Author: Highsted_User

If you are you currently in Year 5 and ready to be a Highsted girl… then register for the Highsted Test!

Since September 2016, pupils seeking a place at Highsted Grammar School have been able to take an additional, optional test at the school in September. A selective assessment through the Highsted Test will have equal status for a place in Year 7 as a pass in the Kent Test. The assessment will comprise of:

• a computer-based test to assess verbal ability, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning;
• an English paper to assess reading and writing skills.

To take the Highsted Test, pupils must also have registered for the Kent Test.

The application period for this additional Admission route has now opened and will remain available until 4:00 pm on Wednesday 1 July 2026, for the September 2027 entry.

Please complete the application form via the link to Highsted Test Application Form or QR code on the Highsted Test poster below, no later than 4:00 pm Wednesday 1 July 2026.

Confirmation that you have registered your daughter for the Kent Test must be sent to HighstedTestApplicants@highsted.kent.sch.uk. Please note that applications cannot be accepted without this evidence.

Further information and advice is available by downloading the following documents:

• Full-sized copy of the Highsted Test poster
• Highsted Test Application Form 2026
• Supplementary Information Form
• Kent Test Evidence of Registration guidance

To order your tickets, use SIMS Parent Pay, or if you do not have access to this, please use the QR code or just click on the poster below:

Supporting Career Pathways During National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week has provided a valuable opportunity for schools to highlight the diverse and rewarding apprenticeship pathways available to students. This initiative allows subject areas to connect their academic curriculum with real-world vocational opportunities, ensuring students understand the wide range of progression options, both academic and vocational.

Bridging the Gap Between Subjects and Careers

Throughout the week, subject teachers have worked to highlight apprenticeship routes directly tied to their disciplines. Whether it’s in engineering, or business, students have been made aware of the apprenticeship opportunities relevant to their studies. By presenting these pathways, students gain a clearer understanding of how their classroom learning translates into exciting careers. This approach reinforces the idea that apprenticeships are a valuable alternative to university, offering students a hands-on, industry-based route to success.

Inspiring Success Stories with Pastoral Support

In addition to subject-based learning, our pastoral teams have played a crucial role by sharing inspiring apprenticeship case studies. These stories feature individuals who have thrived in their careers after choosing vocational routes, providing students with relatable examples of success.

A key focus has been on promoting female role models, especially in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). By showcasing women who have excelled in traditionally male-dominated industries, the school aims to challenge stereotypes and inspire young people, particularly girls, to explore careers they may not have previously considered.

Challenging Stereotypes and Broadening Aspirations

The emphasis on female role models in STEM is just one example of the school’s broader commitment to promoting equality and broadening students’ career aspirations. Apprenticeships offer opportunities for all students, regardless of gender, to explore a diverse range of fields and build successful careers. This focus on gender diversity encourages all students to see themselves in any career, breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive workforce for the future.

National Apprenticeship Week has helped to shine a light on the value of vocational education, and the school remains committed to supporting students in exploring every possible pathway to success, both academic and vocational. By providing the right guidance and inspiration, we ensure that all students have the knowledge and confidence to pursue the career of their dreams.

Summary of Activities within the Curriculum

To download our summary of activities undertaken throughout Apprenticeship Week, please follow this link.

Further to the success of the student careers panel in 2004, National Careers Week 2026 saw the relaunch of a new team of Student Ambassadors. These ambassadors shared valuable insights into their decision-making processes, including their subject preferences in Year 9, their GCSE outcomes, and how these informed their A-level choices and future career pathways.

A group of 16 ambassadors, divided into three specialist teams, focused on careers in STEM, Performing Arts, and the Humanities. Over three consecutive weeks, the panels met with students during Friday breaktimes, offering guidance and answering questions from those students pursuing careers in these fields.

The programme concluded this week in Key Stage assemblies, to students in Years 7-11, where ambassadors reflected on the most common and thought-provoking questions they had received.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our 16 Sixth Form Student Ambassadors for their enthusiasm and commitment in leading these panels. Special thanks go to Helena L for expertly hosting all three sessions and the final assemblies.

Breaktime STEM Student Panel

During Pride in STEM Week, STEAM teachers across the school shared with students why they are proud not only to be part of the Highsted community, but also to belong to the wider STEM community. The week highlighted the importance of visibility, inclusion, and belonging within science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

This celebration was linked to the charity Pride in STEM, an inclusive global network of scientists and engineers who are proud of both who they are and what they do. Pride in STEM recognises that not everyone working in STEM fits the same mould, and it actively challenges outdated stereotypes about what scientists and engineers “should” look like.

The charity emphasises that it is becoming increasingly clear that embracing diversity in all its forms is essential for the future of innovation – both within science and in the wider world that depends so heavily on it. When different perspectives, experiences, and identities are valued, creativity and progress thrive.

Support for this inclusive movement can be seen across the UK, as schools, universities, and industries work together to create environments where everyone feels welcome and valued.

At the heart of every strong community is a shared sense of belonging. By supporting one another, celebrating differences, and championing inclusion, communities not only grow – but truly achieve and thrive.

