Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’.  The day proved extremely beneficial and there were a series of lectures focusing on:

‘Critical Approaches’, delivered by Andy Haley (Chief Examiner)

‘Dramatic Structure – the Pattern of the Play’ delivered by Dr Pamela Mason

‘The Presentation of Women in the Play’ delivered by Robert Smallwood from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, and

‘How to Deal with Short Extracts (Close reading of the text)’ by Andy Haley

It was delightful to see our students taking copious notes and listening attentively to the speakers.  I am sure that attendance at this event will have enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the play and given them some expert advice on how to approach the assessment objectives in their forthcoming examinations.‘

competing in the event were from across the Sutton Coldfield Partnership and Highclare entered the large schools competition with each student taking part in one individual race including front crawl, backstroke and butterfly.

Head of Squad swimming Tom said: “Swimmers behaved and swam excellently. I and the School couldn’t have asked for more.”

The swim team has been working exceptionally hard in both lessons and at morning swim training.  Overall the results reflected the exceptional standard of swimming at Highclare Preparatory School.  Huge congratulations

1st overall for the Girls

2nd overall for the Boys

1st overall for the Relays

1st overall for the Gala

technology, engineering and math),  learning about one of the largest engineering projects happening in the London Thames.

London relies on a 150-year-old sewer system built for a population less than half its current size. As a result, millions of tonnes of raw sewage spills, untreated, into the River Thames each year.  Being built is a 25km Super Sewer under the Thames to intercept those nasty spills and clean up our river for the good of the city, its wildlife and you.  The pupils were fascinated by the presentation and were able to design their own boats as part of a scientific experiment.

100% with 16% of all passes at A*& A and 38% of all passes at A*,A&B.

Students added to their celebration after confirming their entries to a variety of universities including York, Loughborough, Chester, Aston, Plymouth and Birmingham City University to study subjects including History, Psychology, Geography, Optometry and Business.

Dr Richard Luker Headmaster, commented “These are excellent results for all our students and we are delighted with their individual achievements. During their time in Highclare Sixth Form they have not only achieved academic potential but have enhanced their personal skills equipping them for their future in their chosen profession. This is a culmination of a lot of hard work and commitment from all concerned and they deserve the celebrations today.”

Photo: L-R Noah Griffiths,Tom West, Emily Semmens, Manraj Bhopari and Ella Hassall

acting.  The cast have worked tirelessly to perfect their roles and their hard work was clear to see as the show was a fantastic success.  The scenery, costumes and musicians added to the successful production.

A huge congratulations must go to all the students, parents and staff who have contributed so much to all aspects of the three performances, it was  tremendous entertainment and we are all still taping our toes to the wonderful show tunes!

Museum.

Highclare School trips are not only a fantastic opportunity to learn more about different topics in a fun environment but are always a fantastic resource intended to enhance further learning opportunities within the classroom.

Highclare Reception pupils wanted to convey their favourite parts of the trip and they have done so through a writing opportunity with their teacher once back in their classroom.  I think you’ll agree it sounded like a thoroughly enjoyable day!

Our trip to Cosford Air Museum.

On a very cold and blustery March 1st Reception R went on a trip to Cosford Air museum as part of our ‘Transport’ topic.

Firstly, we were able to see the enormous planes and learn about what makes planes fly and what they look like inside and out. They are enormous!!

We had the privilege to sit in a fighter jet and pretend to be pilots. We moved the pedals and controls and made parts of the plane move!!

As part of our topic, we learnt what happens when you go on holiday. We had made a passport at school so we able to board the plane. We also had our passports and luggage checked and went through a security scanner. Some of us dressed as the pilot and some of us air stewards and stewardesses handing out food to the passengers.

It was a very fun trip and we can’t wait to carry on our topic back and school.

From Mrs Larner and Reception R.

distinctions achieved for years.

34 Senior School pupils and 69 Junior School pupils from Highclare School took part in the recent LAMDA examinations, comprising of a wide range of performance based disciplines, including Group Acting, Solo Acting, Public Speaking, Mime and Verse and Prose Recital.

