T his week my collective assemblies have focused on positive relationships – and in particular how positive

people have influenced my personal and professional development over time hoping that these insights would provide students with some food for thought. I have shared with the students (again!) my love of sport, and in particular, playing hockey. I shared with them my reflections on how having played club hockey for the same team for 20 years, when I moved house in 2018, I realised over Christmas this year, just how much I missed the sense of collective team spirit, as well as the physical and mental release playing sport gives you. As a result I have recently picked up my hockey stick again and have been really welcomed into the Bridlington Hockey squad - I am loving every minute! Although I must admit my legs are not so sure on a Sunday morning! I have also shared with students how important it is to not only have outlets for our mental and physical needs, but also how in the work place it is also important to have individuals who can challenge and support you in equal measure – something that may seem like a long way off for some of our students, but always worth planting a seed. Key individuals for me over my career have been: Mrs Wilkinson (Lead Practitioner – Science): Mrs Wilkinson and I met at Hull University and studied for a BSc in Aquatic Biology & Fisheries together. When we graduated she went straight into teaching in Hull and I worked in recruitment in Hull, Bridlington, Mansfield and Wakefield. After about five years, I decided to make the leap and train to be a teacher, and I was very lucky to have Mrs Wilkinson as my mentor. Along the way, Mrs

Wilkinson has always provided inspiration for me in the classroom, and always been someone to offer wise words in a very straightforward, direct way – in this job you certainly need it! Mrs Stamford (Deputy Head): When I started as headteacher at Headlands School, Mrs Stamford was Director of English. Never one to shy away from hard work or putting our students first, she has demonstrated she can turn her hand to any role in senior leadership from assessment, to curriculum, to teaching and learning, pastoral through to outcomes. Nothing fazes Mrs Stamford. Destined for headship, we decided to share an office about six months ago and have never looked back (or so I say!). Sharing an office means we can bounce ideas back and forth and ensure that if ever a child wants to see someone senior, our ‘door is always open, even if it is closed’. Mr Hirst (Chair of Governors): He is an excellent leader and listener. He continues to offer superb strategic insight and challenge to the Senior Leadership Team and I, as well as resolute determination to make sure Headlands School is truly a great school. As an ex-student and parent, the time and energy Mr Hirst has dedicated to our school and our students over the years cannot be underestimated. We are incredibly lucky to have him as our chair. Reverend Pollard (also School Governor): As a headteacher, as you can imagine most days involve making difficult, sometimes quite emotional, decisions. This isn’t always easy. I spoke to the students this week about the importance of having someone in our lives who we feel we can trust to listen, and not pass judgement. Reverend Pollard continues to be this person for me – offering counsel – but never direction or advice – is a difficult role to fill. Reverend Pollard, in my view, appears to do this with ease, and for that I am very grateful.

T he above are to name but a few. I think it is worth not-ing that our school governors dedicate a huge

amount of personal time to strategically lead the school – all unpaid. Mrs Isham (Vice-Chair), in particular ,spends a great deal of time in school during the working day, overseeing and supporting the work of the Student Services and Support for Learning teams. A big thank you on behalf of the staff, students and parents to Mrs Isham for all your hard work and dedication, it does not go unnoticed. The view I wanted to make to the students this week was that it was important for them to consider who they could trust to help guide them both today, and in the future, to make positive choices. As we know, family, friends, work colleagues may come and go, but certainly in my experience, the good ones are the ones who offer us both support and challenge in equal measure. They are people who won’t give in to you, or give up on you, when things don’t go quite as we have planned.

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest

of the world walks out.” I ended this week in Birmingham at the 160th Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Council Meeting, representing Yorkshire & Humber, where the main themes will be technology in education and the “middle tier” and the role stakeholders have in taking collective responsibility for our society’s most vulnerable children. Here I intend to share with colleagues from across the country the positive work we have done in partnership with The Aspire Academy to create a “school within a school” in the form of The ARC and The Cove.

Until next time,

Sarah Bone

Ms Woodward took this photo of the Humber Bridge from the train as she travelled to Leeds for a course this week. Email your pictures of the local area to john.edwards@ headlandsschool. co.uk and see if yours is chosen in future editions.

