Highfields School
Encyclopedia
Highfields School is a coeducational secondary
comprehensive school
located in Matlock, Derbyshire. The school has 1,414 pupil
s (male and female) on roll with 247 in the sixth form
and is split across two sites in the town 1.7 miles apart. It is an Arts College
that specialises in the performing arts.
School buses are provided by numerous companies, including G&J Holmes and Hulleys of Baslow
but mainly by Slacks Travel. Buses leave both sites to numerous drop offs around the county at 3:40 pm. Morning services are also operated, the majority following the reverse of the afternoon buses.
It was however, been recently proposed that the school day is altered so that the lunch is shortened by 15 minutes to 50 minutes and the school day ends 15 minutes earlier, at 3:15 pm each day. However, it was decided to deduct 5 minutes from Lunch and add 5 minutes to break instead. This means the school timetable alters slightly but finishes and starts at the same time. This was done because it was a problem for some parents to collect their child or children from school at 3:15pm.
s' are not allowed. Incorrect uniform may be asked to be removed. Sixth form students have no set uniform but have to stick to a controlled dress code.
The school policy clearly states that only plain black or brown footwear may be worn and that shoes must not have any logos or motifs. The school dress involves a black jumper with the school logo, plain black trousers or skirt and a white polo shirt with logo. A full length shirt may be worn but only with a red tie with a school logo. All outdoor clothing must be removed indoors and must be plain black without logos (if possible)
The school policy also states that hair gel is allowed but inappropriate colours or styles are not allowed and students may be asked to change hairstyle by teachers.
The school PE kit includes navy Blue shorts, white trainers or football boots, a royal blue rugby shirt with reversible white strip and royal blue knee length socks. A gum shield is recommended for rugby and hockey, as are shin pads. There is also a royal blue polo shirt with logo which is only allowed in Summer. For Technology lessons students need two aprons, one for working in the workshop, although the school does supply students with aprons if they haven't got one. The other apron is used for cooking. The school also supplies these but at a charge of 20p per lesson.
s), where English
and Drama are taught, with permanent structures, the installation of a reception area and a new ventilation network as well as redecoration of the main building. As of January 2010, the terrapins have been demolished, redecoration has taken place, the ventalation system has been installed and the Art facilities have been redeveloped.
Mr Mike Bastford- Head of Year 8 (2011/2012)
in 2006. The inspection report can be read here.
The summary of the inspections reads: The school and inspectors agree that this is a satisfactory school with some good features, and there is a strong commitment and determination to make improvement. This contrasts to the 1999 report which said On balance, the school has more strengths than weaknesses.
The history department was inspected in 2007. The subsequent report, which can be read here, stated that Pupils’ achievement and standards are outstanding, Teaching and learning are outstanding, The quality of the curriculum is good, with outstanding features, Leadership and management are outstanding and that Inclusion is outstanding. The overall conclusion of this inspection was that the department was Outstanding, and achieved a grade 1.
The last whole school inspection was in February 2009. The school was below its grade 2 good target, with a satisfactory grade 3, but with improvements since the last inspection. The final report, which can be read here, stated that Highfields is a satisfactory school with several strengths. Its students develop well into mature and considerate citizens who take an active part in school life and the community. It also noted the school's performance, Students make satisfactory progress academically as they journey through the school and standards are above average. Notably more than 70 % of students in 2008 attained five or more higher GCSE grades which surpasses the school's attainment in previous years. However, this masks some significant variation between groups of students.
Details on the school's recent performance in public examinations can be found here. Highfields was the third best-performing school in Derbyshire at A-level in 2007 according to BBC tables and the seventh best-performing at GCSE, both of these higher than their normal placings in these league tables.
that were funded by an interested company.
Before Highfields School was founded in 1982, when the tripartite education system
in Matlock ended, there were two secondary schools in Matlock; Charles White Secondary Modern (founded in 1956, and named after two local MPs, father
and son, the latter of whom died in 1956) and The Ernest Bailey School, which was founded in 1924 and named after its wealthy founder, being renamed the Ernest Bailey Grammar School in 1957.
As a Grammar school
, Bailey's accepted students whose parents paid or who gained scholarships (by passing the Eleven plus exam) until fees were phased out, leaving scholarship as the only means of entry. Everyone else attended Charles White, a Secondary modern school
, hence it is estimated that Charles White students outnumbered Bailey's students 3:1. White had been built especially by Derbyshire County Council to accommodate the children who couldn't attend Bailey's.
The two schools were merged to create Highfields, a comprehensive. The site of Charles White became lower site of Highfields, Ernest Bailey was converted to the county council record offices and a new school was built to house the new Upper Lumsdale site.