In all 100% pupils passed, with 32% obtaining a Merit and 64% of pupils achieving a Distinction – this is a grade of 80% and above, outstanding results! A special mention to 5 of our L5th & U5th pupils, who further gained bronze medals in these exams, a fantastic attainment which in addition to evidencing their individual excellence has accrued all-important UCAS points.

Lamda has proved an immensely popular extra-curricular activity at Highclare School, allowing pupils to grow in confidence, develop their individuality and nurture relationships with pupils across year groups; It is proven to positively impact a pupils ability to participate in debates and presentation skills within other subject classes, all of which has seen a massive uptake onto the LAMDA course of recent time.

Mrs Ashley Hall, Peripatetic Speech Teacher said;

“These are fantastic results and I am delighted!  In Highclare Senior School alone we have seen over a 40% increase in pupils achieving a distinction grade & a 100% pass rate, Fantastic!  In Junior School over 70%  of pupils achieved a distinction, outstanding results for pupils of such a young age! I look forward to celebrating these results with our pupils and continuing their LAMDA journey together. ”

pupils adopted the African Space Trust as their chosen charity last year and have raised nearly £9,000, which was presented to the charity at a special assembly.    The charity aims to help the people of a remote village in Tanzania and was started in 2009 when two young friends, Mark and Jamie, working in conservation near the village of Itete persuaded Jamie’s parents and 2 of their friends to visit the village they had grown to love. When the 4 retired friends saw the conditions the people lived in and particularly the lack of medical help causing an alarmingly high infant mortality rate, they decided to help and the African Space Trust was born.  Space is a reflection of the incredible sense of vastness they perceived in Tanzania.

The pupils at Highclare School from both the Senior School and the Junior Schools have worked hard with a variety of fund raising events including cake sales, quiz nights and sponsored events.   They have put their entrepreneurial skills to work, sang carols in the Gracechurch Centre and organised non-uniform sponsored days.   It has been an exciting year and members of the Charity came into school recently to receive the cheque.   Some of the money will help towards the current project in Itete, which is to build some accommodation for the medical staff so that they can settle there with their families and also so that the QE Hospital can send medical students over to help.

The pupils of Highclare have decided to continue to support AST next year as the accommodation is nearing completion and will then turn their attention to supporting the village school.

Picture shows: Left to right – Mrs Parker (AST),  Jack Roper J4, Mrs Carol Linden AST, Edward Bickley,  Mrs Marian Morris, AST, Mrs Angie Moore, Head of Senior School, Jessica Bonner L5R,  Samuel Broom, J6, and Hannah Batey J6

They performed pieces from Sweeney Todd, Blood Brother, Footloose, Annie, Matilda, Woman in Black and the High School Musical, with performances from the choirs, GCSE drama students, Flute Ensemble, String groups and the school’s resident rock band.

Guest of honour, Jack Dromey, MP, took time out from his schedule in Parliament to join the audience and tweeted  “ The young people of @HighclareSchool inspire on a magical night of music, song and drama. They are a credit to their families and the City”

Miss R Moseley, Head of Music at Highclare Senior School said “Both my colleague, Mrs Sharman-Everton and I are so proud of our pupils who have worked very hard, putting in many hours of rehearsals to get to this performance standard. The atmosphere on the evening was typical of a Broadway production”

Music and Drama are very important elements of both the curriculum and extra curricular activities at Highclare School.  Please contact the school if you would like to know more about our Senior School Music Scholarships or Music and Drama in our Junior Schools.   Why not pop along to an Open Day and see the school in action. Details on the website:   www.highclareschool.co.uk/open

top 40% of students receive a certificate.

Silver Certificates were awarded to:

Samuel Donaghue, L5

Ainara Zubialde,  U4

A Bronze certificate was awarded to:

Aditya Swaminathan,  L5

These are great achievements, well done to you all.

the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Malakai started dancing because he liked the way in which you can express your mood no matter what it is.   He said that he had been inspired by his PE teacher, Mr Jones, never to give up.  Malakai also enjoys playing football which he says helps to keep him fit.

initiatives have included setting up small businesses in groups and during the day they were able to market their skills and businesses to pupils, staff and parents.

