Contents oCtoBeR 2012

A world of Challenge, Inspiration and Achievement

www.highcliffeschool.com

Headteacher’s MessagePage 2

Arts and Literacy eveningPage 11

Transport NoticePage 16

Volume 12 | Issue 1

HIgHCLIffe sCHooL VIsIon stAteMent“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

ACAdeMy exCeLLenCe!

In the previous issue we were delighted to inform you that Aaron Page of year 12 had made the shortlist in the Chemistry section of the Academy excellence Awards and was soon to attend the dinner where the winners would be announced.

This took place on 4th July and we are very pleased to announce that Aaron was selected by the judge of the Chemistry section, Dr Chris Smith of Cambridge University, as the overall winner of this prestigious award. As winner, Aaron receives not only the splendid trophy but also a cheque for £1000 and an internship at GlaxoSmithKline, sponsors of the Chemistry award.

Dr Smith was in fact so impressed by Aaron’s essay on how chemistry can contribute to the future well-being of society, by the creation of alternative energy sources, that he is currently arranging for it to be published. He commented to Aaron that his work was at a level higher than he would expect from an undergraduate, not faint praise from a professor at Cambridge University. He added,

‘I am not sure I could have produced something of this standard at the age of 16 or 17 – I would have been very proud of myself if I had! The students have shown remarkable insight and this reflects the skilled teachers who have inspired them.’

Aaron has, not surprisingly, been thoroughly enthused by the whole process and it has really ignited his ambition to apply to Cambridge University to do engineering. The school will be supporting him in this. He was very keen to point out after the award how helpful he found the support of Mr Booker and Mrs Barclay in reading drafts of his essay.

Aaron is a prime example of what we are working towards in the Highcliffe Learning Alliance. He has been working this year, in partnership with fellow Year 12 mathematician Michael Smith, as a ‘Maths Mentor’ to a group of Year 2 and Year 3 pupils at Mudeford, the school that he himself attended. Both have been highly impressed with the quality of the Year 2 children and who knows, perhaps one day one of those students will be winning at the Academy Excellence Awards presentation.

On what were to be the hottest days of the Summer, twenty Year 7 students took part in a Performing Arts Summer School which ran for three days during the holidays. Starting with a blank canvas, the students created their own original 25 minute musical performance which included especially composed songs, dance and drama.

‘Torch Tragedy…the best day ever!’ told the story of the Olympic torch which had been stolen by an eco-warrior who wanted to replace it with a more eco-friendly alternative. As the story unfolded, all the characters went on a journey to find the torch which involved many comedy moments and a few surprises along the way!

On the final day of the Summer School, a large audience of relatives and friends of the cast attended the performance which was performed to a high level of professionalism by all students using props, costumes, lighting, sound and set. Well done to all the Year 7’s who took part! Below is a reflection on the school by one of the Year 7 (sorry, now Year 8!) students who attended the school.

‘The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies may have overwhelmed the world with their wow factor, but these were NOTHING compared with the sizzling spectacle that ignited the audience of the talented Highcliffe School Performing Arts Summer School.

Greeted by Mrs Dedman on the first morning, the Year 7 students who were to take part in the Summer School arrived in their own clothes, (it was a summer school after all). They were to take part in three days of play writing, music composition, acting and singing. The main aim was to create a mini musical, from scratch, and perform it – in three days flat! In true Olympic

style, the students worked as one amazing team, and planned, wrote, rehearsed and performed their very own musical. In the blistering heat of the first week of the school holiday, and with the help and guidance of magical Mrs McGrath and the very talented Mr Gould, the students worked hard to combine their creative talents. All the songs, scripts and storyline were totally original and made up by the students.

It was an intriguing presentation of the skills of everyone there. The storyline gripped the audience and got them sitting on the edge of their seats wondering what would happen next. In a dramatic concluding section the final torch-bearer was Mr Albert Square, the last survivor of WW I. Unfortunately Albert tripped and dropped the torch, and the torch was stolen by a mysterious hippie… Meanwhile - exercising his vocal chords, ‘Maul McPartney’ opened the Olympic ceremony singing his number one song ‘Winners Like You.’ The bad news about the stolen Olympic torch followed. This meant that it was time for Super Kate and her team to step in. A fierce battle between the hippie and Super Kate caused the hippie to throw the torch in rage, creating a dramatic moment for the policemen! The hippie then explained why he had stolen the torch in the first place. However, a solution to save the day was found and an eco-friendly, non-gas burning torch was made! All ended happily!

