InterHigh School's 15/16 Academic Year

Thank You

We have arrived at the last day of term of the 15/16 academic year and I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone associated with Interhigh School for their contribution this year and thus far in the school's history.
You'll notice I call it a school, for that's what it is, not distance learning, not remote learning, not home education, not virtual learning but an online school that is looking to become a recognised outstanding independent school.

I'd like thank and congratulate all the PUPILS who have made great progress this year.
You have often shown courage and resilience where you thought you had none. You have supported your classmates and some of you have reached milestones that you never thought possible, well done. Please take a moment to turn and thank your parents for affording you this very unique opportunity. If you are leaving school this year we will miss you, but we wish you all the very best on your continuing journey. Please do keep in touch and if we can be of any assistance in the future please do not hesitate to contact us, thank you.

I'd like to thank all the wonderful STAFF of Interhigh for their continual dedication and commitment to the School and for supporting its young students in their learning and progress. They never give up on anyone and are always at the ready to make learning fun with inspirational lessons and teaching, thank you. Administrative, Technical and Support staff continually make sure everything runs smoothly and they keep a happy working school, thank you.



I'd like to thank all the PARENTS and families of Interhigh for their support. We value the very significant part you play and your positive contributions always serve to motivate us further. The assistance and feedback you willingly provide is always invaluable, thank you.
We also benefit from the support of many education authorities, schools and organisations that support young people.

It's a great team effort and I'm looking forward to Interhigh School's 12th academic year. We have lots of improvements that we plan to make and with everyone's contribution we will realise our very ambitious vision.
See you there

Jacqueline Daniell

InterHigh School's 15/16 Academic Year

Thank You

We have arrived at the last day of term of the 15/16 academic year and I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone associated with Interhigh School for their contribution this year and thus far in the school's history.
You'll notice I call it a school, for that's what it is, not distance learning, not remote learning, not home education, not virtual learning but an online school that is looking to become a recognised outstanding independent school.

I'd like thank and congratulate all the PUPILS who have made great progress this year.
You have often shown courage and resilience where you thought you had none. You have supported your classmates and some of you have reached milestones that you never thought possible, well done. Please take a moment to turn and thank your parents for affording you this very unique opportunity. If you are leaving school this year we will miss you, but we wish you all the very best on your continuing journey. Please do keep in touch and if we can be of any assistance in the future please do not hesitate to contact us, thank you.

I'd like to thank all the wonderful STAFF of Interhigh for their continual dedication and commitment to the School and for supporting its young students in their learning and progress. They never give up on anyone and are always at the ready to make learning fun with inspirational lessons and teaching, thank you. Administrative, Technical and Support staff continually make sure everything runs smoothly and they keep a happy working school, thank you.



I'd like to thank all the PARENTS and families of Interhigh for their support. We value the very significant part you play and your positive contributions always serve to motivate us further. The assistance and feedback you willingly provide is always invaluable, thank you.
We also benefit from the support of many education authorities, schools and organisations that support young people.

It's a great team effort and I'm looking forward to Interhigh School's 12th academic year. We have lots of improvements that we plan to make and with everyone's contribution we will realise our very ambitious vision.
See you there

Jacqueline Daniell

InterHigh School's 15/16 Academic Year

Thank You

We have arrived at the last day of term of the 15/16 academic year and I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone associated with Interhigh School for their contribution this year and thus far in the school's history.
You'll notice I call it a school, for that's what it is, not distance learning, not remote learning, not home education, not virtual learning but an online school that is looking to become a recognised outstanding independent school.

I'd like thank and congratulate all the PUPILS who have made great progress this year.
You have often shown courage and resilience where you thought you had none. You have supported your classmates and some of you have reached milestones that you never thought possible, well done. Please take a moment to turn and thank your parents for affording you this very unique opportunity. If you are leaving school this year we will miss you, but we wish you all the very best on your continuing journey. Please do keep in touch and if we can be of any assistance in the future please do not hesitate to contact us, thank you.

I'd like to thank all the wonderful STAFF of Interhigh for their continual dedication and commitment to the School and for supporting its young students in their learning and progress. They never give up on anyone and are always at the ready to make learning fun with inspirational lessons and teaching, thank you. Administrative, Technical and Support staff continually make sure everything runs smoothly and they keep a happy working school, thank you.



I'd like to thank all the PARENTS and families of Interhigh for their support. We value the very significant part you play and your positive contributions always serve to motivate us further. The assistance and feedback you willingly provide is always invaluable, thank you.
We also benefit from the support of many education authorities, schools and organisations that support young people.

