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

Hand Over Week for Head of Curriculum and Learning

Things are very hectic at the InterHigh Head office. On the evening of the last day of term we started the office move 7 miles down the road to a more suitable premises. In the midst of unpacking boxes Rhiannon Hastings arrived for a week before she takes up her post formally as head of Curriculum and Learning. She survived the week admirably and even gave us a small insight to her background for you.

"Initially I worked in advertising before ‘seeing the light’ and going back to university to complete my degree and PGCE and training to become a teacher. I worked in mainstream for 5 years but the toll of a 3 hour commute and a young family was too great, coupled with an interest in behaviour management provision this saw me ensconced in a position as English/ Literacy co-ordinator in a local authority Pupil Referral Unit…not for the faint hearted but a very rewarding experience.  I have always been a firm believer that every child deserves an education and that there is no ‘one provision fits all’ and then I found InterHigh Education…and here I am.

Outside of work my three daughters keep me busy and on my toes; we very much live an active lifestyle. My daughters all race kayaks, my youngest is a demon on the hockey pitch whilst my middle daughter is going to be the next Zola Budd (one for the older folk amongst us). I run, mainly long distance and over any terrain, always looking for the next big challenge and goal to set myself. My next challenge is a 156 mile run across the Sahara Desert in the Marathon des Sables, a test of mental fortitude rather than any great talent at running!

So that’s me, in a nutshell. I look forward to talking to you and meeting many of you over the upcoming weeks and months."

We look forward to it too Rhiannon, and thank you for last week :)

Rhiannon gets straight to work

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

students have opportunity to raise their cognition Level

Pryanka Shah talks to Jacqueline Daniell about recent achievements in MyCognition.

We are pleased to announce that in July a study using our specialised video game to improve cognitive health in 600 students was published by the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) at their Forum in Milan. This is a very significant event because it is the first time that the FENS Forum has accepted an abstract on the improvement of cognitive health using video games. This notable achievement solidly underpins the approach of building evidence to show the positive benefit of our products to students and schools.

This is the abstract of the study.

Working memory and executive functioning are improved in school students using an applied action video game

Introduction
Claims have been made that computer games can improve cognitive health, but few studies substantiate this finding. We attempted to provide robust evidence of the transfer of cognitive ability from a computer game to an independent assessment of cognition.

Method
We used a specially developed validated cognitive tool comprising 10 tests, MyCognition Quotient (MyCQ), which can determine an individual’s cognitive abilities, based on the five main cognitive domains (Attention, Psychomotor Speed, Working Memory, Executive Functioning, Episodic Memory).

The tool feeds the results into our specially designed, applied computer video game, which we developed, it is tailor-made to train the domains that require improvement. Six hundred students (11-13 yrs.) from a Netherland's school enrolled in the study. All were tested, but only 300 received game training. After 4 weeks training (minimum 60 minutes per week) all students were tested again. After a further 4 weeks of training all of the students were tested again.

Results
The study showed positive effects at 4 weeks in all cognitive domains, with statistical significance in Working Memory and Executive functioning.
 

Domain	Mean Difference	p-value	Cohen’s d
Working Memory	-0.266*	0.0102	-0.202
Episodic Memory	-0.109^	0.3277	-0.077
Attention	0.093^	0.4818	0.055
Psychomotor Speed	0.212^	0.1139	0.125
Executive Functioning	-0.150*	0.0240	0.178

 

* significant difference (p=<0.05)
^ trend in favour of active

At 8 weeks the results were less compelling due to poor compliance, but a dose response (duration of training per week/cognitive health) was observed across all domains.

Conclusion
More work is required, but in this large study using an independent assessment of cognition, we were able to show the transfer of cognitive enhancement in at least two domains following personalised cognitive training. A qualitative assessment suggested that teachers and students saw benefits that were transferred to curriculum studies. Large scale follow-ups and further studies using this cognitive assessment tool and another applied video game are underway. Compliance was noted as a big issue and future games will be more engaging to ensure training beyond four weeks.

If you have any questions regarding this study or any aspect of our work, please contact myself, or one of our team.

Many thanks,
Priyanka Shah | Education Coordinator 
My Cognition

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.