The performance was a total success and the students of the Highcliffe School Performing Arts Summer School would like to thank Mrs McGrath and Mr Gould for their special input and commitment to making the experience so rewarding and such fun.

By George Smith 8.8

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hIghclIffe leArnIng AllIAnce

deAr All

It was only last year that I contacted headteachers with a view to building on our specialist school partnership work. Over the last ten years, as a specialist school, we have worked in the various feeder schools in support of languages, science, mathematics and ICT. This has been valued.

When we all met we were excited by the opportunity to extend and deepen this work through our Academy programme. So much so that one headteacher, Mr Peter Pretlove, proposed that our partnership be called the Highcliffe Learning Alliance (HLA) because of the strong vision, commitment and provision being agreed between us for the benefit of all our children, staff and school communities.

As headteachers we could commit to the vision and agree practical areas for us all to work together. The first year has flown by and as heads we are both proud and pleased to see the exceptional response of our staff and pupils who after all have made it successful. This first Highcliffe Learning Alliance Special Edition can only give you a flavour of the achievements so far. We hope you enjoy the articles and we look forward to the future of working together for all our children.

Finally, well done Aaron! Your achievement typifies what we are about and what can be achieved. As our younger pupils move through our partnership it is so rewarding to see them grow into aspiring young men and women who drive forwards into successful, rewarding futures with such optimism. Thank you to those of you who then selflessly work with our younger children as role-models and support their learning.

Thank you all!

Judith Potts | Headteacher

hOrdle ce PrImArY SchOOl

the hIghclIffe ecOmetermonday 19th march. It was an epic day for the eco council who met up in the purple reception area of highcliffe School to start the day. what for? well, hordle School had kindly asked us to make ‘something’ for their ‘ecoawareness’ week.

Discussions with the talented chaps in the Da Vinci building generated a few ideas. We eventually decided to make an ‘Ecometer’- a bike, linked to a turbo trainer, dynamo and LED display that would explain to the Hordle School pupils just how much electricity you need to power up appliances in the home. This was to encourage them to save electricity by turning off lights and appliances when you don’t need to use them. Lots of hard work then ensued with Mr Townshend designing and constructing component boards,

and then soldering. Lots of soldering! There was a lot to be done and we were working right up to the deadline, but eventually it was finished and it worked beautifully.

Each group of Hordle School pupils left our little talk happy and the day turned out to be a brilliant success. It took weeks for the production of the Ecometer and it required a lot of hard work to get it finished. Hours were spent soldering (for Mr Craven), but the real star is Mr Townshend, who designed and constructed the Ecometer. In his own words… genius. We could have never even have come close to achieving the result of the finished bike without Mr Townshend. Thanks are due to Mr Nicholls for constructing the dynamo on the bike and Mr Evans, who lent us the turbo trainer: Thank you! Also, thanks to Hordle School for having us and for giving us the opportunity to show them our Ecometer.

The speed at which the HLA has not only formed but has had tangible impact on our pupils is a credit to both Highcliffe and all our schools. The sharing of professional intellectual capital across our schools has been amazing. It has brought our partnership closer together; I am excited for the future.

Fiona Adams, HeadteacherHordle CE Primary School

SIzzlIng Summer SchOOl SucceSS!

A YeAr In hIghclIffe, A YeAr In hAIkuthe teaching and production of haiku poetry has been a particularly strong area at highcliffe and has benefitted greatly from our strong links with Johoku Boys’ School in hiroshima.

At the end of Year 7 the students produced wonderful poems in the Haiku form to reflect on the months and seasons of a year. Here are some of those produced by students who came to us from Hordle.

On a summer’s dayFun, laughter, boiling beachesScorching seaside joySebastion Berthiaume

On a summer’s dayJoy and laughter fill the airHot scorching beachesJake Wright

Scorching hot sunlightWas beating down on my faceWhilst I had great funMatthew C

SucceSSful JOurneYS:JAck fIeldFrom Hordle CE Primary School to Oxford University (Biological Sciences)

ABIgAIl StOckerFrom Hordle CE Primary School to Exeter University (History)

5Volume 12 | Issue 1 | October 20124 hIghclIffe SchOOl newSletter

BrAnSgOre cofe PrImArY SchOOl

The impact of the subject expertise offered by the Highcliffe team has had an extremely positive outcome, especially for the gifted and talented learners. Too often in primary there can exist a ceiling on learning due to our lack of subject expertise, such as Mandarin or Year Seven programme of study for maths. This alliance offers real learning collaboration and the children are winners!