Headlands School is the best in the East Riding when it comes to ensuring a bright future for students, according to the new figures released by the Department of Education this week.

Its secondary school league tables showed that 99% of 16-year-olds remained in education or went into employment after completing GCSEs at Headlands in 2017- the highest percentage in the area.

The data also showed 42% of students last year gained a Grade 5 or above in Maths and English.

#TeamHeadlands scored 47 (above the national average) in the Attainment 8 category, based on how well pupils have performed in up to eight qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other approved qualifications.

The half term holiday is from Monday, February 17th to Friday, February 21st. School reopens on Monday, February 24th.

The Easter holidays run from Monday, April 6th to Friday, April 17th.

Tickets are selling fast for the Headlands School production of Bugsy Malone, which will be staged from Wednesday, February 26th to Saturday, February 29th.

They are on general sale now, priced at £7 for adults and £5 for concessions. Snap one up before they are all gone.

Do you want to join Team Headlands? We are currently advertising for exam invigilators, two science teachers, a learning tutor and a cover supervisor. Full details are on the school website.

There are only four places remaining on the fantastic PGL water sports trip to the south of France in summer 2021.

Deposit letters are available now from the PE department.

A new Book Club for Year 7, 8 and 9 students starts next Tuesday.

It will be held in Room 11 during lunch (1.05pm to 1.40pm)

See Miss Diamond for more details.

All of our Year 8 students enjoyed a brilliant performance of Steps To Success on Monday, which showed them the range of options available to them after they finish their GCSEs. Thanks to the Performance in Education team from the University of Hull for coming into school and putting on such an entertaining show.

Headlands’ under 13 girls football team showed great effort in Beverley last Thursday but just came up short in a competitive match with Longcroft School.

The #TeamHeadlands U15s join our U13s as Hull and East Yorkshire Indoor Cricket champions as they stayed undefeated and enjoyed a thrilling last-ball victory over South Hunsley in the final.

Twenty-two Headlands students from years 7 to 10, took part in the Yorkshire Milano team gymnastics competition on Saturday.

This involved each student taking part in an individual floor, vault and a group routine.

The girls, and Toby as the only boy, have been training relentlessly since September to get their routines finished, which they choreo-graphed themselves including the group routines and difficult balance lifts.

This year, Headlands had six teams competing, including three under 13 girls teams, two under 16 girls teams and an under 16 mixed team.

The top two scoring teams in each category qualified for the National Schools competition, which will be held in Stoke on Friday, March 13th – and Headlands will be represented.

U13 Girls: Team 1 – Connie Melles, Izzy Gregory and Millie Beresford – The girls

finished third but because the top two spots were taken by teams from Sheffield High School for Girls, the Headlands girls qualified as each school can only send one team to the finals.

Team 2 – Lily Hodgson, Kelsie Atkin, Lucy Croft – finished fourth and Team 3 – Grace Day, Adrienne Collins, Lucy Jordan and Ruby Smith – were ninth.

PE teacher Mrs Hoult said: “It was a tough competition with 11 teams in total and a wide variety of

experience, over half of our gymnasts were com-petiting for Headlands for the first time.

“Our Team 1 were only one point from second place with our Team 2 only a point-and-a-half behind them.”

In the under 16s competitions, Headlands Team 1 – Alexis Hellewell, Sienna Collinson and Ellie Hughes – took fifth place, and Team 2 – Lexie McCaw, Jessie Hoggart and Sian Beswick – were third.

Mrs Hoult added: “The under 16 competition was one of the hardest competitions we have ever attended with two schools who have gymnasts that are currently part of the junior Olympic squad.

“The standard was that high and the routines were a pleasure to watch – our girls Team 2 was only three points behind second place.

“This is a massive achievement with our Team 1 only three points behind them. It was a very, very close competition.”

Sian Beswick was the second highest scoring girl in the combined event (floor and vault) in the under 16 event.

Headlands’ U16 Mixed team – Toby Gee, Emily Wilkinson and Lily Voase – finished in second place behind their rivals King Egbert’s School – but have qualified for the nationals finals.

The next competition for Team Headlands is the Yorkshire Floor and Vault competition on Sunday, March 1st.