It's a great team effort and I'm looking forward to Interhigh School's 12th academic year. We have lots of improvements that we plan to make and with everyone's contribution we will realise our very ambitious vision.
See you there

Jacqueline Daniell

New InterHigh Scholarships awarded to Student Ambassadors

InterHigh's Student Ambassadors

 

We might not be half way through September yet, but the School year is already in full swing bringing lots of bustle in all areas of the School platform and also in the InterHigh Head Office.  With a new school year comes, new students, and for five excited InterHigh pupils, new roles as student ambassadors.

 Firstly, InterHigh would like to offer congratulations to our new student ambassadors on their selection.  They have all worked very hard, and their new roles is acknowledge of this.  In recognition of all of this, the ambassadors have all been awarded a partial-scholarship for the upcoming academic year.

 The ambassadors were selected on a basis of their attendance, homework completion and high levels of activity in classes and common rooms as well as their general attitude throughout their time in InterHigh.  It was felt that the students who were selected to become ambassadors were representative of the ethos of InterHigh as a whole.  Following their selection as ambassadors it is expected that continue to display these exemplary traits.

 In their role as ambassadors, these students will share their experiences of InterHigh, be available to offer advice to their fellow pupils and continue to contribute to the InterHigh community.  Whether you’re a new student or an existing one, feel free to contact any of the ambassadors.  Our new ambassadors will be taking an active role in life at InterHigh, so keep your eyes open for them.

The student ambassadors for 2015/16

InterHigh Weekend 2015 - 10 years of InterHigh

InterHigh pupils can do anything

 

 We have returned from this years InterHigh weekend and have at last completed the back breaking job of unpacking and sorting for safe storage ready to  use at next years event if appropriate . It is inevitable that during this process while sifting through feedback forms, drawings, notes, pictures, lost property, remains of tickets, decorations, balloons and role call schedules that a wonderful story appears. All this luggage, equipment, supplies and debris creates a replay of the weekend and a sense of what that particular InterHigh weekend was all about starts to emerge. There are always catch phrases that take on a life of their own and I think 'love, it love, it love it' is certainly up there in the top 3 this time and, yes, we certainly did love it.

 Before the weekend began I had had a few concerns. On paper the numbers were less then I'd anticipated for the decade celebrations and would this ultimately affect the group dynamic?  Allocating rooms a few weeks before is always the single most difficult job to get right. Our venue is a boarding school and has a mixture of boarding houses with single rooms and boarding houses with large multi bedded dorms. If we ask for a house to be used then we must fill it to make the cost of heating and servicing worth while. Some students naturally wish to share a room with a specific friend. Others prefer to be with their family and young siblings need to be with a parent. The numbers this year were such that we required  3 houses and there would be no room for manoeuvre - ie some 110 weekenders to occupy 110 beds in set combinations - what are the chances of this being a success!! Added to this was the concern that we might have gone a little too far this time. We're always pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in two days, but to host a family fun night; quiz; bingo; run 4 full activity courses; hold a formal dinner; put on a play; display the student talent and awards presentations might just be a step too far. Not sure if they'll 'love it, love it love it. I'd also ignored the fact that head office staff would be temporarily depleted because the School Manager would be on maternity leave. Nevertheless, the excitement was building among the students as the programme of events unveiled, the "yes, we can do anything" attitude was infectious so plans continued. I held meetings with the proposed course leaders and explained to the leader of Food Craft that we'd like to make some exotic drinks, canapes, nibbles, hors devours, cakes and sweets for everyone to enjoy on Sunday morning. I got one of those looks that suggested I might be a very unreasonable person so I just pretended that it was an everyday kind of request and hinted it should be quite simple to achieve. The meeting with the Leader of Creative Design had a similar feel. I wanted a very large permanent piece of Art created to commemorate the Interhigh School Decade. She asked how long they had, I enthusiastically declared that it would be t least 4 hours, maybe even more. The meeting with the Director of the Drama Course didn't go so well! You cant possibly put on a play with 4 hours rehearsal time - no. I didn't quite know how to engage him further so just explained that InterHigh pupils can do anything.

 

The countdown to the weekend had begun and every time I saw the ticking timer on the school login I began to feel a rising sense of panic, that is until after I'd logged in and talked to pupils and their positivity, willingness and support soothed everything. I was asking a lot though, was this really possible? Could this be a disaster? I thought about going back to the Director of Drama and telling him he might be right.

