Highdown School
and Sixth Form Centre
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Welcome to Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre serving the communities of Caversham and Emmer Green to the north of Reading, Berkshire.
Headteacher, Rachel Cave
- 10AugA-Level Results Issued
- 12AugSixth Form Enrolment
- 12AugGCSE and L1/2 Results Issued
- 02SepYear 7 Transition Day/Induction Day 1 [Week B]
- 03SepYear 7 Induction Day 2 [Week B]
- 03SepYear 12 Induction Day
- 03SepYear 11 Academic Mentoring Meetings [by invitation only]
- 03SepYear 13 PPE Retakes
- 06SepAll students start school at 8.40am [Week A timetable]
- 08SepInternational Literacy Day
- 08SepYear 8 Excellence Evening
- 09SepYear 11 Art trip to Kew Gardens
- 09SepYear 13 'Pathways' Evening
- 13SepYear 7 MidYIS Aptitude tests
- 13SepYear 13 Geography residential visit to Wales
- 14SepYear 12 Welcome to the Sixth Form evening
- 15SepYear 9 Excellence Evening
- 16SepCelebration of Achievement
- 17SepSchool Photographer
- 20SepYear 10 KS4 Course Information Evening
- 23SepY10/11 Mensa tests
- 27SepYear 11 Geography urban fieldwork
- 29SepY13 Music practical
- 29SepPTA: AGM
- 30SepOpen Evening for prospective students/parents
- 01OctProfessional Learning Day: Academy closed to students
- 02OctYear 11 DofE Assessed Expedition
- 04OctOpen Morning 1 [pre-booked only]
- 06OctYear 7 Mentor Evening booking system opens
- 06OctYears 12/13 EGX trip
- 06OctOpen Morning 2 [pre-booked only]
- 07OctYear 11 Drama practical
- 08OctYear 8 MEP trip to London
- 08OctOpen Morning 3 [pre-booked only]
- 12OctYears 7/10 Settling in Review Report issued
- 13OctYear 13 Music Technology practical
- 14OctYear 7 Mentor Evening
- 15OctYear 9 MEP trip to London
- 18OctYear 11 Food NEA
- 18OctYear 12 Performing Arts trip to Corn Exchange
- 19OctYear 12 Settling in Review Report issued
- 20OctYear 12/13 Art visit to Oxford
- 21OctPerforming Arts Showcase/Rock Concert
- 22OctLast day of Term 1
- 22OctYear 12 Performing Arts visit to National Theatre
- 22OctPTA: Years 7/8 Disco
- 25OctAcademy Holiday
Academy Holiday
House Points
139848
Caversham Lions
135099
Grove Griffins
135549
Mapledurham Dragons
145002
Rosehill Red Kites
Another fantastic day at #SummerSchool with all students demonstrating our core value of excellence. Caversham were clear winners in our Escape Room Challenge this afternoon showing impressive problem-solving skills. Tomorrow is our final day for Summer School 2021. ☀
@HighdownSchool Jul 29Follow Us
Day 2 of #SummerSchool and well done to all our fabulous Summer School students for getting fully involved today. Our value of the day was, 'respect' and our students demonstrated this in spades. Photos to follow later this week
@HighdownSchool Jul 27Follow Us
We are very pleased to welcome our summer school students from today. Please arrive for a 9am start. We can't wait to meet you and get started with all our exciting activities #SummerSchool https://t.co/JrH7ISf9zk
@HighdownSchool Jul 26Follow Us
After a challenging year, Highdown wants to thank you all for your perseverance and phenomenal work. We wish you a restful summer holiday and enjoy the sunshine. See you in September! #summerholidays #weAREhighdown https://t.co/p3YNa6PFoZ
@HighdownSchool Jul 16Follow Us
https://t.co/AQFJVrnzd0 https://t.co/6dJT99Rxkz
@HighdownSchool Jul 09Follow Us
“The school has put in fantastic measures to protect staff and pupils during this extremely difficult time. ”
“Really grateful for the efforts of all staff - true normally, but especially true at the moment!”
“Thank you very much for giving up your week to give the Year 8s a wonderful experience in Rhos-Y-Gwaliau! It was really kind of you and, whilst I know you say that you had fun too, you did sacrifice your evenings and weekend time - so it is much appreciated!”
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to say how happy I am with the Sixth Form teaching staff who have made P’s A level exam experience so positive. She has been well prepared and supported and has been able to approach each exam with a degree of confidence that has been lovely to see. Whatever the outcome in August, the exam experience has been a positive one for all of us.”
“I was bowled over by their positivity and each teacher seemed to know my daughter very well and gave supportive and constructive feedback.”
