Insight24

News from Highgate Wood School arts college

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Issue No 24 May 2015

THE UNIQUE CLASS OF 2015

GOVERNING BODY UPDATE Charles Wright, our Chair of Governors, writes: At this time of year it's natural to be focusing on exams, and I'd like to thank all staff who have been going the extra mile with their students over the period. For all of us, the work put in by everyone - staff, students and parents - is extremely important in making sure all our students get the opportunities they deserve, whether academic or vocational.

But it's also the time of year when big changes are happening in the life of the school. Students coming to the end of their time with us, or looking forward to sixth form after the summer break, younger students reaching the end of a first year at big school, older students about to get into their GCSE years, and of course that large cohort of Year Six's going through their own changes and thinking about the transition in September.

And of course it's the time to start looking forward to a welcome summer break - much-needed by our hard-working staff as well as our students.

Before that though, governors are looking at priorities for the coming year. For me that means a continued focus on all our students as individuals, as well as a drive for consistent improvement across the board - so that everyone at Highgate Wood School is able to grow and develop, academically but also as a whole person. That's the essence of what a community comprehensive school should be, and I hope we can continue our work to make Highgate Wood the school of choice for everyone in our community.

Good luck with the exams!

Cover picture: Friday 22nd May 2015 saw our Year 11s have their final assembly and celebration day.

Because the exam timetable is so full they were only able to dress up after Insight had already gone to print. Photos from the day will be available on the website in due course, as will a report of the Celebration Evening on Friday 19th June.

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The school lottery has just paid for two outdoor table tennis tables, more outdoor picnic tables and a laser cutter, benefitting all Highgate Wood School students.

We could buy so much more if only every parent/ carer bought just one lottery ticket a year at a cost of only £12 a year!!!

Here's some maths to encourage you to sign up - if everyone of us bought just one ticket we'd raise over £12,000!

There are great prizes too! For details of how to sign up follow the link on the school website OR email us on hwslottery@me.com.

COME ON, IT COULD BE YOU (and the school!).

Don’t forget easyfundraising.org.uk. Visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/hwspsa

HIGHGATE WOOD SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY Chair of Governors: Charles Wright (Community Governor) Vice Chair: Paul Bennett (Parent Governor) Representative Governors: Cllr Eddie Griffith • Oliver Blackaby • Brenda Allan • Imogen Pennell Parent Governors: Diana Brown • Philip Cavendish • Elizabeth Hess • Chris Tully • Rob White • Julia Chalfen • Paul Bennett Community Governors: Phil Cocksedge • Caroline Conlon • Violet HazelwoodHenry • Chris Parr • Headteacher Governor: Patrick Cozier Staff Governors: Emily Ford • Joe Demetriou If you wish to contact the Governing Body please write to the Chair of Governors, c/o Mrs K Ozturk, Highgate Wood School, Montenotte Road, London N8 8RN (koz@hws.haringey.sch.uk)

Issue 24. May 2015

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER It’s May Already!

Welcome to the May edition of Insight. As always you will find this edition full of information highlighting many of the achievements of our incredible students over the last few months. We hope that you will get a sense of the amazing range of activities and opportunities that our students benefit from at Highgate Wood School thanks to our dedicated staff. As ever, this is a very exciting time to be part of the school community.

Post 16 Applications & Places Offered – An Update We are delighted with the very high number of offers that we have been able to make for places in the 6th Form. This builds on last year’s significant increase in popularity. I am proud of how well our students presented themselves and I have been impressed with the maturity that they have shown in discussing their futures.

Looking at our progress over the last five years, we have good reason to be pleased. The number of places offered to Year 11 Highgate Wood School students has increased over the last five years. This rise is accompanied by a high number of offers being made to Year 11s who currently attend other schools across Haringey and beyond; maintaining the school’s popularity in the community. This confirms our feeling that Highgate Wood continues to be more popular both within and beyond our school than in previous years and that more and more we are achieving one of our key aims of being the local school of choice.

Importantly, and similar to the last three years, in order to deal with what we expect to be a high demand for places at the start of the autumn term, we have taken the decision to hold our first day of enrolment on Thursday 20th August – the day of the GCSE results. We anticipate that this will give HWS year 11s the first opportunity to secure places onto their choice of courses.

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We are very proud of our Year 11s, we have every faith in their ability to do well in their exams and we look forward to seeing a large number of them thriving in the 6th Form from this September.

Kirkland Rowell Survey Thank you to those of you who participated in the Parent Survey to give us some feedback about how you feel the school is doing and how we can best work with you as parents/carers. We have recently received the feedback from the Kirkland Rowell.

Unfortunately it arrived too late for us to include any detailed feedback in this edition of Insight.

However, we will include something more detailed in the next edition after the half term.

However, as a brief summary, the good news is that the results are very positive and confirms that parents and carers recognise the very good work that we do and appreciate the positive difference that we make to the learning and experience of your children. It is a significantly more positive outcome than we got when we did our last survey in 2010.

Parents and carers have overwhelmingly expressed a view that their children learn well at Highgate Wood and that they have a wonderful and enriching experience at the school. As always, there are some learning points as well that we will take on board moving forward. Some of these include thinking very carefully about some of the ways in which we might communicate even better with parents/carers and also some very useful thoughts from year 7 parents about what we might do to improve some of our transition arrangements.