 

The reality was that this year we had more visiting InterHigh teachers at the Weekend than ever before and the balance of InterHigh students and staff was a great one. Everyone could have relaxing fun together and spend time cementing the already strong bonds. Older students led the way and encouraged new InterHighers to get the most out of their weekend. New friendships blossomed and old friendships re-ignited. Everyone took delight in the very cutting edge games - noughts and crosses, snakes and ladders, quoits and skittle to name but a few! It really felt like a very large extended family gathering at times. Parents too could share experiences, chat freely with staff or spend some free time in the Brecon Beacons National Park grateful that their children were having fun independently. The food craft pupils got hard into work and within half an hour the room had filled with delicious smells and the buzz and professionalism of a top kitchen with a team of chefs. The creative designers planned strategically and used local as well as personal influences to stimulate their thoughts, it had the urgency, joie de vie and creative dynamic of a busy design office. The pupils on the sport course immediately demonstrated their willingness to test not only core strength and balance, which are attributes one might easily associate with sport, but also social dexterity in rearranging themselves in various different orders, like height or age, all within the confines of a very narrow form bench which they couldn't leave. All in all we witnessed leadership and teamwork skills that any top HR providers would find difficult to replicate. The drama group had organised their own costumes and had a Stage Manager who organised props, entrances, exits as well as arranging stage lighting. As we watched the Director block scenes which were  enabling the cast to bring the script to life I realised the audience would all  be behind these people and so having to use scripts or prompts really wouldn't be an issue - I'll return to this thought.

 

Towards the end of Saturday it was evident that we'd all had a great deal of fun and the weekend was already speeding by far too quickly. Those who had just visited for the day had already felt they had been part of something very special and unique that is the trademark of InterHigh School. The curtain rose on the 'impossible' play and in disbelief we watched a witty, sensitive and often hilarious production with not a script in site and certainly no prompt required. The audience 'love it, love it, love it'. InterHigh pupils obviously can do anything. The after show party exhibited a display of the very best of human characteristics: integrity, emotion and self confidence.

 

It was time for the Sunday presentations. The creative designers revealed a remarkable piece of art  that truly stunned everyone. We instantly took the decision that this would take pride of place in Interhigh head office meeting room to be displayed for posterity. After the awards were announced the sports group gave us the Haka providing a very fitting end to the general recognition of prowess. On leaving the auditorium we were able to sample the culinary delights of the food craft team. The food was exquisite, beautifully presented and very professionally served. What an exceptional Interhigh Weekend this had turned into.

 

So we started the packing away as families were beginning to leave and it had all been over too soon. Farewells are always happy and sad at these weekends but we knew it had been at least as distinctive and memorable  as any other. It was time for our host to do her debriefing and for us to check out. Then it came....

"Jacqui I really loved the play last night, how long did it take them to rehearse that?"

"Four hours"

"What? our students rehearse for at least two terms and no production has ever been as good as that"

Interhigh pupils can do anything.

 

Jacqueline Daniell

Co Founder Interhigh Education

Making Education Inclusive

Separate and Unequal - Are the pioneers being punished?

The internet is so accepted as an integral part of our daily life that it’s hard to remember a time when we didn’t look on line for information and use a variety of services to help us in so many ways: checking our bank statements; comparing prices; assessing what illness our symptoms may be the cause of; so the internet rules with confidence, that is until you come to education. Secondary school education, in particular.

On line high schools are an established feature of education in the United States and other industrialised countries - arguably the long standing Australian School of the Air has been a form of distance learning for many generations. Such on line schools would appear to sit comfortably beside physical schools and provide a full curriculum of education in core subjects for those children in remote areas; who are chronically ill; who have severe anxiety and for whatever reason have failed to thrive in regular schools.  Not so in Britain, where programmes by online providers are viewed with suspicion and where efforts to gain equal access for examinations are blocked at every turn.

On line schools in Britain deliver the curriculum with the aid of modern software which allows staff and students to interact with each other and to sit GCSEs and A levels, as private candidates in the areas where they live. Often such schools teach overseas pupils who want to benefit from the Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 education system though they are not located in this country. The online teaching provided is not considered as a school according to some Exam Boards who refuse to accredit these institutions. With this refusal comes a denial of access to schemes of work and to material designed to help students - in brief- discrimination against pupils who are not seen as conforming by attending physical school.  This is a strange attitude to adopt when many higher educational establishments are delivering courses on line, think of the Open University, an institution with impeccable credentials.