Peter Pretlove - HeadteacherBransgore CofE Primary School - A National Teaching Academy

SAm hOOkeY: the wIcked mAn Of wIck!

during the last few months, Year 13 Btec Acting students have been working in conjunction with the History Department to develop a Theatre in Education piece based on the local smuggler Sam hookey.

Born in the 1700’s, Sam was an infamous local smuggler who was regularly seen smuggling goods such as silk, spirits and tea up the River Stour to Christchurch. Sam was known to be fearless and had lost an eye in an affray, possibly with the Customs Officers who were determined to put an end to his smuggling ways. Sam died at the ripe old age of 71, drowning in the River Stour due to the weight of gold in his pockets as he was attempting to escape from the Customs Officers. His ghost is still said to haunt ‘The Ship in Distress’ in Mudeford.

The Year 13 students formed a Theatre in Education company and having planned the content of the piece they trialled the project with our own Year 7 and 8 students, then performed at Hordle and Bransgore Primary Schools. The response from the Junior School pupils was fantastic and they joined in enthusiastically with all the interactive activities which were led by the BTEC group.

Our students learnt an enormous amount about performing, how a professional touring company operates and how historical topics can be brought to life through drama. Well done to all those involved!

mAthemAtIcS PrImArY lIAISOn 2011 tO 2012 Please supply the picture to accompany this article.throughout 2011 and 2012 mr Burgan

has been teaching Mathematics to Year 5 and 6 pupils in Bransgore and Highcliffe St mark Primary Schools.

Students produced a folder of work during the year covering a number of units of work. An example of one of the units of work they have been doing is completing lessons on Mr Burgan’s new bike and have included finding the circumference of an inner tube, showing distance time graphs and using algebra to design their own board game. Here are examples of the types of question attempted.

cIrcleS Circles are very important on a bike how

many parts can you name that are circular?

Draw out and show the area and perimeter of as many different shapes as possible.

We can measure the circumference of a circle how do we do it?

Measure the circumference of all of the supplied circles, give your answers in cm, mm or even m.

Another activity involved the design of a simple board game using algebraic substitution. Selected pupils will now come up for activities week to participate in Outbreak, a series of mathematics activities to stop the outbreak of a deadly virus at Highcliffe!

the PhOenIxThe phoenix burst into flamesWith fireworks of colour.Plummeting to the start of a new lifeArising from the ashes to his new life, A tiny head drilledUp through its old memoriesEngraved within the dark red embers.A striking red head, cute as a baby’s, Shook off his father’s feathers That had been burnt into dust.Like no other bird, He was up two minutes old, flying like a professionalHunting for a snack he flew like the Eurostar Catching the flight of the wind.Suddenly, he shot away, Catching the air and gliding Like a homing missile twisting and spinning.Then he zoomed into colour, formingA trail of old feathers that coveredHim in a mystical veil.He exploded out,A majestic adult with a longSparkling tail and a fiery wingspan.He danced and swoopedCreating a phenomenal rainbow that litUp the clear blue sky.And off he flew to a new worldAnd glided away to the shimmering sunset.By Finlay Graham (8.3)Written in Year 7(Former Bransgore student)

SucceSSful JOurneYS:dAVId leVeSleYFrom Bransgore CE Primary School to Warwick University (English)(And the Edinburgh Festival!)

mArgAret SheekeYFrom Bransgore CE Primary School to The London School of Medicine

7Volume 12 | Issue 1 | October 20126 hIghclIffe SchOOl newSletter

BrOckenhurSt cofe PrImArY SchOOl

A business challenge with an Olympic theme was presented to a Year 5 class at Brockenhurst Primary, to develop their enterprise skills, and as part of a continued programme to strengthen the links between our feeder primary schools.

After initial introductions and a brief discussion about their understanding of the word ‘enterprise’, the class was divided into teams of 5-6 pupils and the challenge was revealed. The teams had to come up with a new 100% fruit or vegetable juice drink brand that represents one of the up to 205 competing nations or 170 Paralympic nations that will be attending the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. The drink had to be original – with an

original brand name, logo and slogan.