Staffing Updates, Welcome and Thanks From the start of this term Ms Burniston officially began her role as Head of Seacole House. I wish her every success in her new role, whilst at the same time expressing huge thanks to Ms Roberts for stepping into the acting role so capably last term.

Having supported Ms Burniston in a handover period, Ms Roberts will now return to her substantive role as Deputy Head of Seacole House.

Ms Ward, who has been the acting Deputy Head of

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Seacole House in the last term will continue to support Ms Burniston and Ms Roberts in this role for the remainder of the academic year. My thanks also extends to Ms Kemp who has taken on the acting Head of ECS role for the remainder of this academic year in place of Ms Burniston.

In Drama, our new Head of Department Ms Crook started on Monday 20th April. She has already made a very positive impression, and has stepped into her new role at Highgate Wood School with fantastic enthusiasm. I am confident that she will be a very positive asset to the school. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Brown for his excellent commitment and hard work in fulfilling the acting Head of Drama role for two terms.

Farewell to staff who have left during the course of this half term…

Member of Staff Role Ms D. Breed Cover Supervisor Mr P. Allen Cleaner Ms Breed served her last day at Highgate Wood School on Thursday 15th May. She has been with us since January 2011. Officially, her role is as a Cover Supervisor, but anyone who has worked with her will know that she is very much more than that.

Ms Breed has been an excellent teacher of a variety of subjects during her time at the school, has filled in as Acting Head of Year 9 for our current year 11s, has acted as a mentor to so many students and has been involved in as many trips as most other staff put together! Always a ‘can do’ person and willing to go the extra mile is something that you could rely on Ms Breed for. I personally think of her as someone who really and genuinely placed our students at the heart of everything she did at HWS. She represented what it means to be a member of staff at this school.

Mr Allen has been a cleaner at Highgate Wood School for the last 31 years! That is an incredible amount of service to our school and shows a level of loyalty that is to be greatly admired. Mr Allen is

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more than just a cleaner – he is a friend of every member of staff how sees him first thing in the morning; he always has a positive and cheerful hello and good morning for everybody. I will remember him particularly for our regular conversations about our beloved Arsenal. I have never met a ‘Gooner’ who was more positive and confident of success, even when our team was doing so poorly! His lovely nature and his commitment to our school will be very much missed.

We thank them both for their significant contribution over the years and wish them the very best for the future. ... And Finally – Thank you for your support!

I would like to thank you all again for your valued and continued support. I wish you and your families a pleasant half term break.

Please remember, we return on Monday 1st June at 8.35am. It will be Week 1.

Regards Patrick Cozier Headteacher

HARINGEY POLICE APPEAL Specialist officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Investigation Team are encouraging any victims of non-recent sexual abuse in Haringey to come forward.

Anyone who wishes to report any information should contact the Haringey Child Abuse Investigation Team on 020 8721 6834 (between 8am and 6 pm). Alternatively, the NSPCC can be contacted on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk Issue 24. May 2015

THE CLASS OF 2015

It is like the end of an era. It also seems like the end of a very long year of work but you have pulled though and we’re almost there!

In less than a month these young men and women will be dressed in finery and attending the Highgate Wood School Celebration Evening, a few weeks later they will nervously open their exam result envelopes which will hopefully mark the beginning of a new adventure at Highgate Wood School - the beginning of their time in our sixth form.

I have been thoroughly impressed with the maturity, focus and dedication that so many of the students in the year group have shown over the last term. It has been a stressful time for everyone, and that has sometimes led to upset and tears. But we have made it through.

Along with their talent, hard work and diligence I Issue 24. May2015

have also been impressed with the way Year 11 has pulled together in times of difficulty. They support each other through thick and thin.

Whether that is preparing for exams, revising together, or simply providing those words of comfort and encouragement that we all need from time to time, this year group have been the masters.

I wish each and every one of you the very best of luck for the future. I feel privileged to have known you, and grateful to have been able to have played some part in your successes.

I look forward to joining you in the celebration of your achievements on June 19th and also on exam results day in August.

Yours sincerely Mr A Hartley 5

UNIVERSITY APPLICATION SUCCESS

Mr Charlesworth writes: We are delighted to have had a record number of successful university applications completed by Year 13 students this year, which have been met with a record number of conditional, and some unconditional, offers of places for 2015.

The variety of degree courses that our sixth form students are destined to embark on after the summer is truly extraordinary. They include Nursing, Business Management, Engineering, Aerospace Technology, Chemistry, Criminology, 3D Design, History, Sociology, Psychology, Drama, Zoology, Politics, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Biochemistry, Law, Economics, Film Production, Industrial Design, English Language, Fashion, English Literature, Computer Science, French, Journalism, Music Technology, Philosophy and Geography.

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The range of institutions is similarly impressive. It looks like there will hardly be a university town in the UK that doesn’t boast at least one Highgate Wood School student next year.

These include Oxford University, Manchester University. The universities of Leeds, Bristol, Brighton, Plymouth, Birmingham, Sussex, Chester and Sheffield. We are likely to have students at the University of Aberystwyth and at the University of Central Lancashire. We will be represented in London, Kent, Southampton and Chichester. Some students are likely to be at the University of Reading studying History, others will be at the Southampton Solent University studying Advertising.

Of course none of this would be possible without the hard work of the sixth form team, the sixth form tutors, Ms Birnie, Mr Pateman and Ms Lewis.

But most of all it is down to the hard work and drive of our sixth form students, and our sixth form teachers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their efforts, and wish all of our Year 13 students who are about to embark on the next stage of their lives the very best of luck and success. We all hope they achieve the results they require.

