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.
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:
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:
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:
Some student comments included:
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.
Students and staff at Highsted Grammar School are celebrating another outstanding set of A-level results, with 70% of all grades awarded at A*-B and one-third of entries achieving the highest A*/A grades. The Headteacher praised the students’ commitment and resilience:
“We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements this year. These results reflect their hard work, dedication, and the support of our talented teaching staff. To see one in three grades as A*/A is a testament to their ability and determination.”
Many students will now be progressing to prestigious universities, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, with destinations including the University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and Kings’ College, London.
“Our students have shown not just academic excellence, but also the character and adaptability to thrive in challenging times. We wish them every success with the next stage of their journey.”
Highsted Grammar School is proud to announce an impressive set of GCSE results this summer, reflecting the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our students.
This year’s cohort achieved particularly strong outcomes in Science, Geography, Drama, History, and English, demonstrating both academic excellence and creativity across the curriculum.
The Headteacher commented, “This is a talented year group who have thrived as a community, supporting one another to achieve their best. Their success is testament not only to their ability and determination, but also to the commitment of their teachers and families.”
Building on the Next Steps event held in June, where alumni returned to inspire current students and highlight the bright future that lies ahead, our GCSE candidates are now well placed to move confidently into the next phase of their education.
We look forward to welcoming them into the Highsted Sixth Form, where they will continue to grow with the same ambition, determination, and community spirit that has defined their journey so far.
Each year in June, Highsted hosts its annual Open Day and welcomes over 100 Year 5 students from the surrounding areas, in our annual taster day! The theme in this report was High Seas and everyone really entered into the spirit of the day, teachers and students alike.
There were treasure hunts, map making and pirate drama galore, some of which can be seen in the pictures below.
As always, our current Year 7 pupils and new Head Girl team showcased the school brilliantly, acting as cheerful and helpful guides throughout the day and we would like to say a massive thank you to them for all their efforts!
We would also like to say a massive thank you to the Year 5 children and parents who participated in the day and made it a real success. We hope you enjoyed the day and hope to see you all in the future!
Each year in March we have been joined by members of the Sittingbourne Over-55 Fellowship group, who gathered in the school hall to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment.
The guests were treated to a variety of performances by the Highsted music department including the choir, wind band, the Origin and also several soloists. It was the debut performance of the Folk Band and Rock Band to members of the club as these groups were just formed this year. A number of GCSE students performed their compositions and had the opportunity to rehearse their assessed performance pieces.
Whilst watching and listening, the guests enjoyed cakes and biscuits cooked by the lower school students and were served hot drinks. The afternoon ended with an exciting raffle with many great prizes won.
The event was enjoyed by all and we look forward to hosting the concert again next year.
Isabel P was delighted to learn that she was the overall national winner in the PlaySafe competition.
Annually all Year 9 Design and Technology students submit exciting toy designs to this competition aimed at raising awareness of product safety and consumer protection. Her toy design was one over four hundred entries from the Kent area alone. Prizes were awarded at the time, but in May, just as the nexct year’s entry deadline approached, Isabel received an invitation from the Trading Standards Institute, the competition organisers, to a posh lunch and presentation in London including a ride on the London Eye.
Isabel, her parents and the Head of Design & Technology, were entertained at a restaurant overlooking the Thames by representatives from both TSI and the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA). The event included a speech from Ronald Earl, the Director General of the BTHA, who praised the quality of Isabel’s design and shared some amusing stories about some of the other entries. He also emphasised how important the TSI’s role is in protecting the public from faulty goods and rogue traders, as well as educating future consumers through competitions like Playsafe.
After lunch the party were given VIP treatment on the London Eye, with a personal guide and refreshments. During the ride Leon Livermore, Chief Executive of the TSI, presented Isabel with the winner’s certificate.
Well done to Isabel who proved a very worthy winner and ambassador for the school, as have other Highsted girls who have won other prizes in the competition over the years.
Highsted celebrated National Insect Week by holding a series of bug related events, including a showcase of all the weird and wonderful creatures in the Biology Department. Students are also holding a Creative Writing Competition, Art and Photography projects, plus an ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here’ style competition.
The Biology Department houses many spiders and other interesting insects that students look after, feed and care for in Animal Husbandry Club all year round.
So find your inner insect and make sure you join in the fun!