The original headmaster, David Marshall, was headmaster from 1982 when the school was founded until he was replaced by Ian Alford however his name lives on as it is the name of the school sports hall. However by 2006 Mr Alford left the school too for a job in the Derbyshire LEA and was replaced by Dr Ramsey Tetlow, the current headmaster who among many things has implemented the school's new Performing Arts status, received in 2006, and brought a new deputy headmaster to the school.
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
located in Matlock, Derbyshire. The school has 1,414 pupil
Pupil
The pupil is a hole located in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to enter the retina. It appears black because most of the light entering the pupil is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye. In humans the pupil is round, but other species, such as some cats, have slit pupils. In...
s (male and female) on roll with 247 in the sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
and is split across two sites in the town 1.7 miles apart. It is an Arts College
Arts College
Arts Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, the performing, visual and/or media arts...
that specialises in the performing arts.
The School Day
The school day consists of a 20-minute registration period between 8:40 and 9:00 am, six 50-minute 'periods' or lessons (2 before break, 2 between break and lunch and 2 after lunch), a 25-minute break between 10:40 and 11:05am and a lunch break between 12:45 and 1:50 pm. Lessons end at 3:30 pm but numerous sports clubs run after school.School buses are provided by numerous companies, including G&J Holmes and Hulleys of Baslow
Hulleys of Baslow
Henry Hulley and Sons Ltd, trading as Hulleys of Baslow, is a bus company based in Baslow, Derbyshire, England. It has been in business for over eighty years. As well as operating scheduled bus services and school contracts, it also operates chartered coach services. The company comprises 16...
but mainly by Slacks Travel. Buses leave both sites to numerous drop offs around the county at 3:40 pm. Morning services are also operated, the majority following the reverse of the afternoon buses.
It was however, been recently proposed that the school day is altered so that the lunch is shortened by 15 minutes to 50 minutes and the school day ends 15 minutes earlier, at 3:15 pm each day. However, it was decided to deduct 5 minutes from Lunch and add 5 minutes to break instead. This means the school timetable alters slightly but finishes and starts at the same time. This was done because it was a problem for some parents to collect their child or children from school at 3:15pm.
Uniform
Incorrect Uniform is a C3 offence under the consequences system. One ear stud and a watch are allowed but no other jewellery is allowed unless it had been discussed with the school. Body piercings and 'hoodieHoodie
A hoodie is a sweatshirt with a hood. The characteristic design includes large frontal pockets, a hood, and a drawstring to adjust the hood opening. They are sometimes worn with sweatpants. Some hoodies have zippers on them to allow easy removal much like a jacket...
s' are not allowed. Incorrect uniform may be asked to be removed. Sixth form students have no set uniform but have to stick to a controlled dress code.
The school policy clearly states that only plain black or brown footwear may be worn and that shoes must not have any logos or motifs. The school dress involves a black jumper with the school logo, plain black trousers or skirt and a white polo shirt with logo. A full length shirt may be worn but only with a red tie with a school logo. All outdoor clothing must be removed indoors and must be plain black without logos (if possible)
The school policy also states that hair gel is allowed but inappropriate colours or styles are not allowed and students may be asked to change hairstyle by teachers.
The school PE kit includes navy Blue shorts, white trainers or football boots, a royal blue rugby shirt with reversible white strip and royal blue knee length socks. A gum shield is recommended for rugby and hockey, as are shin pads. There is also a royal blue polo shirt with logo which is only allowed in Summer. For Technology lessons students need two aprons, one for working in the workshop, although the school does supply students with aprons if they haven't got one. The other apron is used for cooking. The school also supplies these but at a charge of 20p per lesson.
Lower site
Situated at Starkholmes it is the site used by year 7 and 8 students. The head of Starkholmes site is Sheila Laming. The building used to be the site of Charles White's Secondary Modern School but was converted in 1982 when the three pre-comprehensive schools merged (See History)Upper Site
Situated at Lumsdale, it is used by years 9–11 and sixth form. The head of Lumsdale site is Lynn Davies.Site redevelopment
Redevelopment of both sites was due to start after Christmas 2007 with the bulk of the work to be performed during the summer holidays of 2008.Starkholmes
At Starkholmes several major areas will be addressed such as replacing the 'Terrapins' (portable classroomPortable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
s), where English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and Drama are taught, with permanent structures, the installation of a reception area and a new ventilation network as well as redecoration of the main building. As of January 2010, the terrapins have been demolished, redecoration has taken place, the ventalation system has been installed and the Art facilities have been redeveloped.
