illegal immigrants and economic their drama work, students were by Gaynor Smith who works for the British Red Cross. migrants. They learnt about how many children are able to sensitively explore the The workshop explored the theme of ‘Refugees’ and smuggled from their own countries and taken on thoughts and feelings of the looked at real case histories of young people who seek perilous journeys often never seeing their parents again. refugees and hopefully gain some asylum due to persecution in their own countries. knowledge and understanding Students will now go on to write a script which of why young people are forced Students participated in a range of practical drama will be performed for a Year 7 audience with the to seek asylum and flee from the activities and used a variety of conventions including intention of educating them about the plight of country of their birth. role plays, mime, thought tracking, still image and
Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 11 What we’ve been up to!
12 highcliffe school newsletTer Extended Project 14 – 19 Qualification – 2011 Update
Fifteen students from Years 12 and 13 have completed an EPQ this year. The aims of the qualification are to extend a student’s learning and skills beyond their usual programme of study to an area they are personally interested in researching.
Topics this year were very diverse, ranging from an academic paper on Icelandic Independence by Jamie Paddock, to an artefact based project , a book of short stories, ‘Tales of Bewilderment’ by Jenny Higson. Other practical projects included design of a website by Adam Davies, and the creation of a Visual Novel, ‘Sparkle’, by Rebecca Angel.
An EPQ highlight of the year was the Writers’ Retreat to Leeson House, near Swanage, in February. Students from Highcliffe School teamed up with peers from Lytchett Minster School, to focus on writing skills.
The retreat also gave them an opportunity to learn how to juggle, orienteer in the dark and reflect around a campfire, late into the night.
We were also treated to an outdoor performance at the seaside amphitheatre as Will Holyhead performed a scene from Romeo and Juliet as part of his investigation into whether or not audiences prefer indoor or outdoor performances.
Meanwhile, back at school, several students James Emmett grappled with serious contemporary issues argued for and against the role of a state as they researched their projects: religion in the UK
Sam Millard Sam, Sarah and Jack all engaged with investigated why young people primary research in order to draw their are apathetic towards politics conclusions. Sam conducted a survey with some detailed analysis using tools such Sarah Hemming as Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation compared and contrasted The Crusades Coefficient test. Sarah wrote to university with The War on Terror history lecturers to seek their opinion on her title, and then took the brave decision Jack Field to disagree with them! Jack arranged a considered whether or not Minimally mentor for himself who is a doctor in Invasive Surgery (MIS) is the new frontier the field of MIS, he also sought access to for medicine the Bournemouth Hospital library where he was able to read the British Medical Journal and keep up-to-date with peer- reviewed articles.
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Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 13 Duke of Edinburgh header –The Expedition
“My favourite part of DofE is the expedition section. This is because you get to have fun with your friends and meet new people. Also it gives you chance to experience things that you would not do before. The sleeping in the tents is good but I think there was only one bad thing on the expedition and that was the rain.” Robert Maidment
Last year the Year 10 students had the opportunity with a member of staff and to take part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. hiked for about 6 hours, ending The Duke of Edinburgh award is a challenging up at Sandy Balls campsite. The but enjoyable award that requires commitment, students worked really well even organisation and team work. New skills are also though the weather was not gained like compass and map reading. great. The students then camped overnight, making their own To complete the Duke of Edinburgh award meals and the following day they four sections had to be completed; physical, completed their practice with a volunteering, skills which are completed over three few hours of hiking. or six months. The fourth section is the expedition which the students completed last summer. On the Friday and Saturday of Activities Week the All students who completed the students completed their qualifying expedition. This expedition were successful; they All the students took part in a practice expedition in time it was in the Purbecks. The students again had to are now finishing off their other June 2011. The students started their expedition near carry everything they needed but this time they had to three sections and hopefully Stoney Cross in the New Forest. They were required complete two full days, again in typical British weather! soon will gain the Bronze Duke to carry everything they needed; clothes, tents, food, All of the groups did incredibly well and were very of Edinburgh award. sleeping bags etc. They set off into the New Forest positive even though it rained a good deal of the time.
