Highfields School

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Highfields School
Established	1982
Type	State comprehensive
Headteacher	Dr Ramsey Tetlow
Specialism	Arts College
Location	Upper Lumsdale Matlock Derbyshire DE4 5NA England
LEA	Derbyshire
Ofsted number	112950
Students	1396
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11 to 18
Website	http://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/
Coordinates: 53°08′48″N 1°32′09″W / 53.14677, -1.53571

Highfields School is a coeducational secondary comprehensive school located in Matlock, Derbyshire. The school has 1482 pupils (male and female) on roll ^[1] with 260 in the sixth form^{[citation needed]} and is split across two sites in the town approximately 1.7 miles apart. ^[2] It is a specialist Arts College in the performing arts^[3]

[edit] The School Day

The school day consists of a 20 minute registration period between 8:40 and 9am, six 50 minute 'periods' or lessons (2 before break, 2 between break and lunch and 2 after lunch), a 20 minute break between 10;40 and 11 am and a 1 hour 10 minute lunch break between 12:40am and 1:50pm. Lessons end at 3.30pm but numerous clubs run after school.^{[citation needed]}

School buses are provided by numerous companies, including TM Travel, G&J Holmes, Hulleys of Baslow but mainly by Slacks Travel. Buses leave both sites to numerous drop offs around the county at 3.40. Morning services are also operated, the majority following the reverse of the afternoon buses.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Discipline Policy

This section does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The school has a 'consequence' discipline policy, which is meant to show that all actions have consequences and so the pupils must face the consequences of their actions. The first step is a C1 which will get a student their name on the whiteboard, it can be triggered for talking inappropriately or other minor offences. This can be furthered with a C2 - where a student gets a tick by their name on the whiteboard, it can be triggered by a further C1 offence.^{[citation needed]}

The third step is a C3 which will get a student a 30 minute detention after school on the next school day for chewing gum, being late or failing to complete homework on time. One can also be gained by getting two C2's in 2 days. If these do not work a C4 can be called upon, this involved the removal of the student from lesson which automatically also triggers a C3 detention. It can automatically be triggered by vandalism or repeated refusing instructions.^{[citation needed]}

If a students fails to attend a C3 detention, a C5 can be used, this involves a 45 minute after school detention (always on a Friday) and the last step is a C6, also known as 1 day exclusion, for repeated C5 offences^{[citation needed]}

The ICT Department has its own special rules within the consequence system such as forgetting your password or username is a C1 offence, turning off someone else's computer will get you a C2 and playing online games a C3. Logging on with another person's username will also get you a C3 while inappropriate Internet searches a C5^{[citation needed]}

The school is fitted with a monitoring system (Impero) that can monitor all the computers over both sites LAN network{fact}. It can block searches and lock computers, as well as alerting teachers when certain 'violations' have happened. It also allows teachers to monitor constantly the computers in their classroom.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Criticism of the discipline policy

There are concerns that some of the 'consequences' are disproportionate to the events in question.^{[citation needed]} The system does not allow teachers to judge each case independently. It has been suggested that the nature of the 'consequences system' is harmful to the relationship between staff and students and is therefore damaging to the sense of community in the school.

There are major concerns amongst some students and staff that the extent of surveillance used by the IT department infringes on the civil liberties of the users and the right to access information freely. The extensive controls may also be disruptive to the legitimate use of the Internet.^{[citation needed]} Despite this the school has no plans to change the system, provoking suggestions that the IT department is out of step with the wishes of the school community.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Uniform

Incorrect Uniform is a C3 offence under the consequences system ^[4]. 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 'hoodies' are not allowed. Incorrect uniform may be asked to be removed. Sixth form students have no uniform except the above mentioned restrictions.

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 of 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). Hoodies are not allowed.

The school policy also states that hair gel is allowed but no inappropriate colours or styles are 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, royal blue knee length socks, a gum shield for Rugby, shin pads and a royal blue polo shirt with logo which is only allowed in Summer. For Technology lessons students need 2 aprons, one for working in the workshop, although the school does supply students with aprons if they haven't got one, and one for cooking, the school also supplies these but at a charge of 20p per lesson.

[edit] Sites

The school is split between two sites approximately 1.7 miles apart. ^[5]

[edit] Lower Site

Situated at Starkholmes, and the smaller of the two buildings, it is the site used by year 7 and 8 students. The head of Starkholmes site is Sheila Laming.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Lower Site

[edit] Upper Site

Situated at Lumsdale, it is home of years 9-11 and sixth form. The head of Lumsdale site is Lynn Davies; this is the main site.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Site Redevelopment

Redevelopment of both sites is due to start after Christmas 2007 with the bulk of the work to be performed during the summer holidays of 2008. ^[6]

[edit] Starkholmes

At Starkholmes several major areas will be addressed such as replacing the 'Terrapins' (portable classrooms), 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 ^[7].

[edit] 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 ^[8].

[edit] Key Staff

• Dr Ramsey Tetlow - Headteacher ^[9]
• Mr Gary Peat - Deputy Headteacher ^[9]
• Mrs Lynn Davies - Assistant Headteacher (Head of Upper School) ^[9]
• Miss Sheila Laming - Assistant Headteacher (Head of Lower School) ^[9]
• Mrs Rose Waterfall - Assistant Headteacher (Head of Post-16 Education) ^[9]
• Mrs Maggie Brown - Head of Year 7 (2007/2008) ^[9]
• Mr Mike Basford - Head of Year 8 (2007/2008) ^[9]
• Mrs Gill Donaldson - Head of Year 9 (2007/2008) ^[9]
• Mrs Maureen Wilson - Head of Year 10 (2007/2008) ^[9]
• Mrs Jill Rickels - Head of Year 11 (2007/2008) ^[9]
• Mrs Jane Spencer - Head of Educational Support Services ^[9]

[edit] OFSTED Inspection and school performance

The school was last inspected by OFSTED 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.

Details on the school's performance in 2007 public examinations can be found here. Highfields was the third best-performing school in Derbyshire at A-level in 2007 according to the BBC tables [1] and the seventh best-performing at GCSE[2] - both of these higher than their normal placings in these league tables.

[edit] 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 Derby that were funded by an interested company.^[10]

[edit] History

Highfields was founded in 1982 when the tripartite education system ended, there were three schools in Matlock; Charles White's Secondary Modern, John Turner's Secondary Modern and Ernest Bailey's Grammar School. These schools were merged to create Highfields, a comprehensive. The site of Charles White's became lower site of Highfields, Ernest Bailey's was converted to the council record offices, John Turner's was demolished and the site is now the parkway housing estate 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

[edit] References