Such refusals by the exam boards to give on line students access, goes against their published policies of quality and inclusion; Cambridge International Examination states in its specification documents that: “Cambridge International Examinations has taken great care in the preparation of this syllabus and assessment materials to avoid bias of any kind. To comply with the UK Equality Act (2010), Cambridge has designed this qualification with the aim of avoiding direct and indirect discrimination”

An AQA subject website declares: “We speak to teachers every day, from every type of school, and are proud of the support we give schools”

Cambridge International again: “The standard assessment arrangements may present unnecessary barriers for candidates with disabilities or learning difficulties. Arrangements can be put in place for these candidates to enable them to access the assessments and receive recognition of their attainment.”

Laudable policies; such a pity they don’t extend to online schools and their students.

Frustrated Head of Curriculum and Learning

Internet schooling results

Past Pupil Survey
January 2015

After 10 years of running the UK's first complete online secondary school it was time to find out what happens to these possibly "troubled adults".

So we survey past pupils to find out what happened once they left Interhigh School.

• 86% stayed in education
• 22% continued to A levels
• 5% gained a degree
• 2% gained a post graduate degree
• 20% of degrees were a first class honours degree
• 65% are still in education

All we really want to say is  - Not a lot of trouble there then!

Jacqueline Daniell
Director of Development

Quality Standard

ISO 9001 External Audit February 2015

".......This is a well written Quality Management System which was amended after pre-assessment and stage 1, the documentation is up to date and well controlled with comprehensive internal audits completed, quality objectives have been set and are being monitored, these will be available next audit, the policies and procedures are well written with a process flow chart which is being followed correctly, the data protection information is very secure and traceability throughout the process is excellent, overall this was a very good audit showing the continual commitment of the staff."

Lead Auditor ISOQAR

Paris Shootings

Paris Shootings

InterHigh staff and students  send support and sympathy to the people of France after the  appalling tragedy of the Paris shootings.

As a school, we practise and promote international tolerance amongst our students who come from many different ethnic groups and faiths. We see on a daily basis, the friendship and support which our students and staff extend to each other and which promotes education in its fullest sense.

We stand with the people of France at this sad time and hope that the values of our school can in some way radiate out to the wider world communities.

InterHigh School

My First InterHigh Weekend

                                                            My Interhigh Weekend
  

Thursday 10th of April.

I arrived at Christ College Brecon feeling apprehensive but quite exited at the prospect. Will anyone want to do the Performance Class after the first session?? They may spend a short time and realise they would rather do something else instead. Being introduced to everyone is always nerve jangling as I am quite a shy person but everyone made me feel at ease and even followed my volume control conducting! That's always a great start.  YUMMY Dinner sets up the evening and feeling strong we stepped into the Studio to see who we would be working with. 25 students raring to go even after a long journey, jet lag and full tummies, perfect and just what Emma,Gareth and I were hoping for. Made sure everyone could count to 5 forwards and backwards, and sing in tune too which helps and also realised someone wasn't very good at guessing age`s. Although it was very kind thinking I was 34. Time to finish for the end evening already after Emma had weaved her magic and made everyone tired with her routines. I was shattered just watching.    

 

                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 11th.

Day before the show!!!! How will we fit in 3 songs, and 3 dances into 1 day. Just a minute this is Inter High.. they can do magic. Ok let's get into it. Sing dance relax sing dance relax, lunch sing dance relax sing dance send the musical director off to the Studio to rehearse the Flash Mob.. ssshhhh!!Don't tell the students, but Liz I am rubbish at keeping secrets, it's ok you won't have time to tell them! Back to the theatre, how are the show cast learning so quickly... because it's Inter High. They can do magic!!! Dinner, one to learn. Oh my God a penguin in my parlour, 10 minutes and its learned. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THESE INCREDIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ON BOARD TODAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. There have been tears of absolute joy and pride from certain members of the teaching staff ready, I was ok of course I just had something in my eye... on several occasions. Especially listening to the solos I am sure it's in my breifcase somewhere is a great way to cover tears of joy and pride, I hope! Time for bed, still a few words to be learned  wonder if the performers will do their homework??? No need to ask that question, this is InterHigh they just do it. I certainly need my bed after the excitement and hard work of today. How do they keep going. Emma, Gareth and I have asked for so much and the students have just given it in bucket loads. 