the perimeter of the garden and these have now quickly became evident that part Ecoclub 2011 matured enough to begin to provide a living, and of the bank had collapsed, leaving edible border to the garden. This was a particular large spaces under the lining delight for the Year 7 volunteers during the Summer which had ruptured in several Term, and tending of the garden on a Tuesday places. Barrow loads of sand were This is the third year we have run the afternoon was frequently punctuated by breaks carted across school without Ecoclub garden and we now have a to ‘check the bushes’. Throughout the Summer complaint and as you can see from good system for planting and harvesting the Food Technology department took full the photographs the students advantage of the available produce for a number clearly enjoyed the challenge. and ensuring that we have continuous of culinary adventures. production in the garden throughout While this was going on Miss the school year. The early burst of warm weather and long dry spells Stewart was coordinating the generated two problems in the Wildlife area and Eco pincer movement on the garden garden. Namely rapid growth of weeds and a pond area with military-like efficiency and that began to look like a skate park as the pond dried the results after two days hard and drained with water. It became quickly evident that work weeding, edging, pruning the lining had been compromised and needed some and planting were stunning with As always there have been particular successes serious TLC. A brave team of volunteers from Year 8 the garden looking neat, full of ( vast quantities of enormous maris piper potatoes ) put themselves forward to help with both problems edible goodies and a credit to the and the occasional disappointment ( the weekend during Activities Week and for two days the Ecogarden teachers and students who had the pumpkins decided to expire en-masse…). Much and pond areas were hives of industrious activity ably contributed to the effort. to Mr Prodomo’s delight ( see right! ) the radish supported by the landscaping skills of Mr Edmonds crop was particularly bountiful this year, and several and the gardening talent of Miss Stewart. I was most As always Ecoclub is open to all members of the Dorset constabulary were seen impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of the lower school members and runs enjoying these along with their lunch when they Year 8 team. Huge quantities of pond weed and evil every Tuesday afternoon from were on site during Activities Week. Last year we sludge needed to be removed from the pond before 3:05 pm and meets in Sc12. planted a variety of berry-bearing shrubs around the state of the lining could be addressed and it
14 highcliffe school newsletTer World Challenge: Globalisedheader Madagascar
‘There are way too many things that I loved about the expedition but if I had From the moment we left Highcliffe School on 13th July the students oversaw the booking of transport, to narrow it down to just a few then it checking in at the airport, ordering and cooking food would be lying under the stars at Anja etc. This obviously took some time for them to get and listening to the faint lemur calls…’ their teeth into but was a fundamental part of the experience and all the students learned valuable lessons from this.
The trip itself was a flat out tour around From July 13th to August 5th 20 students, drawn Madagacasar. We landed in Antanarivo (Tana) on from Year 11 and Year 12, accompanied by 2 July 14th and then spent the night in a local hotel. members of Highcliffe School staff travelled The next day saw us travelling for 10 hours to to Madagascar to follow a World Challenge Fianarantsoa where we camped in a hostel grounds Expedition. World Challenge Expeditions over night. The next day the cook team went consist of three phases, trek, a project and rest and relaxation. The principle of these shopping for provisions to feed the large team whilst expeditions are that the students who travel on Trek. No small feat in a country where they don’t take responsibility for the fundraising, itinerary speak English and there are no Tesco’s to be seen. planning and all general, logistical, duties during their time in country. Miss Swan and Trekking: Our first trek took us through village Mr Nicholls, who accompanied the trip and communities and paddy fields to ancient rainforest. assisted with the preliminary planning, only We crossed rivers and saw chameleons that looked Warm clothing is essential intervened on the expedition when an issue of just like the tree they were perched upon. Further and wet weather gear an health or safety arose. As you can imagine, not treks took us through families of ring tailed lemurs occasional necessity! intervening proves as much of a challenge for and into National Parks and swimming in rivers. the staff as planning and booking transport, etc, Project: On Project we re-painted the outside of a New Year 7 students are is for the students. We were also accompanied maternity hospital in a small town called Anjoma. particularly encouraged to join by an expedition leader, Adam Evans, who The