SEND INFORMATION MORNING

Mr Dobrashian writes: The Learning Support Department will be holding an SEND Information Morning on the 17th June between 9.30 – 11 am,.

At this event Inclusion staff will explain their roles, with an opportunity for parents and carers to ask questions for the workings of the department.

-If you are seeking to attend, please confirm in email to tow@hws.haringey.sch.uk Issue 24. May 2015

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES IN HARINGEY

PARENT INFORMATION EVENING

As usual Haringey has a whole range of sports and activities available for young people over the half-term break. Some will require booking, some require payment, but the majority are free to enter and you can turn up on the day.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/hwsmayhalfterm for details.

Mr Ashman writes: Our ever-developing digital communications systems continue to raise a whole range of new concerns for safety and security, from cyberbullying and on-line fraud to radicalisation and selfharm.

These issues will be discussed at our 2nd e-safety Parent Information Evening on Wednesday 3rd June. All are welcome.

HOUSE LEAGUE TABLES

The best way to predict the future is to invent it

From caring comes courage

Success comes from perseverance

46,343

46,448

47,529

so far this year

so far this year

so far this year

Top Vivo Earners Rasheed Kamara (Yr 11) Rawan Ataya (Yr 10) Luke Gosling (Yr 9) Grace Heron (Yr 8) Lottie Ezer-Ahern (Yr 7)

Top Vivo Earners Jordan Dowden (Yr 11) Randal Harrison (Yr 10) Yusufcan Kir (Yr 9) Brandon Durand (Yr 8) Hugo Clague (Yr 7)

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Top Vivo Earners Umer Khan (Yr 11) Ester Sanha (Yr 10) Ceyda Karayigit (Yr 9) Toby Wyckoff-Smith (Yr 8) Louis Fletcher-Wheeler (Yr 7) 7

HWS MOCK ELECTIONS

Mr Robertson writes: Over the course of the general election campaign, many of our students became engaged with thoughts of our democratic society. So much so, in fact, that during March half term, Isabel Pountney (8H) emailed the following idea: "how about doing a mock election and have party representatives and public debates and then a secret ballot?"

The idea was simple: each student would represent one of the main political parties (from Labour to UKIP), they would be given a list of questions to research 24 hours before and would then debate each other in a mock election hustings which all students could attend in the hall.

The task of creating election questions was a team effort which drew upon the ideas of our students.

Ms Sayer's Debate Mate group and Ms Gribble with the School Council all volunteered ideas, and their questions touched upon the state of the nation's finances, immigration, school reform and what they would do to promote gender equality.

Our 'candidates' researched thoroughly and communicated their parties' ideas incredibly effectively; skilfully answering our students' questions, and even more skilfully avoiding questions they were shy of giving a direct answer to! I was particularly proud by how closely they represented the parties they had been chosen to represent, which certainly presented a challenge for Harry, Blue and Jonah.

The event was extremely well-attended, and at the end our student vote led to a comfortable Labour majority. That did not reflected nationwide polling trends, but it was impossible to deny that the turnout represented a glowing endorsement of our students' civic responsibility and their belief in the importance of democracy.

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Blue Weiss writes: On the back of the Highgate Wood Question Time in which the Sixth Form had the chance to probe, question, and listen to the electoral candidates for Hornsey and Wood Green, one year 8 asked if the lower school would be given the same opportunity.

And so in a sense they did when on Friday the 1st May we hosted our first mock general election with five year 12 students representing the major parties and a chair to moderate the debate.

The event began with the candidates on stage with a minute each to answer a number of questions from students ranging from 'what would the parties do about gender discrimination' to 'why is there no money'.

The same talk of 'long term economic plan' was continuously spouted by the Conservative candidate, with sprinkles of 'we tried' from the Liberal Democrats, emphatic pledges from Labour and the Greens and of course somehow UKIP managed to take everything back to 'immigration, immigration, immigration'.

The event was not exempt from political squabbling but on the whole candidates did try to engage with the audience, and did so with some success. As for the lower school students, they were given an insight into the dynamism, pragmatism, and importance of politics in their everyday lives. They were able to gain an understanding or at least a snapshot of what the parties stood for. But most importantly they were given a voice which is so often denied from young people in elections. And even more impressively the results were broadcast round the school within the hour.

Issue 24. May 2015

DEBATE MATE SUCCESS Candidates: Jonah Berman - Conservatives Lucy Carter - Labour Rosa Tully - Green Party Harry Vinall-Smeeth - UK Independence Party Blue Weiss - Liberal Democrats Moderator: Lucy Parfitt Photographer: Emily Mort

Ms Sayer writes: It's been another exciting term for the HWS Debate Mate team!

On 16th April we attended the Deutsche Bank Debate Mate Cup at the London School of Economics. Over 500 students attended and 90 teams competed for the cup.

Our prepared motion was: 'This house supports eco-terrorism'. This was followed by a show debate and then two unseen motions.

Both of our teams won two of their three debates; a really impressive achievement!

We also recently had our last session with our wonderful Debate Mate mentor, Thos. He taught the students so much about the art of debating and we'd like to thank him for all of his hard work!

For more information on Debate Mate please contract Ms Sayer

Issue 24. May2015

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MEDIA STUDIES STUDENTS AT THE BBC

Ms Daws-Knowles writes: At the end of March, Year 11 Media Studies students visited the BBC News Centre at Portland Place to see first hand how the news is constructed.