The teams also had to design the packaging for their drink, which involved creating a label that went around the bottle. They needed to consider their drink’s USP (unique selling point) and how much it would cost to make their drink. Equally they were asked to think about the marketing of their drink and a suitable celebrity who could endorse their product.

Once they had decided on their product, the teams were then asked to consider which of the Olympic and Paralympic Values: Respect, Excellence, Friendship, Courage, Determination, Inspiration, and Equality, are important for their company and

their drink, and to complete a pledge or mission statement to illustrate how they were going to put two of the values into practice in their product. Extra credit was also to be given to ideas and innovations that make the product sustainable as it is hoped that the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the greenest games. Also credit would be given to any promotions for their product they could think of to help improve initial sales.

The teams then worked on putting together a presentation of their brand & drink concept. These presentations were a real highlight of the day, definitely demonstrating the wonderfully enterprising ideas and creative skills the Year 5 possess.

groups from all of our feeder schools were invited to take part in the festival by performing a dance, song or play in a foreign language that they have been studying.

We are so impressed with the fantastic language learning that is happening in our local primary schools at the moment. A wide range of languages are being studied (French, Spanish, German, Italian and Mandarin) and a wealth of language learning skills are being developed. It was a great pleasure to see evidence of this at the second Highcliffe Primary Languages Festival on Thursday 8th March 2012.

The MFL department at Highcliffe supports our primary feeder schools in a number of ways ranging from teaching lessons at the primary schools to training primary colleagues and supporting them with planning schemes of work. This year we piloted a successful parent and child ‘Holiday Spanish’ class at Tiptoe school and are hoping to run similar classes in the future.

Year 12 students studying for the Foreign Language Leader Award (aka FLLA) helped with the preparations and organisation of the day – it definitely wouldn’t have been as successful without their help!

Everyone really enjoyed the morning and the performances were all fantastic. The festival is growing and we look forward to seeing what it will become next year!

It has been our extreme pleasure to work with Highcliffe school. We have always found your staff highly professional and personable. We have loved having your French teachers over many many years supporting us with French lessons! These have been really enjoyed by the children and appreciated by us! It has been our pleasure to participate in the many and various activities that Highcliffe put on for us all and we are grateful to them for the many opportunities the school sends our way.

We have really enjoyed participating as part of the Learning Alliance and we have really enjoyed helping and supporting other schools in the whole team events. It is a real learning alliance, a two way open communication and a really excellent chance to share, plan and grow together for the greater good of our mutual children within our delightful community, thank you all very much indeed.

Trudie Cawthra, HeadteacherBrockenhurst C. of E. Primary School

SucceSSful JOurneY:dOug PArkerFrom Brockenhurst CE Primary School to Newcastle University

Much preparation went into the performances and we were delighted to see such a variety of languages being showcased:

A group of Year 5s from Highcliffe St Mark put together a presentation about China and taught us some numbers in Mandarin

A group of Year 3s from Brockenhurst performed Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in French

Pupils from Classes 3 and 4 at Tiptoe performed a song about the days of the week in Spanish

A group of Year 5s from Hordle performed Abba’s Waterloo in French

Some Mudeford Junior Year 5s sang a song and gave a presentation in Spanish

Groups of Highcliffe Year 7 students performed Schnappi, das kleine krokodil in German and told the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in Italian

hIghclIffe PrImArY lAnguAgeS feStIVAl 2012 KS2 TrAnSiTionS – EnTErpriSE cHAllEngE“My first year at Highcliffe was really good and although it went really quick I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the first day to the amazing trips to Osmington Bay, Monkeyworld during activities week it has been special. I really feel that I have gained and learnt a lot this year”

Bradley rowell, 8.8former Brockenhurst Pupil

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mudefOrd JunIOr SchOOl

As part of the Highcliffe learning Alliance the Pe department has forged and strengthened its links with our primary feeder schools. Pe teachers have spent time in Highcliffe St Marks , Tiptoe, St luke’s Sway, Bransgore, mudeford Infants and Juniors and hordle leading lessons and working with staff to further develop Pe in their schools.

There have been many activities covered including football, tag rugby, gymnastics, dance, multi skills, rounders, tennis and athletics. The primary children have learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed being taught by different teachers. We have also organised a number of competitions including Year 1, 2,3 and 4 multi skills, Year 2 football and Year 5 sports day.