group camped in the village and took shifts in in with the Highcliffe School took overall responsibility for the trip and painting and generally sprucing up the outside of green movement. If you think was provided by World Challenge. We were the most basic of medical facilities. During this time you may have green fingers or extremely lucky to have Adam as our leader they also had a great deal of contact with the locals, as his background meant he was experienced want to be part of the Highcliffe singing songs, dancing and playing a football match. with World Challenge expeditions. He was also School Eco Team please contact The locals proved too strong for our intrepid travellers very well qualified for working near water and Mr Craven in Sc12. but the pitch wasn’t flat and the referee was not on administering emergency first aid, fortunately not needed. our side!! (You find excuses where you can) Continued... Back page
Volume 11 | Issue 1 | October 2011 15 Extended Project WORLD CHALLENGE: globalised Qualification – 2011 Update MADAGASCAR
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Other students chose to investigate a topic of personal interest to them, related to potential career aspirations. Emma Loe considered learning styles and visited a local primary school to conduct a longitudinal study. Similarly, Katrina Lancaster studied dyslexia and visited a school to investigate how young people with this particular learning difficulty are stereotyped. Tom Smith also considered educational themes as he searched for an answer to the question of why more students seem to prefer arts rather than science subjects at school.
R&R: Much deserved when we reached this phase. An experience like World The students adapted their itinerary to remove Challenge enriches the an expensive boat trip and travelled to Toliara development of young people. Natalie Martin provided an interesting insight on the west coast. Here the group turned up They develop better inter- into both the arts and science as she explored unannounced at a beach front hotel. After some personal relationships and gain whether engineering can be considered art. Zach top quality negotiating the students acquired beach a much better understanding of Tebbutt researched whether or not Bournemouth front accommodation of about 4 star quality with world differences. They gain an Airport has the potential to expand further, swimming pool, tennis and crazy golf. During this insight into their own capabilities particularly in light of recent environmental and phase they ate and relaxed, you wouldn’t believe 20 and experience taking full security concerns regarding air travel. Jess Rajska people could eat so many chips. They also travelled responsibility for their day to day took the issue of fussy eating amongst children to the local town to purchase souvenirs and living and taking calculated risks. and tried to find out why some youngsters have experience the west coast culture. They appreciate porcelain toilets pet food hates, whilst others will eat anything put and a varied diet and also learn in front of them. Everyone who went on the trip returned a different quite how fortunate they are to person. A couple of comments from students upon grow up in a developed country. Each student presented their project to an return are copied below: audience of governors, teachers, parents and Oliver Forrest: What I got out of the trip: I I would like to thank Adam and fellow students in March and then submitted discovered that my endurance is far higher than I Miss Swan for assisting in planning their work in late April. Following a rigorous thought it was before. I also learned to appreciate and overseeing the trip and marking and moderation process, the projects were sent to the exam board moderator in May. what I have at home. That said, it made me realise spreading the load. I’d also like The final results were exceptional. that, while we usually pity the people of the Third to thank every student who took World, it may be us who should be pitied. on the challenge two years ago We would like to commend all of the EPQ students They have so little, but they’re all happy. and stuck with the development for their hard work and perseverance with their Elaine Bell: There are way too many things that process and travelled with us. projects this year; it has been a pleasure to work I loved about the expedition but if I had to narrow Over 3 ½ weeks of travel there with them in supervising their research. it down to just a few then it would be lying under wasn’t a single group fall out or the stars at Anja and listening to the faint lemur a raised word, except for when calls, travelling in the buses because it was amazing Eleanor hogged the space inside a to watch the different scenery go past (although tent from Margaret!...tent walls are the bumpy roads were sometimes uncomfortable) very thin! I consider this a massive and finally when we were painting the maternity achievement and assisted in making ward and the whole village turned up with a band the expedition a huge success. and we had to dance with them.
16 highcliffe school newsletTer