The 2015 exam topic is Television News so it was particularly relevant.

The students participated in a radio play using sound effects as well as delivered the news and weather using green screen technology. Everyone had an enjoyable time and one that they will all be able to make use of in their forthcoming examination.

Good luck to everyone!

HISTORY COMPETITION

Ms Harding writes: For the fifth year running, the history department have entered year 8 students into the Historical Association fiction writing competition. Two of our students have won the competition in the last five years.

All year 8 students had to research a topic and then write an exciting story about a fictional character living during that period. The Historical Association are particularly looking for a convincing setting in a past time and place.

It was extremely difficult to choose just three stories from over 220 entrants, and the history department would like to thank all the students who took part. It has been another great success, where the standard was very again high again.

However, the history department finally chose, Noa Yaron, (8D), Isabel Pountney (8H), Victoria Stogdon-Culbert, (8E).

Many congratulations to our three finalists. Their stories will be sent to the Historical Association.

The winners will be announced in the Historical Association by the end of June.

The winners also have their story published in the Historical Association periodical, and receive a ÂŁ25 voucher and a paper weight. The winners will be announced by the Historical Association by the end of June.

We would also like to acknowledge our runners up, who also wrote fantastic stories. They are, Tyler Zabel , (8H), Zackhala Francis, (8D), Hugh Thomas, (8D), Charlie Newbold, (8A), Ava Stevenson, (8T) and Brandon Durand, (8T).

CHILDNET DIGITAL LEADERS PROGRAMME Mr Ashman writes: We are excited to announce the launch of the Childnet Digital Leaders Programme at Highgate Wood School. Starting in September 2015 the scheme aims to empower young people aged 11-18 years to champion digital citizenship and digital creativity within schools and to educate their peers, parents and teachers about staying safe online.

More information will be made available shortly.

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Issue 24. May 2015

YEAR 10 - ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR SUMMER EXAMS? Mr Hartley writes: Year 10 should now be preparing for their summer exams that are taking place from 15th June and are a critical milestone for the year group’s success in summer 2016.

Students should make as much use of the revision materials available on the school website as they can, as well as the help provided by their teachers.

A revision timetable will be really helpful, and it is a good idea to visit http://getrevising.co.uk so you can get this created on-line.

There are also other useful resources to help students make use of their time productively, and learn how to deal with exams without getting too stressed or anxious.

We distributed a guidebook to Year 11s that provided them with some advice from Young Minds about how best to deal with exam pressures, as well as some useful tips and tricks.

Amongst these was some surprising information about the value of different foodstuffs to the exam process.

Everyone knows that it is important to drink lots of water for your brain to function properly. But did you know that there is evidence that suggests eating popcorn can reduce stress levels, oily fish helps you to concentrate and dark chocolate helps your brain keep healthy!

The guidebook is available on the school website, but the information can also be found at www.youngmindsvs.org.uk.

It is essential that at least some of the half-term is given over to preparing for these important exams, but it is also important to rest and recharge your batteries so you are ready to succeed!

Best of luck to everyone in Year 10.

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OUR NEW LEARNING SUPPORT AREA

STUDENT COMMENTS: “I love the way the space is so quite and ordered” L L (Year 8)

“I like the fact that we now have a dedicated area, and how calm the atmosphere is” C W-S (Year 9)

“I love the new interactive whiteboards.”

F P (Year 11)

“It is like an office, much more professional than other areas of the school” C F (Year 10)

It’s a nice, open space.”

LL (Year 7)

Matt Dobrashian SENCo writes: I am delighted to announce that the Learning Support Department at Highgate Wood School has now moved into new accommodation.

We are now based in what used to be the caretaker’s flat, but which has now undergone major refurbishment so provide a purpose built area to support Special Educational Needs and Disabled students, and others.

The area comprises a number of rooms where we can offer specialist support and intervention for groups and individual learners. We have extended the school computer network to this area, and now have the latest LED touch-screen display screens to help the delivery of specialist programmes as well as more regular lessons. We have also invested in a bank of light-weight HP tablets that are currently allowing selected students to use ICT in all lessons where appropriate.

This new resource is particularly welcome with the many changes that have happened to our work and the new requirements that have come as a result of changes in the SEND Code of Practice.

Our students have welcomed the change, as you will see from the comments here, and we hope to continue to develop our provision for SEND students so they continue to thrive and flourish.

If any parents or others would like more information about changes to Learning Support at the school please visit the Learning Support pages on the school website (under the Learning tab) or email me directly: mdo@hws.haringey.sch.uk 12

It’s comfortable, almost like home.”

O K (Year 8)

HARINGEY COUNCIL “LOCAL OFFER” We have been asked by Gary May, the SEND Reforms Programme Manager at Haringey Council to alert parents and carers of the “Local Offer” information that is available on the Haringey website. The Local Offer is the range of information, support and services available for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Haringey Council are currently promoting an online survey that they hope will provide some information to help them improve their services in the future.

To access the Local Offer and also the survey please visit: http://tinyurl.com/hwslocaloffer alternatively please email SENDLocalOffer@haringey.gov.uk Issue 24. May 2015

HOUSE DETENTIONS - THE NEW SYSTEM Ms Allaway writes: Some of you will be aware that we have introduced a new system of detentions to support our Behaviour for Learning policy. The intention behind this is for students to experience the consequences for not meeting school expectations as being automatic and inevitable.

