Summer 2026

17 April – NEWSLETTER

EDITION 61

Head’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the summer term! I hope you and your families had a restful break.

We are already back in full swing this term with Year 10 GCSE and Year 13 A-level mocks underway. This week, we also welcomed Year 9 parents and students to support decisions in choosing their GCSEs. Students now have until 5 May to confirm their options; for your convenience the resources shared from the evening have been emailed to parents and can be found in the newsletter below.

Please enjoy this week’s news and updates from Highbury Fields.

Tim Fox
Headteacher

Sixth Form Success

Keianna leeds the way

Over the Easter holidays, Keianna in Year 12 was invited to the University of Leeds to attend their campus as part of the Leeds Futures Creative Arts programme, an initiative designed to inspire students considering creative degrees.

During her visit, Keianna took part in engaging taster lectures, practical workshops and a campus tour. Pictured left is a dress she created in a workshop surrounded by many other Sixth Formers considering a creative pathway into university.

The programme also offered valuable insight into student life, with opportunities to meet current undergraduates and explore specialist facilities.

We are so pleased that Keianna has taken up this opportunity over the holidays to explore her artistic passions as she considers her next steps with UCAS applications starting in the summer term.

Year 12 Work Experience

We are currently looking to secure work experience placements for our Year 12 students on 25th–26th June 2026.

Work experience provides students with invaluable insight into the workplace, helping them to develop employability skills and confidence. The experience plays a key role in supporting their transition into higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

If you can help the school source placements for our Sixth Formers, please email Ms Douse: rdouse@highburyfields.islington.sch.uk.

Trips and Enrichment Activities

Summer Clubs – starting 20 April

Summer term clubs start next week. If you have not yet signed up to a club, you can still sign up on Arbor under ‘Activities’. Some clubs may already be at capacity, but with such a vast and exciting offering this term, we encourage you to try something new!

Summer clubs timetable

uPCOMING Trips

sign up on Arbor Today so you don’t miss out

We have some fantastic trips lined up after half term. Scroll through the carousel below to see what’s in store for each Key Stage.

Parent volunteers needed

There are many trips coming up for which we are seeking parent volunteers. If you are willing to chaperone students on any of the following trips, please email rdouse@highburyfields.islington.sch.uk or call the school. The approximate time commitment is also included below:

Year 8 Hamilton trip: 23 April (1pm – 6pm)
Year 10 Noughts & Crosses Drama trip: 13 May (11am – 4:30pm)
Year 10 Neals Yard Dairy trip: 19th May (9am – 1:30pm)
Year 10 Imperial War Museum: 26 June (8:30am – 3:30pm)

Other news from across the school

GCSE Preferences evening

On Thursday we welcomed Year 9 parents and students to understand the next step on their academic journey: GCSE options.

Over the coming weeks, Year 9s must consider which subjects they would like to study and submit their preferences by Tuesday 5 May.

To support their decision making, there will be subject assemblies throughout next week (21 – 24 April) during which students will learn more about the courses and the future opportunities they will unlock. Please remember that if any students have questions or difficulties choosing their preferences, their form tutors and subject teachers are here to help.

GCSE Preferences Guide

Student Spotlights

Student Leader Spotlight: Meet Maryam

This week, we’re pleased to introduce you to our Head Girl – Maryam! Working closely with Deputy Head Girl, Lanetta, her areas of focus as a student leader are mental health, wellbeing and LGBTQ+. They lead and support the student leadership team, as well as advocating for mental wellbeing and the queer community.

What is a hobby or interest you enjoy outside of the classroom?
I play music, specifically bass guitar which I’ve been playing for around five years and I play in a few bands mainly jazz focused. Playing and listening to music go hand in hand so I love listening to music and I’m always excited to listen to different genres and groups. I’m open to recommendations so let me know if you have any cool sounds that I should check out!

Do you have any good book recommendations?
I recommend “Punching The Air” by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam. It’s written in verse, filled with beautiful illustrations and the story is really impactful. It follows an African American teenager who was wrongly accused of injuring a similarly aged white child, his trial, his time in a detention centre and the novel explores how art and being creative helps him through one of the hardest times of his life and how it can apply to ours.

Why do you think your area of focus is an important topic at Highbury Fields and in wider society?
My area of focus is on mental health, wellbeing and LGBTQ+ which are so closely linked as identity has a huge impact on our mental health. It’s important because huge barriers around mental health have lowered significantly over the last 10 years, yet many people are still suffering from poor mental health which has an impact on wellbeing or could stem from poor wellbeing. Secondary school is a time when we’re questioning ourselves, our identity, our friendships to try to gain a better understanding of ourselves and who we want to be. Lanetta and I aim to create a welcoming environment at school, where everyone can express themselves freely; this is our main focus for supporting the LGBTQ+ community, as well as encouraging mental health discussions in a safe, destigmatised space.

Share an inspirational quote or motto from a leader through history.
“We must dare to invent the future.” – Thomas Sankara, former revolutionary and president of Burkina Faso

Feature in our next Newsletter

We are always eager to share more stories about student success in our weekly newsletter.

Whether your child competes in regional swimming competitions, or volunteers in the local community, we would love to hear from you!

Submit a newsletter article

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ HFS Rewards ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Merit Awards

Congratulations to all students who achieved merit milestones in the last week of the spring term.

30 Merits
Form Tutor Merit
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Year 11: Ayo.

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60 Merits
Head of Year Merit

Year 10: Theadora
Year 11: Maleika and Miley.

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120 Merits
Headteacher Merit

Year 7: Lauren
Year 8: Soraya, Ajanta and Alice
Year 10: Marwa
Year 11: Dafina and Jamila.
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240 Merits
Board of Governors Merit

Year 7: Nina, Ed-Lynne, Ela , Martha, and Maeve
Year 8: Liv, Leen, Alice, Olimpia, Freya, Annabelle, Anna, Grace, Eleanor, and Ruby.
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Students of the week

This academic year, we have introduced ‘Students of the Week’ to recognise individuals who have demonstrated excellent commitment to learning and the community. Here are the successful students from the last week of the spring term:

Year 7
7/Chimamanda Adichie – Khaira
7/Frida Kahlo – Munira and Avana-Mae
7/Helen Sharman – Molly
7/Junko Tabei – Aisha and Ayla
7/Rosa Parks – Isra and Talyah
7/Winona LaDuke – Teayanna.

Year 8
8/Alicia Keys – Daisy and Alice
8/Jane Goodall – Ayvah
8/Margaret Atwood – Seyma
8/Marie Curie – Mumtaz
8/Nawal El-Saadawi – Sabrin and Liyana
8/Serena Williams – Somaiya.

Year 9
9/Barbara Hepworth – Asya
9/Helen Keller – Zikra and Asha-Rose
9/Katherine Johnson – Retaje
9/Maya Angelou – Claudia
9/Olga Korbut – Rebeka
9/Wangari Maathai – Amelia.

Year 10
10/Jacqueline Du Pré – Yasmin
10/Kadambini Ganguly – Alya
10/Mae Jemison – Mia and Ela
10/Nicola Adams – Nati
10/Sylvia Earle – Intra.

Year 11
11/Ada Lovelace – Christina.

Sixth Form
Year 12 – Amelia
Year 13 – Amina.

Our Parent Community

Spotlight on: Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month has been held in April for the last 33 years. London Waiting Room has many resources that can help you to take a moment, understand your stress triggers, and develop coping strategies to prevent burnout. Find out more and find resources below.

Information and resources