Throughout the year these links have been enhanced by the use of the Year 10 and Year 12 Sports Leaders, particularly

the Sixth Form CSLA students. They visit the different schools to support and even lead parts of the lessons. Whilst at the junior schools the CSLA students would teach small groups within the lessons, take the whole group and referee small games.

The CSLA students greatly enjoyed working in the primary schools this year and wanted to do more for the students that they had taught as part of their CSLA course. Therefore they hosted a number of various skills mornings, finishing off the year with a Year 2 football tournament hosted at Highcliffe School. All the planning, organisation, coaching and refereeing for the event was undertaken by the CSLA students.

This scheme has been highly successful and advantageous to all involved and we look forward to continuing with this programme in the forthcoming years.

Mudeford Junior School provides a creative and balanced curriculum for all its pupils. Recognising and developing the potential of every child and catering for their individual needs is an exciting challenge. Our strong links with Highcliffe School have supported us in achieving this goal.

The role of ICT in helping children learn is constantly expanding. Highcliffe School has assisted us in creating an infrastructure allowing our children to develop

the technology skills they need to flourish in the 21st Century. Our curriculum now incorporates the latest technology which is taught in the newly designed computer room.

Languages are a doorway to the world, we now offer the teaching of two languages at Mudeford, one of which is taught by a specialist visiting teacher from Highcliffe. Enrichment activities for the most able children in Art, Literacy and Modern Foreign Languages are now embedded in

our school. These have also been supplemented by the children visiting Highcliffe School on numerous occasions.

Mudeford Junior School also competes in various sporting activities such as the mini-Olympic games. Inter-school competitions are regularly promoted amongst the community of schools associated with Highcliffe.

Mark Partridge, HeadteacherMudeford Junior School

SucceSSful JOurneYS:

SPOrtIng lInkS wIth Our PrImArY SchOOl PArtnerS

chrIStchurch SchOOl OlYmPIc tOrch relAY

To get into the spirit of the London 2012 Olympics we have participated in the Christchurch Schools’ Torch Relay. The torch travelled its way around all the secondary and primary schools in Christchurch and was delivered to us by Highcliffe St Mark on Monday 25th June. We then had the task of taking it to a meeting point to exchange it with the Grange School. Our students who went to County cross-country and athletic competitions ran with the torch over a set distance on Tuesday 26th May. This event was thoroughly enjoyed by our students and they cherished this once in a lifetime opportunity.

AImee fAllAFrom Mudeford Junior School to Southampton University (Medicine)

rYAn flAnAgAnFrom Mudeford Junior School to Oxford University (Mathematics) Awarded the post of ‘Walter Galpin Exhibitioner’ for Outstanding Work in Mathematics

AArOn PAgeFrom Mudeford Junior School to Academy Excellence Award Winner (Chemistry)

“ I have made loads of new friends during Year 7 and have progressed in my lessons. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my tutor and the rest of my teachers. I am very proud of my year 7 exam results and I am going to try and beat them next year! ”

(chloe daley-Brown, 8.2)

StrengthenIng lInkS

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cOnnected!

we were delighted to be able to deliver a twilight workshop to the Year 5 children from our feeder Primary Schools here at Highcliffe School.

The session took place in the school’s inspirational Da Vinci suite. The aim of the evening was to experience a taster lesson encouraging families to work together with their son or daughter. Children attended with their family members to undertake an art project using the inspiration of a poem entitled ‘The Sea is a Salty Road’. Anna Martindale, KS3 Curriculum. Leader for English, read the poem and started the session asking for key words from the audience which provoked ideas for the art work. Janet Bullas, Art teacher, then guided the audience on how to use different sketching techniques such as hatching, tone and shading to improve their drawing skills. Examples of David Hockney’s work were shown to emphasise these techniques. Participants were given a booklet to support their work for the evening.The response to this event was overwhelming and so we divided the family groups into three; each group working in a different classroom, where they then set to work to create an original piece of work on a template associated with the sea.

The outcomes were stunning. It was incredible how many different interpretations there were from the same stimulus. Everybody was invited to wander around the classrooms, look at each other’s work and then they were asked to complete a written evaluation which highlighted the success of the evening. Here are some of the comments... (to the right).

It is hoped that we have awoken a few thoughts and aspirations and that the parents and the children will continue to be creative together.

St luke’S ce PrImArY SchOOl

‘The Highcliffe Learning Alliance has enabled staff and pupils here at St Luke’s to really develop closer and stronger links with Highcliffe School and other local primary schools. During our first year, Sway children have benefited hugely from a range of additional enrichment activities including art projects, sporting competitions and Spanish teaching.’