We have been running with the new system since the beginning of term and early indications suggest it is working well. Students are more aware than before of the need to follow those basic rules that we have and conduct themselves appropriately for good learning and personal success.

The system works automatically. If any student receives four or more behaviour points in Sims in the period Wednesday to Tuesday they will be required to attend a House detention that Thursday. A text message is sent home on the Wednesday to inform parents and carers that a House detention has been given, and the students themselves receive a note during the course of Thursday. They then need to go to that detention, which begins immediately after period 5 and lasts until 15:45.

House teams and Form Tutors are kept up to date of those students who have a House detention in any given week so they are able to follow up any of the issues that may lie behind the problems.

If a student fails to attend a House detention they will automatically be placed in Whole School detention which takes place on Friday. This is a more serious sanction, lasting a full hour and being noted on the students’ behaviour record. As with House detentions, parents and carers will receive a text informing them that their child has been placed in Whole School detention.

In order to ensure that this system continues to work well and improve behaviour and learning around the school we ask parents and carers to make sure that we always have their correct mobile phone number so we are able to send the appropriate text if and when we need to.

With thanks for your continued support.

Issue 24. May2015

Tracey Copley - Medical Needs Assistant writes: As summer approaches please ensure your children come to school prepared for the hay fever season bringing with them plenty of tissues and any medication they may need to take during the school day.

Please also be reminded of the following:  Students are expected to come to school and stay in school the whole day even if they have head colds, hay fever, headaches, period pains or any other mild ailments.  It is the student’s responsibility to come to school prepared with any medications or supplies they may require during the school day.  Students should go to the Treatment Room to take any medication brought in from home.  We are unable to store or administer any medication to students unless it is accompanied by a GP’s prescription detailing the dosage and timings.  If your child has an injury they can have their dressings changed at school as long as the necessary dressings are brought in by the student.

Could you please also remind your child that they are not allowed to use their mobile phone in school. If they need to contact home for any reason they should go to the school office where arrangements will be made, if appropriate, for home to be called.

Thanks for your continued support

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MADFEST

We are fast approaching the biggest event of the summer: MADFest 2015 on Saturday 4th July.

The PSA will shortly be requesting members of the school community to bring in books, music, prizes and other items to help make that a success. At the same time our students will begin auditions for MADFest performances.

Many of our performers will be amongst the 75 students going on the Italy music tour the following week. They will be taking part in three concerts in Lazise, Torbole and Riva as well as visiting different towns and hopefully having a great time. We take this opportunity to wish them a fantastic tour.

Along with nine members of staff, the tour group comprises the following students:

GCSE ART - EXAM AND EXHIBITION Ms Zwicky writes: On 28th and 29th March our Year 11 art GCSE students sat their 10 hour exam to the theme of Apart and/or Together. Over the space of 10 hours we were able to observe the ideas which have been developed and researched over the previous eight weeks come to life.

As ever the breadth of work has been astonishing, ranging from digital and darkroom photography, large to scale painting in a wide variety of styles, collage, marbling, drawing, as well as 3dimensional work created from books (Emma Skinner) and old coke cans (Rowan Juneman).

Some students have worked very conceptually, creating pieces of work based around emotions and exam stress (Libby Archer) or bringing a worldwide community together in a collaborative piece of postal art (Faye Heron).

We were hugely impressed by the inventiveness of our students this year, and also their technical prowess.

We wish them the very best of luck for all their summer exams. They deserve to do extremely well.

Alex Ahern, Andrea Ahern, Libby Archer, Melinda Azemi, Faber Bell, Rudy Berman, Megan Boardman, Charlie Butler, Rory Butler, Alex Carter-Jones, William Carter-Jones, Anouk Cavendish, Esme Cavendish, Hi-Lim Chang, Gabriel Clarke, Robyn Cowie, Amy Davis, Iola Elson, Rosa Elson, Ethan Fraser, Lola Fraser, Sarah Free, Fraser Frengley, Everest Freya, Choon Fuller, Maddy Grant Pyett, Jacob Gryn, Rory Hammett, Toby Heale, Patrick Hegarty, Alfie Hellier, Agnes Hellier, Faye Heron, Florence Holmes Kelly, Zoe Hutchings, Alex Irvine, Lauryn James, Eleanor Jones, Ruby Jubb-Baddiel, Rowan Juneman, Mia Knight, Ty Knox, Nancy Levy Vegh, Sam Marks, Maddie McBroom, Lucy Newbold, Charlie Newbold, Nye Newcombe, Raph Nuzzoli, Emi Oguri, Asha Oguri, Kate Owen, Lucy Parfitt, Eva Parfitt, Maya Pennicott, Chloe Petmezas, Ella Phillips, James Ramsden, Joshua Rodney, Billy Scott Price, Hope Selby, Imogen Sheppard, Fionnuala Stevens, Emer Stevens, Noah Stoneman, Joe Stoneman, Maddie Strawson, Sam Suarez-Ronay, Ethan Wadsworth, Charlie Walker, Sian Walker-Evans, Eleanor Weatherall, Blue Weiss, Danni Weiss and Lucy Whelan.

Barney Terrington 14

Issue 24. May 2015

Nina Wang Amelia Jordan Wass

Elif Celik Issue 24. May2015

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GARDENERS WORLD

Ms Jones writes: Congratulations to Caleb Wyckoff-Smith and Adam Lloyd for continuing to develop and improve our school garden.