     

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday12th                                             

SHOW TIME!!! Saturday's here already. Ok John no tears today we have lots to do, enter Razzle Dazzle and Frazzled!!!! Can they really pull this off, yes you guessed it .... of course they can, this is InterHigh. Tech run, where's this track where's the Mic more light here we can't see, Tech crew sorting sound and lights, backstage flying around like roadies at a rock gig. Costumes being made buttons patches all sorts. On stage do this do that stand there sing louder smile etc etc. InterHigh students ok ok ok ok no problems yes John yes Emma yes yes yes!!!! Why are they panicking????? Well done everyone go get lunch!! Maybe I can eat something now having been unable to eat breakfast.... struggled but had a little bit. Pizza it is then. Dress rehearsal. Little chat. Oh and an impromptu duet with Alex. And here we go!!!! Well says Gareth, that went rather well. What did you expect.... ok you know the rest, this is----------, home to try make myself look smart really exited by what is about to happen........... everyone looks ready all technical prep done. Enter dressing room for last talk producer filling up M.D leaving room to check all prepared, what do you mean awe they are both crying, we had something in our eyes! AND HEAR WE GO!!!!! One FANTASTIC performance and another and another, we are really about to give a little love, where did that time go. Wow that was fantastic. Interval, and Razzle Dazzle em!!! Another wow from me and the audience. Time for a quick toot ready for the finale. Just a minute some of the parents are on the stage they think it's all over. Not quite yet, two to go. Amazing dance routine and here comes that Penguin again. InterHigh School get a standing ovation!!!!!!!!!!! And fully deserved too.   

   

 

                                      

So students I will now share this with you, what you did and the way you did it I really didn't think possible!!! You made your teachers and staff look on in amazement as you performed supported back stage and with the technical aspect and the fab costumes. I was so proud to have been part of something so special. To watch you all give your everything you had and more, never once did I hear a moan or anyone make a negative comment. You all were an absolute credit to not only your school but to YOURSELVES… I have worked with youth groups for many years, and have never worked with a group who gave so much. You amazed the audience and your teachers and staff. Please remember what you have accomplished on InterHigh school weekend and be proud of it. You will all hold a very special place in my memory and my heart and if I am lucky I may even get to work with you again one day. Good luck to each and every one of you in whatever you do. You have all been amazing to work with.                                                        

I have learned something this weekend and hope you all remember that in this circle of life give them a bit of the old razzle dazzle and a little love and it all comes back to You!!!!!!!                                                  

John Harris

Performance M.D. InterHigh school.

 

 

Teaching a Global Classroom

Educating globally is of great interest to me and I’m amazed at how the move away from the confines of a physical classroom can be such an enriching experience. I’ve had a long time teaching classes inside a classroom where the pattern of one-way direction of information -- from teacher to students - was a well established one - even with the arrival of new technology.

I’ve been an A level  English Language and Literature examiner with Cambridge International for some years and  very much enjoy hearing the local ‘voices’ of the candidates as they write about their own experiences  on the questions  about their own life and culture.  A student from Nepal who is looking out at the Himalayas; one from Zimbabwe who is describing   their impressions of the Victoria Falls or a New Zealander  debating the impact of the Christchurch earthquake, are examples of individual  topics  which  broaden my  interests and knowledge.

The quantum leap however, has arrived with online teaching at Interhigh. The global classrooms are always lively and so enriching for us all and this is one of the many benefits of this method of learning. I remember my first Year Eight History class where I asked the students whether they lived nar any historical monuments: ‘The Pyramids’ came the first jaw- droppingly amazing reply!

In Geography, we can all look out of the window at the local weather conditions; for some the tropical monsoon is about to break; others have not seen rainfall in months and others are able to discuss the idea of global warming with reference to the vegetation of the African Savannah.  So that now, in these classes, knowledge is very much a flow of information amongst all of us. My classes know my IT trials and error- how reassuring to me that there some technical experts at Interhigh sitting right in my classroom!

Of course I have a responsibility as the teacher to organise and direct the shape of the lesson but this new teaching style seems altogether more collaborative and democratic than the traditional Socratic Method where knowledge was handed down from one source. Listening to my worldwide classes read Shakespeare or discuss the shopping facilities in their local towns in different continents, it seems that in the words of the poem, we have all slipped the surly bonds of Earth (John Gillespie Magee ‘High Flight’) as this shared knowledge travels instantly across the globe.

AS a relatively ‘new kid on the block’ with on line teaching, I do not assume to discuss well known  points  about the values of  this style of learning in this brave new digital world. But what is evident to me however, is that, at the stage of my teaching where I might be expected to have a reasonable store of knowledge to disseminate to those I teach, the medium of the global classroom is revolutionising the concept of teaching and learning.
 have so much to learn!

Marilyn Rankin

InterHigh Teacher