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SUMMARY of ACHIEVEMENTS
Updated 4 September 2008, but still under construction On this page are extracts from a leaflet written in Highwood's latter days when some of the School's achievements were celebrated. |
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| The school received an
excellent HMI report in 1986. "What the report clearly sees is a happy and purposeful school where children benefit from a well-taught and carefully structured programme of studies - Mr K D Anderson (CEO), 2nd June 1986" |
At its first annual LEA review in 1989, the school was described as "one of the foremost in Gloucestershire". |
| "The quality of teaching
staff was demonstrated by the number and range of secondments to the
County's Advisory Service made in the years 1989 / 90: Director of the County Curriculum Centre Advisory Teacher of Maths Support Teacher for Media Technology Curriculum Development Teacher of Science Teacher Placement Organiser (Education / Industry Liaison) at SATRO (Science and Technology Regional Organisation) Secondment to write materials for Multi-cultural Education" |
"With £1.25 million spent
on new buildings and refurbishment during the 1980s, the school's
facilities were amongst the best in the county." "Pride in the appearance of the school is encouraged and it is no surprise to find that pupils treat this excellent, scrupulously maintained provision with respect, or that virtually no deliberate damage or defacement was to be seen." HMI report |
| "Having worked closely with the college of St Paul and St Mary, the school was recognised as the county leader in control technology, running courses for teachers from other schools." |
"The school had a link with a Russian school which was formed before government initiatives in this direction." |
| "The school developed a major project in primary-secondary liaison using shared expertise in computer control." |
"The school was invited to participate in the county pilot scheme for records of achievement." |
| "Community activities and support were built into the curriculum through the school playgroup, the old folks club largely run by the pupils themselves, and other examples of community service." |
"A Highwood Oral English project was broadcast in summer 1989 on the BBC Options programme." |
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"Links with industry: In 1989 the school was one of only 12 in the county to win a national award for work with industry. The award, arising from work done with United Biscuits, was presented by Mr John Butcher, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, in London. The school took part in a project with Birds Eye Wall's to write teaching materials, which are now being widely used in the county. These have now been launched as a national 'pilot'. The school's model for work experience formed the basis for the Stroud Cluster's policy. For the last seven years every fourth year pupil took part in work experience. Four pupils gained gold CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) awards, the youngest pupils to do so and the first such awards in Gloucestershire." |
"The school was increasingly involved in the annual Nailsworth Festival, with pupils mounting exhibitions and contributing in a variety of ways and the festival reciprocating by supporting craftsmen in residence and well-known writers to work with pupils in school." |
| "Over the years, the school's GCSE examination results have been outstanding. In 1989, 6 pupils obtained 8 or more 'O' level equivalents, over half at least one, and over 20% at least four such results. This was achieved at a time when the most academic 35% of pupils were being selected for the Downfield Schools." | University links "A team from the University of Bath, researching the management of learning, were so impressed by the quality of what they saw that they have requested access to the school for their students. Professor Kevin Warwick of Reading University, offered a fifth year pupil a place at the university on the basis of what he saw during a school visit." |
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"It is remarkable that this record of quality education was achieved at a time when uncertainty over the future of the school was at its peak." |
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