Whether it is constructing a new greenhouse or repotting some summer flowers, they are both helping transform our environment - and learning some very valuable skills into the bargain!

TWENTY POUNDS AWARDS!

Mr Ashman writes: Last term the PSA kindly donated £200 to reward Year 11 students who made the best use of SAM Learning.

Congratulations to Liliana Ricketts, Reece Cooper, George Tonkinson, Jessica Parker, Billy Scott Price, Jessica Krahn, Malina Antochi, and Rasheed Kamara who have all received a £20 gift voucher for their productivity with SAM Learning.

We will be awarding the final two prizes after the examinations are over.

If you still need your login for SAM Learning you can email data@hws.haringey.sch.uk or you could just try and work it out yourself. Your username and password are the same and is made up by your date of birth followed by your initials. So if your name is Brad Pitt and your date of birth is 22nd March 1999 your SAM Learning login is 220399BP. The Centre ID is N8HW.

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FIELD TRIP TO WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE

Mr Grimmett writes: This term our Year 10 Geographers took part in their first field trip, an important part of their GCSE course and also a fantastic experience for their general education.

Tommy Escott reflects on the day’s events: We arrived at a windy, but sunny area of Essex called Walton-on-the-Naze at around 11am. After a quick walk to the beach, we began our task collecting primary data for our GCSE coursework.

This included measuring beach gradients using a special device called a clinometer and completing bi-polar surveys.

Working along the coastline can sometimes be unpredictable, at the beginning of the day it was windy yet sunny however toward the end of the day we experienced torrential rain, unlike anything we had ever seen before. However we didn't give up, we braved the brunt of the storm and completed our work. Despite being pounded by the rain it was a really interesting and enjoyable day and we picked up some really important skills for our GCSE.

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AN AMERICAN ABROAD Quentin Reeb writes: The future of our world rests entirely with children, the young minds that will take the places of old ones and grow up to uphold the legacy of the world.

And this is what we need schools for—to mould and shape these minds.

I go to Highgate Wood School., but I come from America. I have lived in Germany, and I have French heritage. So I’ve witnessed the differences in school systems in a few places. There are differences in grading systems, tests, classrooms, schedules and a never ending list of other things.

In America most students come from the outskirts or suburbs of the cities, and it can take a long time to get to school. Some have their journeys to school over hills or even lakes. It can take a while, and usually it is a pretty long time until you get back home, American school days are, on average, longer than that are her in England. For me it was 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and I barely had time to do my homework after that. Our homework was almost always due the very next day.

Our schedule was never different, every day it was the same. That perhaps gave us a clearer focus and structure, but it was also a bit monotonous and boring. And we were always doing a lot more tests and quizzes than I’m doing here, which was very tiring.

As they are everywhere, the students were all different shy ones, cocky ones, popular types, focused types. They were different individuals, like they are here—and of course they all had an American accent! But since there was no uniform, and in Texas, where I lived, it was very hot, so we tended to wear Nike Dry-fit or Adidas Climacool.

Personally I found them a bit awkward.

I’d like to say thank you for taking the time to read this. I’m having a very good time at Highgate Wood School.

Issue 24. May2015

DREADED TIMETABLE—A POEM

By Sophia Doncheff 8T I’m sitting here thinking about tomorrow, MONDAY. The deciding day which marks out if I will have a good week or a bad week, sort of like a fortune teller revealing its witchcraft and sorcery.

I’m very rarely lucky.

My anxiety on Monday, unaware if I will have to endure trauma and mocking from my form.

My migraine on Tuesday from your hurtful words spitting out of your mouth like a machinegun.

Vomiting your despicable feelings about me all over my heart.

My determination on Wednesday desperately trying not to cry my face fixed as hard as a rock, my hope spilling into the room being emptied by your attempt to embarrass me by tripping me up and taking my chair from beneath me.

I stood as hard as ever.

My depression on Thursday from all I have been through this week.

Hurting myself so as not to feel any pain from your words.

I numb myself to take my mind of all that hate you’ve shown me.

Alcohol, drinking away my misery.

I am 13.

The last day Friday, my day of my exasperated heart all these little things make a young one cry all these little things want to make them give up leave school but we can’t we are forced to face everything as a teen.

No bunking, No crying, No giving up.

I am 13 years old.

If you feel bullied or upset you must tell someone - a teacher, a mentor, another member of staff.

You can also report your worries through the bullybox on the school website.

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JACK PETCHEY AWARD WINNERS

LEADER AWARD

Ms Allaway writes: Congratulations to our new Jack Petchey Award Winners MADELEINE BARON Reason for award: Madeleine has been a constant contributor to the school. She works as a peer mentor and has been praised by students and staff for her dedication to this role. She is always willing to help with open evenings and parent’s evenings to work in front of house situations and helping to provide refreshments. She works to the best of her ability in class and upholds all that is best about our school.

MANEL AIT MOUHEB Reason for award: Manel is a fantastic student always willing to contribute to school life. She has worked as an office helper and really impressed visitors to the school and prospective candidates for jobs where she promotes the school and the student body. She has helped at the open evenings and the parents evenings too. She has a really positive attitude to all her school work and subjects.

NATHANIEL STARK Reason for award: Nathaniel has been making incredible efforts to improve his grades this year.

He has also made contributions to the Citizenship unit on human rights where he put together an assembly and presented it across all the year groups, this was very well received by all the heads of house. He is always supportive of the school and continually tries his best in everything he does.