Rachel Goplen, HeadteacherSt Luke’s CE Primary School

the english curriculum area has been working hard this year to strengthen links with our feeder schools and smooth the transition from Year 6 into Year 7 for the pupils.

Behind the scenes Miss Martindale, KS3 Curriculum Leader for English, has been visiting the primary schools this year meeting the pupils and seeing their work. Also she has been lucky enough to work with Year 6 teachers as part of the Year 6 SAT moderation process.

As for the pupils involved in Year 6 -7 transition, Highcliffe St Mark Primary School and Mudeford Junior School are currently working on a well-established literacy scheme of work on ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo. Exemplar work will be celebrated with a display in the English corridor. This will be available for all pupils to see in September.

This year at Highcliffe we have also enjoyed an ‘Arts and Literacy’ Evening with Year 5 and 6 pupils and their parents. This was a very well received event and in the feedback questionnaires some parents put forward suggestions for more English activities. This may inspire future projects.

Year 6 pupils from our local feeder schools have also visited Highcliffe School for a Murder Mystery Day, which involved English, Maths, Science and Modern Foreign Languages. In English, pupils had to use their investigative skills after a murder was uncovered in the library! This led on to a variety of drama and creative writing activities. By the end of the day, pupils used a variety of skills, which will be developed in Year 7. They also achieved the ‘Pre- Highcliffe Challenge!

“Excellent evening, we will use the techniques at home.”

“I think this type of evening is a great way to work with your child and I’m sure it will make the transition from junior school to Highcliffe easier.”

“Would love to do this again.”

“It was a very different evening doing something completely outside normal comfort zones but very worthwhile.”

“This evening inspired me to be more creative by using different techniques. I am going to ask my granddad about David Hockney because he has met him.”

“Thank you for a great evening, well organised and informative. Nice to spend time working alongside my child.”

gIfted And tAlented Art & lIterAcY eVenIng

A SPOrtY Summerin another exciting new development for the school during the summer we hosted a football camp for the day

“This year has been amazing and there were loads of opportunities and chances and I am glad that I took them all. I have made many wonderful friends and have really enjoyed my first year at Highcliffe.”

(kira marsh, 8.5)SucceSSful JOurneYS:

JennY herrOdFrom St Luke’s CE Primary School to Medicine at Peninsula

wIll hOlYheAdFrom St Luke’s CE Primary School to King’s College London

SAm JAckSOnFrom St Luke’s CE Primary School to Nottingham University (Economics with French)

Football Leaders Award (JFLA) over a period of two days. On the second of these Year 2 and Year 3 pupils from St Luke’s and Highcliffe St Mark schools attended a day of football coaching at Highcliffe School which was led by the Year 9 students. The day was a success not only did all the students that attend have fun they also gained a qualification.

Students from Year 9 were given the opportunity to complete their Junior

BreAd: YeAr 6 trAnSItIOn PrOJect wOrkYear 6 students from Highcliffe St.Mark Primary School have been working hard in our laboratories.

They have been learning how to use science apparatus including Bunsen burners and microscopes safely. They have extracted pure salt from rock salt, grown salt crystals, used a microscope to study them, measured the energy content of a variety of breads and looked at the effect salt has on yeast.

Here are some quotes from our Year 6 visitors from Highcliffe St.Mark.

‘It was awesome and exciting. I loved it’

‘Thank you so much for teaching us such brilliant science in Highcliffe’

‘Science has been great fun for me. I can’t wait

to come up to Highcliffe next year’

‘There’s only one word that can describe it – BRILLIANT!’

‘I found all the lessons fabulous! Thank you’

12 hIghclIffe SchOOl newSletter

ScIence lInkS wIth SOuthAmPtOn unIVerSItY

13Volume 12 | Issue 1 | October 2012

cOnnected!hIghclIffe St mArk PrImArY SchOOl

YeAr 6 InductIOn dAYS At hIghclIffe SchOOlYear 6 children have enjoyed a number of induction days at Highcliffe School and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.

theY SAId: ‘When we went to Highcliffe School to do science we engaged in various activities. I really enjoyed it because we used the Bunsen burners and a lot of people had the same opinion that it was really fun. We did lots of different activities and investigations. We made salt crystals and we also saw mould on bread. All in all it was great fun and all of us were always engaged in activities’ – James

‘At first I was really nervous and anxious but then I realised it was OK and this is just an experience of what is to come.’ – grace

‘On our Murder Mystery Day at Highcliffe we got told about a man who had been murdered and all the possible suspects. To solve the mystery we had to use forensic science, translation and code breaking. It was a really fun day and it was really exciting. – emma.

for several years, local schools have been coming together to celebrate their creativity through music, drama, dance and visual arts.

