A World of Challenge, Inspiration and Achievement An Academy of Excellence Year 8 students have recently under- Highcliffe gains Academy of Excellence Stage 4. Mr O’Connor reports that taken the Headteacher’s Challenge Status putting the 3 option blocks together, : ‘Top Tips for the new Year 7’. Mr there are 768 option choices. 743 Garner and I spent a day with Year 8 Over recent months Governors have have been allocated as first choice. tutor representatives who gave their been very busy, meeting frequently That means 96.7% of first choices presentation and reasons specifically to make sure that our application was have been allocated. designed to help new students settle proceeding smoothly. The working in and succeed. These were amazing, group ensured that we kept on track This is only one example of the high amusing and very pertinent. It was and we received our Academy Order standard we set all too clear that from the Secretary of State, Michael ourselves and all tutor groups Gove, to convert on 1st June. the great endea- had taken up this vour which has challenge with Our new status and essential fund- been undertaken great relish and ing will enable our school to go from to make sure commitment. The strength to strength. We aim both to that Year 8 has standard of work consolidate and build upon our out- the best pos- was consistently standing care, provision and achieve- sible start to their high across tutor ments, recognised by Ofsted in the new curriculum groups. Students spring term, who praised the school for programme in had designed post- sustained high performance. We are September. Thank ers, leaflets, sto- resolute in our ambition and vision for you for your ryboards, prompt our students. support and the way in which you cards, produced high quality film clips have supported your son or daughter and even computer programmes and This summer edition of H2U highlights through the options process. apps. It was Mr Garner and I who were what we are about as a community – left with the challenge! the outstanding array of opportunities open to and taken up by our students, In the end each tu- the diversity of our provision and range tor group received a of achievements by all age groups and certificate of merit for individuals, are exceptional. I trust a particular aspect of that you derive enjoyment and are work with the tutor proud of the way in which our students groups 8.7 and 8.9 be- readily take up other challenges, mak- ing the overall winners. ing the most of them. Groups 8.7 and 8.9 will undertake assemblies Year 8 have been working hard and giv- next September with ing careful thought to their next steps Year 7. All tutor groups in choosing their options so they can were awarded a £10 get ahead with an early start to Key “I believe in using what you have, instead of mourning for that which you do not. In thirty years time, 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 Volume 10 Issue 4, June 2011 2 prize and the winning tutor groups gain a On the 2nd July 2011, 3 ex-Highcliffe students, 2009-2010 Head free tutor lunch! Boy Samuel Joynson, 2010 Top-A Level Achiever Adam Sloper, and aspiring film director Michael L Worrall, will be embarking on a The second part of the challenge is now charity expedition across Eurasia in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. underway with each tutor group charged After each experiencing a close relative’s decline with the disease with developing their enterprise skills to in recent years, we decided that we would take part in a project turn £10 into ‘many’ £s for charity. Last that would raise awareness of the disease, especially among young year’s participants raised over £1500 by people, and would also raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society organising a Charity Fair in Activities Week charity. Such a project, originating from an idea in a Year 11 High- – beat that Year 8! cliffe School Philosophy and Ethics lesson, has taken the form of an A key aspect of our school has been the entirely self-organised and self-funded overland charity expedition liaison work we have developed through from Southampton to Shanghai, which we have challenged our- our Specialist School and Leading Edge selves to complete in just 40 days. Programme with our Feeder Schools. We would be very grateful for any help you can give in terms of Our Academy programme will take this donations and/or raising awareness of the disease. Donations can further to the benefit of all the participat- be made at www.justgiving.com/samuel- ing schools, staff and students. joynson0. All donations go directly to the Al- The language teaching is well established zheimer’s Society, as the entire expedition is and the Languages Festival (see page 18) self-funded by the three Highcliffe Students. a huge success. Only last week we all en- Sammy Joynson Highcliffe Highflyers Four Year 11 students (Amy Symons, Alice Kingham, Theo Turner, Jack Radford) helped prepare and teach a masterclass in Mathematics to Year 5 and Year 6 students at Highcliffe St Mark on Wednesday. We have aptly named the primary students the “Highcliffe Highflyers”. The lesson introduced the concept of algebra through a number starter and algebra board games, this was to allow the students in the following lesson to design their own game. We will use our Year 11 students to judge the best board games when completed. The Year 11 students were outstand- ing and delivered a great lesson which the pupils obviously enjoyed. It showed how using older students to teach can be such a useful strategy. Some quotes from the Year 11 students: “I am now certain I would like to be a teacher but it has made it harder to decide which year group and subject I’d like to teach.” “I was very impressed by their high level of mathematics ability and confidence.” “I was a little nervous at first” “They were attentive hard working and fun.” “I would recommend the experience to anyone.” “Before I had tried this, I had not considered teaching but now I feel like it could be the path I want to follow” Report by Mr Burgan Senior Curriculum Leader - Mathematics H2U, Volume 10 Issue 4, June 2011 3 joyed the Community Arts Festival at of our young people. This was the self over the summer break. He the Regent Centre. Our PE staff and news (see below) that three current has promised to come in to school Sports Leaders have been working and former students have been before his university term starts alongside Primary colleagues to de- selected as part of the Olympic and share his experiences with liver an enhanced sports programme. Youth Choir for next year’s Olympic our students. Brief pen portraits The recent Mathematics High Flyers Games. With only 120 members this of each of the three participants project gives a glimpse of our future means that 1 in 40 are Highcliffe can be seen on page 8. plans (see page 2). This term has students. Congratulations! Before I go I would just like to seen all new Year 7 students (Septem- Finally, it is always a pleasure to see draw parents’ attention the term ber 2011 entry) enjoying the Murder our alumni students return and to dates information given on the Mystery Day as part of the transi- see how they are progressing. Last back page and also to use this tion programme as we prepare to week I had the pleasure of meeting opportunity to thank all staff, stu- welcome our new students into the up with the Head Boy, Samuel Joyn- dents and parents for their efforts Highcliffe Way. son (2010) and Samuel was keen in making this another great year Just as we were about to go to press to update me on his ambitions and for the school. we received news that confirmed for adventures. The box on Page 2 sets Ms Judith Potts us the importance of these types of out the challenge that he, with two opportunities for the development of his Highcliffe friends, has set him- Headteacher Olympic Choir: A Highcliffe Presence On 16th June an article appeared in the Bournemouth Echo which in- cluded the picture and the excerpts below. ‘A choir of Olympic proportions is being assembled from young people all across the country in the run up to the 2012 Games. Three local youths are among the lucky 120 to participate in what will be the official youth choir for the Olympic Games next year. Coral Norton, 16, and Dan White, 18, students at Highcliffe School and Sam Gibbins, 19, a performing arts student at Southampton University, (and former Highcliffe student) were well in a group, and people Youth Choir will sing at national chosen from nearly three thousand who could work well in a events in the build up to the hopefuls nationwide… team.”… Olympics and be part of the week …The three singers are part of a local …But the once in a lifeltime of the opening ceremonies. group in Christchurch known as The opportunity will require the It is part of the cultural Olym- Funky Little Choir Co, established by choralists to continue their piad, encouraging a wide range Sandie Elkins in 2007… hard work at three residential of people to get involved in the …She said: “The judges were looking training workshops to be held London 2012 Games.” for strong voices that would blend in the next few months.