STACEY SLAWINSKI Reason for award: Stacey is an incredibly helpful student who works hard for the school. She has been recognised for her enthusiasm and initiative and has been complemented by visitors to the school as an outstanding example of our school values.

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The leader award for Di Breed has been approved and will be presented at the Jack Petchey celebration night in June at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre Di is a very special person who cares enormously for the students in the school. She has contributed to the school way beyond her job role by mentoring individual students and helping them in their difficulties.

We value the work she has done and the difference that she has made and we wanted to recognise this by nominating her for this award.

Congratulations, Di, and many thanks for all your many contributions to Highgate Wood School, its staff and students.

APPS FOR GOOD AWARD 2015 Mr Talbert writes: We are excitedly waiting to hear from Apps for Good whether Nancy Levy-Vegh and Rhea Patel might have qualified for their major Awards event in June.

We have been told that schools will be informed about those lucky enough to be recipients of their prizes on their website next week.

Please visit www.appsforgood.org on Thursday 28th May to see if we have been successful.

If we have that will be fantastic, if we haven’t the school is still incredibly proud of the achievement of Nancy and Rhea whose App concept has already gained the support of will.i.am and Water Aid, as well as everyone else who has taken up the Apps for Good Challenge this year.

Issue 24. May 2015

YOUNG ARTISTS AWARD

Ms Masters writes: Congratulations to Matilda Horton (year 8) and Giuliano Plantamura (year 11) who had their artwork selected as part of the Young Art competition 2015.

Their work was exhibited at the The Royal College of Art and their pieces responded to the theme of 'City Living'. This year celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the competition which is held to promote young art and to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Over 8300 students entered their work and 760 students’ work were shown.

Well done to both of you.

MOBILE PHONES IN SCHOOL A reminder to all parents/carers and students that we will continue to stick to our policy that requires student mobile phones to not be visible at any time whilst students are on the school site. This includes any time during the school day, including before and after school sessions.

We will also continue with our policy to confiscate mobile phones when they are seen and/or heard by a member of staff.

When a phone has been confiscated it will be deposited for safekeeping with the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant Ms Kiymet Ozturk. A phone confiscated on any school day will be only be returned on the following Thursday.

Issue 24. May2015

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SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS Ms Gribble writes: On the penultimate day of last term, when we had a non-uniform day, Phoenix Education Trust came into the school to provide training to members of our school council.

PET is a charity dedicated to improving Student Voice and they provided of activities, insights and support to help us get our School Council to start making a bigger impact on the day to day running of the school.

It was a fantastic day that was enjoyed by everyone who took part. It has also helped the School Council develop their vision of where they want us to be.

Already the council have had three further meetings, including a meeting with Mr Cozier and Mr Hatch, our Business Manager. There are lots of plans for things that will happen in the coming weeks, and some even sooner. For example the School Council has now started to have a formal role in the appointment of new members of the teaching staff.

By the next issue of Insight we hope to bring you a lot more news.

Aisha Shallo (co-chair) writes: We know that there hasn’t been much going on with school council for many months now.

However, we are glad to say that school council is back.

Every month we will be meeting to discuss issues that you feel need addressing. Our main purpose is to help you be the best students you can be. With Beth GossChalk (Year 11) and myself, Aiesha Shallo (Year 9) as co-chair persons we are here to listen to the voice of the school.

Anything you feel needs addressing please speak to your class councillors who will feed back to us. We will do the best we can to unite the Highgate Wood School family.

If you want to contact the School Council directly you can now email schoolcouncil@hws.haringey.sch.uk and we will receive it.

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Issue 24. May 2015

CAKES FOR NOAH’S ARK

Ms Harding writes: On Monday 18th May, 9T sold cakes to raise money for the Seacole house's charity, 'Noah's Ark.' Noah's Ark is a children's hospice that provides vital care and support to over 150 children and their families living in North London.

I would like to express my gratitude to my tutees that baked goodies over the weekend to sell for the charity.

A special thanks to, Selin Has, Finn Lilburn, Jack Howard-Mendonca, Diamonte Adeniyi, Zahrah Bakht, Amy Giles, Alex Diaferia, Maya Eagles, Mohamed Mohamed, Louis Ludlow, Armelinda Idrizi, Maria Lyons, Mel Ketaruth, Sonny Davies, Stanley Adepegba-Ogidan, Charlie Clarke & Isobel Crompton.

I would also like to thank the food tech department for donating ingredients. Mr Lopez kindly gave up his time after school on Thursday and Friday to bake cakes with Maria, Armelinda, Alex, Maya and Isobel.

Ms Burniston, Ms Birnie, Ms Smith, Ms Kemp and Mr Lopez also kindly gave up their break time to help sell the cakes with us.

Thank you to all the students and staff that bought cakes from us for this worthy cause.

Thanks to everyone's great effort, we raised £115.95 for the charity.

Sarah Latchford, from Noah's Ark will be in school on Thursday 21st May to collect the cheque.

Issue 24. May2015

A LEVEL PERFORMANCE SUCCESS

Ms Crook writes: This year was a roaring success for our Year 13 Drama students, whose practical exam pieces blew away AQA’s external examiner, not to mention fellow students, family members and Highgate Wood staff.

As the new Head of Drama at Highgate Wood, I was thrilled to have arrived just in time to see such high quality, inspiring work from the class.