This year’s celebration of the arts, involving approximately 200 students, took place recently at the Regent Centre, Christchurch in front of a packed house! The performances this year were wonderful and included contemporary songs, musical theatre, dance and performance pieces from different cultures using a variety of art forms.

The Community Project enables the students from both Highcliffe School and our feeder schools to share and showcase their work in a professional venue and to participate in an exciting performance opportunity. We are hoping to work on a similar project in the near future. Well done to all those who took part!

SucceSSful JOurneYS:emmA fISherFrom Highcliffe St Mark Primary School to Oxford University (Medicine)

SAm mIllArdFrom Highcliffe St Mark Primary School to Cambridge University (Economics)

SAmmY JOYnSOnFrom Highcliffe St Mark Primary School to London School of Economics (international History)

StePhAnIe wOrrAllHighcliffe St Mark Primary School to Medicine at Peninsula

eleAnOr kellYFrom Highcliffe St Mark Primary School to Nottingham or Warwick University (Mathematics)

heIdI BArnettFrom Highcliffe St Mark Primary School To Oxford University(Physics)

We have really benefited from the working partnership that has been established this year between Highcliffe School and its feeder Primary/Junior schools. Meetings have been refreshingly focused on teaching and learning and sharing good practice. Our school has gained through staff professional dialogue and development and through enhancing our provision for our children. We have

taken advantage of a range of subject expertise from Music to Science and a range of additional experiences that have been given to our children. For example a Mandarin Lunchtime Club for Year 5 pupils and a practical maths project with some of our more able mathematicians. Our children and staff have got to know more teachers from Highcliffe School and we know that they have

found their experiences in a Primary School setting valuable professional development and that they can inform their future planning for Year 7 and beyond.

Karen Boynton, HeadteacherHighcliffe St Mark Primary School

chrIStchurch cOmmunItY PrOJect

14 hIghclIffe SchOOl newSletter

tIPtOe

15Volume 12 | Issue 1 | October 2012

tIPtOe tO the rAceS!wednesday 23rd may saw Year 5 and 6 pupils from tiptoe School visit the Da Vinci centre primed for competition. cars were tightly clutched against chests, carefully packaged in their own protective packaging.

The pupils had been working on their vehicles for a week and a half after Mr Nicholls had been in to Tiptoe Primary School to launch the event. Pupils were shown an introductory film and then set the task of designing and constructing sleek, aerodynamic cars or Wacky Racers. They learned a little about aerodynamics, conductivity and vacuum forming and then set about recycling materials to realise their own car body shells. Progress was superb and the outcomes were extremely creative.

When race day came two mini buses collected the students from Tiptoe and delivered them to Highcliffe School and the Da Vinci centre. Pupils delivered their cars to the pits and then racing

commenced. Each car raced head to head with another with the first round runners-up seeing their cars go into the fastest car race-off.

Over the course of an hour we found an overall winner, Art, Design Technology staff judged the Wackiest Racer and we used a Mr Townshend special to find the highest top speed. The winners of the three categories received a trophy and a book voucher and everyone had a great afternoon’s racing.

Thanks go to all Art, Design Technology staff who helped to lay on the event, to Mrs Penegar for devoting her lessons to the production of the cars and to the Tiptoe pupils who produced the most creative and inventive cars and making the event such a success.

clASS 4 - rAcing cAr PrOJectOn Wednesday 23rd May, Class 4 visited Highcliffe School for a D.T project. In pairs, we created a car for two awards: best design and most aerodynamic. Firstly, in round one, we raced each other twice and the winners were through to the next round. This went on until only two cars were left: Ten-Ten (Bella and Paige) and E.T (Ethan and Toby). Before we had a tense final, the cars that didn’t make it past round one had a competition. There was a timing gate which judged the speed of the cars. The winner was The Quality Crocodile (Holly S and Maddie), reaching 6.30 mph and the runner up was The Green Hornet (Joe M and Oliver), 5.4 mph. So the winner won by a whole second! Now came the final! After two races, it was a draw and the final was so close but the winner was: E.T! The prize for best design was Snappy (Emily and Sadie) and the runner up was Daisy Duck (Ellie and Sarah). We would like to thank Mr Nicholls for coming in to give us this amazing opportunity and organising this fabulous project.