Welcome to your new magazine, designed to explore the exciting and creative world of STEAM! STEAM is the brand-new magazine from High Flyers, and looks at Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics in an imaginative and inspirational way to help primary school pupils develop their passion for learning across the curriculum. To download your personal copy, just follow the links and click on the cover page of our very first edition.

Celebrating Computer Science Week: Looking Back, Leaping Forward

Our school celebrated Computer Science Week 2025 during the second week in December, embracing the theme ‘Looking Back, Leaping Forward.’  The week highlighted the importance of Computer Science in developing creativity, problem-solving, and the skills needed for the future. It encourages students to see Computer Science not just as coding, but as a powerful way of thinking that supports modern society.

Students across the school took part in a range of activities to mark the occasion. Students in Years 7 & 8 created imaginative and interactive Scratch animations, showcasing futuristic worlds where technology and people work together.

Students from all year groups also enjoyed a Binary Christmas Challenge: decoding a festive message and exploring how binary and secret codes are used in real-world problem solving, much like the challenges run by GCHQ.

During Green Careers Week, students across the school came together for an assembly designed to raise aspirations, support diversity, challenge stereotypes, and highlight exciting career opportunities that can genuinely make a difference to our world.

The assembly focused on the growing importance of green skills – the abilities, attributes, values, attitudes, knowledge, and technical expertise needed to adapt services, processes, and industries in response to climate change. These skills are no longer optional; they are becoming essential in every sector of employment.

What Are Green Careers?

A green career is any job, role, or occupation that contributes to preserving or restoring the environment and protecting our planet. Importantly, green careers are not limited to traditionally ‘green’ industries such as renewable energy or conservation. In fact, every industry can be green.

Green Careers Week highlighted how sustainability is about preserving the resources we rely on today for future generations. Whether working in technology, healthcare, construction, finance, media, or education, sustainability now plays a role in shaping how businesses operate and grow.

Green Skills Across Every Industry 

Students learned that green skills are closely linked to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), but they are also valuable in creative, business, and service-based roles. Employers increasingly look for individuals who can think sustainably, innovate responsibly, and adapt to a changing world.

Real-World Examples

Well-known organisations are already leading the way. For example, Sky, a major TV and broadband provider, demonstrates that even large media and technology companies have a vital role to play in reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices.

Students also heard about OVO Energy, an organisation often associated with green careers. OVO emphasised that green skills are needed across all industries – not just those traditionally viewed as environmentally focused – reinforcing the message that everyone can contribute.

Find Out More

Students interested in exploring green careers further can access individual case studies on SharePoint under Careers and Guidance. These resources showcase real people, real jobs, and real pathways into careers that support a sustainable future.

We are delighted to celebrate our students’ success in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge, an international competition that promotes computational and logical thinking skills, organised by Oxford University, in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and involving students from over 50 countries worldwide.

The Bebras Challenge delivers a series of fun, engaging, and thought-provoking problems, for which students do not require any prior programming knowledge. They use creativity, logic, and problem-solving skills to resolve their challenges.

Our students in Years 7 to 9 took part in the challenge during November 2025, completing a variety of timed problems. We are proud to recognise their achievements, with many earning Merit and Distinction awards. Students who placed in the top 25% nationally received a Distinction, while those in the top 50% were awarded a Merit.

Every student who participated received a certificate in recognition of their enthusiasm and effort. Additionally, students who achieved a Gold Certificate will represent the school in the next stage of the Bebras Challenge. Congratulations to all involved on their excellent achievements!

In November 2025, more than 500 students swapped their usual classrooms for something a little different – a buzzing Careers Fair at Building 500, Discovery Park, Sandwich. It was a day packed with ideas, inspiration and plenty of “I didn’t know you could do that!” moments.

Students in Years 9 and 10 from the following schools attended:

• Borden Grammar School;
• East Kent College;
• Fulston Manor School;
• Highsted Grammar School;
• The Sittingbourne School.

In total, 577 students explored what their future could look like.

The Careers Fair brought together 30 different career areas, with 60 representatives from businesses, universities and public services. From healthcare and engineering to finance, education, travel and the armed forces, there was something for everyone.

Students were able to:

• Chat directly with employers and universities;
• ask questions about subjects, grades and qualifications;
• discover career paths they may never have considered before.

Many students said this was the best part of the day, being able to speak to real people doing real jobs.

Alongside the exhibition, students from Highsted Grammar School and The Sittingbourne School attended a 30-minute apprenticeship presentation in the Lawrence Suite by Department for Work and Pensions – Marie Colgan and the University of Kent – Kieayna Shodeinde-Colverson. These sessions helped students understand how apprenticeships work and how they can combine learning with earning.

Feedback from students was extremely positive:

• The event scored 8.5 out of 10 for usefulness;
• 81% said it would help them choose GCSE or A-level options;
• many described the day as inspiring, interesting and engaging.

Some student comments included:

• “Loved it.”
• “Interesting to visit individual stalls and discuss careers.”
• “Good experience and a lot of information.”
• “It was amazing.”
• “Kind people.”

Students particularly valued learning about entry requirements and understanding how their subject choices link to future careers.

A Big Thank You 

The Careers Fair was fully funded by Vattenfall, whose generous sponsorship made the event possible. Thanks also go to all the exhibitors who gave their time to inspire the next generation.