Both exam groups worked with a range of classic texts, drawing from the work of Angela Carter, Edgar Allen Poe and Christina Rossetti. Their hard work and perseverance over the course of the unit resulted in two stunning, original performances that skilfully placed classic themes, characters and narratives into new and innovative contexts.

On behalf of the Drama department, I’d like to thank those who were able to attend the students’ performance and offer their support and encouragement, prior to their final exam.

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BOOK LAUNCH AT THE LRC

AUTHOR VISIT

Ms Ereira writes: The Learning Resource Centre hosted a launch party for Keren David’s new book, This Is Not A Love Story, published on the 7th of May. The book is set in Amsterdam, and Keren brought Dutch liquorice for us to try while she talked about how she came to write the book.

Louise Roberts won our prize draw and took home a signed copy of the book.

We’ve got a few copies in the LRC now too, so everyone else can read it!

Ms Ereira writes: Author Non Pratt visited us on the 28th of April. Her debut novel, Trouble, has been shortlisted for several awards.

Non gave a very lively and entertaining lunchtime talk in the LRC to about 40 students. She discussed censorship and talked about the process of writing her first novel and her journey to publication.

Non then spoke to the whole of Year 9, challenging gender stereotyping in popular culture. She introduced the Bechdel test to the students and asked them to apply it to blockbuster films, asking whether the films contain at least two named female characters who speak to each other about something other than a man. She then moved on to ideas of male and female fiction and discussed contemporary teen fiction in this context.

CHATTERBOOKS

Every Monday Week 2 After school in the LRC Intellectual & fun discussions about books you love and hate, film adaptations and a lot more.

For Years 9, 10 & 11 22

HWS BOOKCLUB

If you would like to join add your name to the sign-up sheet in Mr Gowen’s room (A25) Issue 24. May 2015

CARNEGIE BOOK GROUP

ACCELERATED READER

Years 7 and 8 have continued with the Accelerated Reader programme. Congratulations to the following students, who have passed the highest number of quizzes in their tutor groups:

Ms Ereira writes: The Carnegie book group is going strong, with almost 40 members divided into two groups which meet on alternate weeks.

We’re reading the books shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and debating which should win. We have our own page on the Carnegie website, so you can read the group’s reviews and vote in our poll by visiting: http://tiny.cc/hwslrc15

CARNEGIE SHORTLIST

When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan Tinder by Sally Gardner Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman The Middle of Nowhere by Geraldine McCaughrean More Than This by Patrick Ness Issue 24. May2015

7A Louis Ashworth (12) Joe Bruce (12) Gloria Kelly (10) 7AE Adam Lloyd (3) Charles Nelson (2) Rose Erbil (2) 7D Jago Strongman (11) Rosie Allison (8) Sylvie Keen (7) 7E Aaron Bell (15) Tallulah Cox (6) Carlias Simeone-Murrells (4) 7G Joseph Screene (14) Ramneet Bains (5) Romilly Gosling (4) 7H Lottie Ezer-Ahern (23) Jenner, Anouk (16) Tia Ezer-Ahern (15) 7I Willow Miller-Teece (7) Cameron Tomlinson (6) Sinead Newland (4) 7S Billy Owen (6) Quentin Reeb (6) Laurie Taylor (5) 7T Alabama Cawley (14) Katherine Ley (13) Vukasin Winrow (12) 7W Joshua Kingston (6) Selin Tas (3) Lois Fletcher-Wheeler (3)

8A Rosie Ashworth (5) Ella Reynolds (4) Keje Koca (3) 8D Billie-Jo Hayden (4) Zackhala Francis (1) 8E Natalie Manoharan (5) Jem Clift (4) Freya Dougan (4) 8G Rebecca Manoharan (7) Tia Dyett (5) Leyla Osman (4) 8H Amy Davis (7) Isabel Pountney (5) Yasmin Walton (4) 8I Milou-Mai Law (6) Ella Phillips (5) Max Murphy (4) 8S Charlotte Whelan (5) Jeannie Coles (4) Jack Thornton (4) 8W Cameron Destouche (7) Joseph Ferando (7) Rico Fergus (5)

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School begins again on Monday 1st June

at 8:35 am It will be Week 1 Monday 1st June

Half Term Begins

Wednesday 3rd June

Digital Safety—Parent Information Evening

15th—26th June

Year 10—end of year exams

Friday 19th June

Year 11 Celebration Evening

Thursday 25th June

Learning Support induction day

Friday 26th June

Sports Day

Tuesday 30th June

New Parents’ Evening

Wednesday 1st July

Transition Day (Year 6)

Saturday 4th July

MADFEST

Friday 10th July

End of Key Stage 3 Celebration Evening

Friday 17th July

School breaks up for summer (early close)

SUMMER 2015

AUTUMN 2015

SPRING 2016

Mon 13th April

Term Starts

Fri 4th Sept **

Term Starts

Mon 4th Jan

Term Starts

25th—29th May

Half term break

26th Oct– 30th Oct

Half term break

15th Feb– 19th Feb

Half term break

Friday 17th July

Term Ends*

Friday 18th Dec

Term Ends

Friday 21st March Term Ends * Term ends for students

** Term starts for students

The school calendar is available on-line at www.hws.uk.com

Keep informed Find out what is going on at Highgate Wood School and keep up with our news visit us at our website www.hws.uk.com follow us on twitter twitter.com/highgatewood Check the school’s opening status Call 02084087508 and give the school’s DfE code: 3094030

Insight is available on-line at www.hws.uk.com