By Bella and Holly S

Tiptoe School, parents, staff and pupils, have enjoyed and benefited from the collaboration with Highcliffe School this year. The diverse range of projects and events - from designing, building and racing cars on a track to family holiday French sessions and from Murder Mystery Days to ICT advice – have all contributed to supporting teaching and learning in the whole school community. We are looking forward to developing this learning alliance further next year.

Jaqui Persson, HeadteacherTiptoe Primary School

SucceSSful JOurneY:

EMILY BRALEEFrom Tiptoe Primary School to University of Winchester (Psychology)

mAJOr SucceSS In lAter YeArS..Year 8 Basketball team Christchurch Schools Champions

Year 9 cricket team Bournemouth & District Schools Finalists

Year 10 cricket teamBournemouth & District Schools FinalistsDorset County Plate Winners

Year 10/11 cross- country team Dorset Schools Team Champions

Year 7 football team Bournemouth and Christchurch Town Girls’ ChampionsArea Schools Olympic Girls’ Tournament Winners

Year 8 football team Bournemouth and District Town Cup Winners

Year 9 football team Bournemouth and Christchurch Town Girls’ ChampionsArea Schools Olympic Girls’ Tournament WinnersU15 Girls Football County Cup Runners Up

Year 7 netball team Dorset League Finalists

Year 7 rounders teamDorset League Finalists

Year 7 rugby teamBournemouth and District Schools Champions

Year 8 rugby team Area Schools Rugby 7s Tournament Runners-upBournemouth and District Schools Runners- up

Year 9 rugby team Area Schools Rugby 7s Tournament WinnersBournemouth and District Schools Champions

Year 12 rugby team Bournemouth and District Schools Winners

…BegInS wIth hArd wOrk In the eArlIer YeArS.pE SupporT plAn 2012-2013

Autumn term 1MUDEFORD JUNIOR : Mr Jobbins – Friday afternoonMUDEFORD INFANT: Miss Fellingham – Monday afternoon

Autumn term 2BRANSGORE:Miss Fellingham – Monday afternoonMr Jobbins – Friday afternoon

SPrIng term 1HIGHCLIFFE ST MARK:Miss Fellingham – Monday afternoonMr Jobbins – Friday afternoon SPrIng term 2HORDLE:Miss Fellingham – Monday afternoonMr Jobbins – Friday afternoon

Summer term 1TIPTOE:Miss Fellingham – Monday afternoonMr Jobbins – Friday afternoon

Summer term 2ST LUKE’S:Miss Fellingham – Monday afternoonMr Jobbins – Friday afternoon

A greAt YeAr fOr SPOrt At hIghclIffe

16 highcliffe school newsletter

further information

The website has been designed to be used by parents, students and teachers allowing access to a wide range of information about Highcliffe Sixth Form.

www.highcliffe6thform.com

Key features include:• On-Line Prospectus• Admissions and application forms• Course Information• Student Life / Gallery• Financial Support Information

sixth form website

transport to highcliffe schoolin catchment: hampshire based applicants only

The new Hampshire County Council (HCC) Home to School Transport Policy will be implemented in full from September 2013. (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/traveltoschool/school-transport.htm)

The policy states that students living over 3 miles from a school will be entitled to free transport to the nearest catchment school only. This is a change from the previous policy of providing free transport to any school within a shared catchment arrangement. In effect, Hampshire County Council has removed the discretionary element of their policy.

Therefore, for students who live in Hampshire, more than 3 miles from Highcliffe School and where Highcliffe School is the nearest school treating that address as in-catchment, HCC will continue to provide transport free of charge.

HCC and Highcliffe School are working together to ensure that the existing transport service remains in place. HCC have committed to meeting the school’s needs in terms of total seat numbers required. Highcliffe School will purchase seats on the coaches which will be available.

Highcliffe School will subsidise the cost of a seat. Seats will be available at a cost of £295 per seat (from September Intake 2013) for the first two seats purchased per family unit as defined by our Admissions Policy (students 11 to 18).Where additional seats are required for siblings within the same family unit Highcliffe School will provide these at no further cost.