“I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks for all your efforts and an appreciation that such intervention sessions are for the students' benefit and are just part of what you teachers do that is over and above your standard working hours. ”
“We will always consider it our school and support it. We feel it is a beacon in our local community.”
“My son comes home from school buzzing from his lessons and informing me of the P points he has received.”
“I have a child off in self isolation and have been really impressed by the quick and quality turn around of class work and video lessons. Thanks for all the hard work. ”
“I just wanted to say a massive Well Done to Highdown and a big thank you to the fantastic Teachers that you have.”
“Thank you so much for hosting us at your lovely school”
“Attending radio extra-curricular club every Thursday after school is great fun and has boosted my confidence. Thank you.”
“We were thoroughly impressed by your school: the facilities, curriculum and staff, the beautiful setting and in particular the students”
“Students have strong relationships with their teachers.”
“I wanted to write to highlight the excellent behaviour I have observed among your pupils on their way to school. I am a Caversham resident and usually run three mornings a week. I regularly pass Highdown pupils on their way to school. When I have stepped aside to allow pupils to pass and to maintain a social distance, I have almost always been the recipient of a ‘thank you’. Likewise, pupils have politely stepped aside to allow me to pass. I was extremely impressed with both the politeness and understanding of the importance of social distancing observed by your pupils. A credit to your school – well done! ”
“Teaching has greatly improved since the previous inspection. It is now at least good across the school and students make good progress in a broad range of subjects.”
“Highdown makes school life as good as it could be”
“We used the Highdown School Radio equipment to create a sound effects podcast to enhance our A2 Drama examination performance. It was easy and fun to use. ”
“The behaviour of students is good. They are polite and courteous to each other and to adults. Students are punctual to their lessons and treat their school with respect.”
“You have many fine teachers at Highdown”
“Students are well presented and proud to members of the school community”
“Students feel safe and well looked after.”
“Teachers know their students well and use information about students’ progress to identify where students are underachieving. Additional help or support is then quickly provided to help these students to catch up.”
“The headteacher provides outstanding and determined leadership for this rapidly improving school.”
“Please pass on our immense thanks to all your wonderful teachers and support staff for your continued hard work, it is very much appreciated. ”
“Subject middle leaders have a very clear understanding of the impact of their subject on the overall outcomes for the school.”
“Pastoral middle leaders provide high quality support and guidance.”
“The school’s curriculum is broad and balanced.”
“‘’The strong leadership of the school was one of the reasons we wanted our son and future children to join. It is a fantastic school.’’ ”
“Thank you to all the teaching staff for looking after my daughter. She has had an amazing & memorable experience where she has made new friends and gained self-confidence. ”
“He will have gone away appreciating the professionalism of the Highdown staff and their commitment to improving the life chances of the young people at the school”
“I just loved meeting with your pupils. They were polite, cooperative, charming and interested – and I would happily have stayed all day talking to them!”
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of you for taking my son to Rhos-y-Gwaliau. He knows how fortunate he is to have teachers who are willing to take students away for a whole week on a challenging trip like this. ”
“Thank you all again for giving up your precious time to offer our young people the chance to challenge themselves in this way. We can only imagine the amount of additional stress, organisation and hard work that goes into making a trip like this happen and we really appreciate it. ”
“I just wanted to congratulate you and your team for the very good Ofsted report and also for the excellent GCSE / A level results…. All excellent.”
“Thank you and to all the staff at Highdown for being such a great local school.”
“It continues to be a very tough and emotional year for all of our young people and for everyone working in the school. I cannot do anything other than to say I am so grateful for all that you are doing for them. ”
“This is just a quick message to say how much I appreciate my daughters being able to come into school as part of the Key Worker Bubble. This has made a massive difference to me being able to concentrate on my job secure in the knowledge that they are being well looked after and able to engage in their learning under the school's supervision.”
“For all staff - Thank you all for your professionalism, always getting the right tone and always putting the children first. We see it in every message. ”
“I have been extremely impressed with how the school has operated since September and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to react to the requirements placed on educational establishments at such short notice.”
“Thank you for all that you, the leadership team and the staff body are doing to keep the students safe and learning and also for keeping parents and carers well informed.”
“I would like also to thank you for all you and your staff have done to provide a nurturing learning environment for the students in these most difficult times”
“We were really happy to be in Highdown community and would like to convey all our gratitude to the Head teacher Mrs. Rachel Cave, to all brilliant teachers and to all wonderful school staff, who were and are so kind and helpful!”
“As a school you have been great, it’s much appreciated ”