Lumsdale
At Lumsdale the development has already begun. The installation of a lift between the ground floor and the library was completed in October 2007. There will also be some more major building developments such as the enclosing of the open-plan walkways into corridors, refurbishment of toilets, remodelling of reception, building a new section between the sixth form area and Performing Arts block and the installing of a new ventilation system. As of January 2010 the 'Coffee bar' has been upgraded into an open entrance space, air conditioning has been installed, doors replaced and a new seclusion unit developed.Key staff
- P.E.Wilkes- Headteacher
- Mr Gary Peat - Deputy Headteacher
- Mrs Lynn Davies - Assistant Headteacher (Head of Upper School)
- Miss Sheila Laming - Assistant Headteacher (Head of Lower School)
- Mrs Rose Waterfall - Assistant Headteacher (Head of Post-16 Education)
- Mrs Maggie Brown - Permanent Head of Year 7 (2008/2009 onwards)
Mr Mike Bastford- Head of Year 8 (2011/2012)
- Miss Jane Hughes - Head of Year 9 (2011/2012)
- Mrs Louise Redhead - Head of Year 10 (2011/2012)
- Mrs Jill Rickels - Head of Year 11 (2011/2012)
- Mrs Gill Donaldson - Head of Educational Support Services
- Mr Tony Jones - Director of Performing Arts
Ofsted inspections and performance
The school was inspected in full by OFSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
in 2006. The inspection report can be read here.
The summary of the inspections reads: The school and inspectors agree that this is a satisfactory school with some good features, and there is a strong commitment and determination to make improvement. This contrasts to the 1999 report which said On balance, the school has more strengths than weaknesses.
The history department was inspected in 2007. The subsequent report, which can be read here, stated that Pupils’ achievement and standards are outstanding, Teaching and learning are outstanding, The quality of the curriculum is good, with outstanding features, Leadership and management are outstanding and that Inclusion is outstanding. The overall conclusion of this inspection was that the department was Outstanding, and achieved a grade 1.
The last whole school inspection was in February 2009. The school was below its grade 2 good target, with a satisfactory grade 3, but with improvements since the last inspection. The final report, which can be read here, stated that Highfields is a satisfactory school with several strengths. Its students develop well into mature and considerate citizens who take an active part in school life and the community. It also noted the school's performance, Students make satisfactory progress academically as they journey through the school and standards are above average. Notably more than 70 % of students in 2008 attained five or more higher GCSE grades which surpasses the school's attainment in previous years. However, this masks some significant variation between groups of students.
Details on the school's recent performance in public examinations can be found here. Highfields was the third best-performing school in Derbyshire at A-level in 2007 according to BBC tables and the seventh best-performing at GCSE, both of these higher than their normal placings in these league tables.
Racism study
Highfields took part in a study in 2004 which was reported by the Department of Education. The interest arose from the school choosing to look at diversity despite its very low ethnic mix. A theatre group presented plays that centred on racism in towns like Matlock. The study led to collaborations with dissimilar schools in DerbyDerby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
that were funded by an interested company.
History
Tripartite System
The Tripartite System was the arrangement of state funded secondary education between 1944 and the 1970s in England and Wales, and from 1947 to 2009 in Northern Ireland....
in Matlock ended, there were two secondary schools in Matlock; Charles White Secondary Modern (founded in 1956, and named after two local MPs, father
Charles Frederick White
Charles Frederick White was an English boot and shoemaker and Liberal Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for the Western Division of Derbyshire from 1918 to 1923.-Family and education:...
and son, the latter of whom died in 1956) and The Ernest Bailey School, which was founded in 1924 and named after its wealthy founder, being renamed the Ernest Bailey Grammar School in 1957.
As a Grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, Bailey's accepted students whose parents paid or who gained scholarships (by passing the Eleven plus exam) until fees were phased out, leaving scholarship as the only means of entry. Everyone else attended Charles White, a Secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
, hence it is estimated that Charles White students outnumbered Bailey's students 3:1. White had been built especially by Derbyshire County Council to accommodate the children who couldn't attend Bailey's.
The two schools were merged to create Highfields, a comprehensive. The site of Charles White became lower site of Highfields, Ernest Bailey was converted to the county council record offices and a new school was built to house the new Upper Lumsdale site.
The original headmaster, David Marshall, was headmaster from 1982 when the school was founded until he was replaced by Ian Alford however his name lives on as it is the name of the school sports hall. However by 2006 Mr Alford left the school too for a job in the Derbyshire LEA and was replaced by Dr Ramsey Tetlow, the current headmaster who among many things has implemented the school's new Performing Arts status, received in 2006, and brought a new deputy headmaster to the school.