The range of things included : ‘Popping Stationery’, ‘Smoothies 4 U’,  ‘Craft and Snack Disney Shack’, ‘Hampers R Us’, & ‘ Fantasy Football’.   Additionally, Charlotte Hodivala, the new  Mayor of Sutton popped in during the afternoon for afternoon tea and to chat to the children and parents.

Mrs Polly Bennett, Head of Junior Schools at Highclare, said “ This was a great initiative by the children themselves and they showed some excellent entrepreneurial choices in achieving a profit, which will go to our school charity, The African Space Trust.   It was lovely to see the new Mayor during the afternoon and we hope that she has spotted some budding new business talent for the future !”

Photo:   Charlotte Hodivala (Mayor of Sutton Coldfield with Aimee Reid and Daisy McGrath.

for a boy or girl upon entering the Senior School in Year 7.

The HSGP, once awarded to an individual, will cover the fees for the duration of a pupil’s education in the Senior School and will be available for any boy or girl currently at any local primary school.

Means tested to widen accessibility as much as possible, it will be awarded to a boy or girl with outstanding academic potential.
We are very pleased to take this step and recognises that it is important to show commitment to the notion of demonstrable public benefit. Headmaster, Dr Richard Luker commented “it is a significant initiative to cement our position in our community and I am delighted that the Governors have given me permission to raise our accessibility in this way. It is entirely in keeping with our Latin motto Facta Non Verba, which translates to: Deeds, Not Words”.

Interested parties are asked to contact the Admissions Office in order to gain more information about the application and assessment procedure.

Telephone: 0121 386 8218

school to visit the children ahead of the fantastic Concert being hosted by Highclare School on July 4^th for their school charity, Ssafa.  The Junior and Senior choirs from Highclare School will be joining with the prestigious Military Wives Choir for a memorable performance.

Alison and Chloe from the choir watched the Year 1 children sing ‘I’m a Jellyfish’ and joined in with the words and actions.

At the forthcoming charity concert they will be performing an amazing programme of songs including  ‘Wherever You Are’;   ‘Something Inside So Strong’ and ‘The Rhythm of Life’. They will also be performing an exclusive song written especially for them called’Home’.  The words are incredibly powerful and the emotion is one many in the military community have had to endure with recent deployments to Afghanistan.

If you would like tickets for  this wonderful concert featuring the Military Wives Choir, Highclare Senior Choir, Highclare  Junior Choir, Mr Richard Owen, Mr John Barber and talented pupils from the school, please email stpaulsloffice@highclareschool.co.uk  for further information.    Ticket prices start from £15 and the concert will be held on Saturday 4^th July at St Michael’s Church, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield.

school to perform an official opening. Mr Dromey was able to relax with students and sample the advantages of sixth form life at Highclare where the addition of a wide screen TV, up to the minute kitchen facilities and permanent wifi is great news for all.
“The common room has undergone a complete transformation and has been turned into a space that exceeds university accommodation!” said Head Prefect, Sophie-Jayne Bridgens, who spent some time explaining to Mr Dromey the highlights of sixth form life at Highclare.
The common room now also has relaxing corner sofas allowing students to relax and socialise. The dedicated wifi allows students to make use of their iPads which are provided to each student on entry to the Sixth Form to aid independent study.
Mr Dromey told students a little about his life at Westminster and the accommodation there for MPs, comparing the architecture of the buildings there to some of our famous land marks in Birmingham. He also chatted to students about their ambitions for the future, possible careers in industry and went on to engage them in conversations about the type of country they felt would be the ‘Britain’ they would want to live in. Ahead of the forthcoming general election he was keen to gauge the feelings of possible new voters and Highclare students were keen to help !

Photoleft to right: Polly Embury, Head of Sixth Form, Dr Richard Luker, Head, Mr Jack Dromey,MP, Jade Moore, Sophie-Jayne Bridgens