Headteacher update

Hello all,

Well there's definitely a chill in the air, but that's not stopped us getting out and about this term, making the most of the wonderful amenities we are lucky to have so close to school. 

From beach cleans to den building, scavenger art to pottery, metal work, and mechanics to feeding the ducks, you name it, the children have done it!

We are pleased to welcome some new 

staff to Highgate this term, namely:

• Emma O'Neill - PA to Headteacher
• Jessica Gilbert - NQT
• Emma Chaplin - LSA
• Faye Whitman - LSA

I'm sure you will all join me in making them feel very welcome.

Last of all, we've briefly outlined below how the Covid-19 vaccination programme is currently working in schools. We know that this is very much a hot topic amongst parents at the moment, so please be assured that consent will be sought from parents/carers in advance. We've just confirmed Friday 8th October as our date for nasal flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, so have just emailed all parents requesting nasal flu consent. Please note that the Covid-19 vaccination consent will follow separately early next week.

Warm wishes,

Gina Wagland

Headteacher

Covid-19 vaccinations

This autumn, all children aged 12 to 15 years are being offered a first dose of vaccine as part of the school-based COVID-19 vaccination programme. Children who are 12 years old and over on the day the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) team visits the school, will be offered a vaccination as part of the in-school vaccination programme.

Will consent be needed?

Consent will be sought by the SAIS provider from the parent or person with parental responsibility in the same way as for any other school vaccination programme.

Benefits of the vaccine

Vaccinating children should help to reduce the need for children to have time off school and should reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 within schools. The main purpose of the COVID-19 secondary schools vaccination programme is therefore to provide protection to the children who are vaccinated and to reduce the disruption to face to face education this winter. Educational benefits may include:

• reducing the chance of outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools

• avoiding absenteeism due to COVID-19 infection and for isolation

Common side effects

Very common side effects in the first day or 2 include:

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection
• feeling tired
• headache, aches and chills

Can parents refuse to have their child vaccinated?

Yes. The vaccination is not mandatory. Parents will be asked to give their consent for the vaccination. Children may express a wish to have the vaccine and may have the capacity to provide informed consent themselves. Parents should be encouraged to speak to their children ahead of time so that there is agreement on consent by the vaccination session.

What if my child doesn't attend school on that date?

For any children absent on the vaccination day, there will be catch-up arrangements in place that the SAIS provider team will be able to share with the school.

Give them Wings!

We are very lucky to be regular visitors to Wings - a charity based in Bideford, who offer alternative curriculum activities such as TRAX (Motor Mechanics) and Digital Media (Animation) to young people across North Devon.

The atmosphere is safe, calm, and above all, the focus is on helping to prepare our young people for life beyond school. 

Pictured here is Tristan - hard at work preparing for a respray on the TRAX project.

You can find out more about Wings by visiting www.wingscharity.com. 

Chair update

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all keeping well.

Welcome Back to the new school year to students, parents and carers and staff alike. I hope that you are feeling at least a little refreshed and that the beginning of the academic year is going well for you all.

We are being blessed with some lovely autumn days at the moment.  I find nature to be a great calming influence and when the current fuel crisis seems to be creating problems for us all, I remind myself that it will pass, and probably surprisingly quickly.  For our students, there is still much joy to be had in the simple pleasures in life, such 

as having a good teacher or learning something new at school.

So, take heart my friends and I wish you all the very best for a happy and successful school year.

Kind regards,

Dr Julie Smith

Chair of the Board

2021/22 term dates

Just a reminder that if you are planning a holiday, you can find our term dates by clicking the button below.