 

 

Supporting Teachers as well as Students with Dyslexia

A Dyslexic, teaching in a virtual world

When I first came to Interhigh I was concerned about how vulnerable I might feel as a Dyslexic teacher.  How immediate it would be that any of my common mistakes are going to be observed by my students. I am relieved to say that the understanding and support that I have got from this learning institute is astonishing.

My students have learnt not to be concerned about letting me know when I say one thing and write another. I am never ashamed when I make errors and I welcome corrections. I think many students as well as myself have realised that sometimes we learn better from the mistakes we make. It is a wonderful experience to interact so candidly with students in this exceptional environment.

I had got into good routines as a classroom teacher and relied on these practises to get me through the main stream school environment; most of these have also been used or modified here in my newest teaching experience here at Interhigh.

I quickly realised I was not the only dyslexic in the Interhigh community and we have now established a support group for those that have dyslexia and similar concerns.  I have pieced together my past learning and teaching experiences to create a sequential course that I hope will help prepare, support and encourage confidence in our students whatever their background.

As the majority of the population are not dyslexic the way most students are taught especially at a young age is not all too well suited for the particular strengths and weaknesses we have with learning preferences such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. Adapting the way we do some things, can really help us overcome many issues and adapt good strategies, so that we don’t allow issues like dyslexia to stand in the way of achieving our goals.

 

I hope that anyone with concerns will join us in this group and embrace the wondrous world of dyslexia and similar conditions. Together we can discover the benefits and how to get beyond some of our barriers.

Roxanne Pearce

Science Teacher InterHigh

Im Being Chased by a Dragon

I’m the woman who runs the Monday creative writing workshops for InterHigh. I parachuted into the classroom in January 2010 and I’m happy to say, I’ve enjoyed every single session since. Hopefully, the students have too. Certainly I’ve seen several of them return a second, third or fourth time around. It’s my privilege to watch them develop their writing skills by reacting to simple tasks that trigger their imaginations. The main tasks require dedicated, quiet writing time. It’s brilliant to think of my students, quietly writing at home, wherever that may be, yet united by working to the same theme or starter sentence.

These classes are very different from the academic ones in that those attending range from Year Sevens to Year Elevens. I’m normally aware of a student’s age but no way does this influence me when choosing exercises. Every one of them enjoys words or else they wouldn’t waste time attending my sessions and that’s the levelling factor. I also try to make their choices flexible so they might find themselves imagining they’re auditioning for a part in a Broadway show or telling everyone how they’d turn their laptop into a steam punk computer. They can decide whether to write humorous stuff or to show their dark side. They compose restaurant menus. They design their dream bedroom. They create wild and wonderful worlds.

 Do the younger students ever become frightened by sinister shapes or gruesome monsters? I can tell you it’s usually me who’s scared to turn the light out at bedtime! We do have some bloodthirsty tales but nothing worse than anything you’d find in a self-respecting fairy tale. Humour’s often in evidence and how I enjoy it when someone finds his or her voice and delights us with a character’s quirkiness and ability to make us suspend disbelief.

 

There is a tremendously therapeutic element to creative writing. I first realised this back in the 1970s when I attended an open evening at a residential school for pupils with behavioural problems. One girl showed me a poem she’d written and although it was worryingly dark, I knew she’d expressed her emotions on the page probably far more easily than she could control her anger.

I once held a session for senior citizens where I urged them to write down their memories so their descendants had a record to cherish. The advantage of this kind of group exercise is that often one person’s experiences will trigger someone else’s. Faces light up and people chuckle and nod their heads. In the same way, an InterHigh group will post a smiley face, make a LOL comment, or draw something on the whiteboard. Jacqui and her admin team are very good at informing me if a student is experiencing any personal problems. Sometimes one of the group might text me to explain a close relative is ill or a pet has died. If this student prefers to stay online as an observer, that’s absolutely fine and I like to think the fun and companionship of the others is providing the kind of medicine money can’t buy. 

Every group has a different dynamic. My current one is large and contains writers with whom I’ve worked before plus ones who were new to me at the beginning of term. Of course some students work together in their peer groups but I’ve noticed how quickly everyone bonds and how supportive they are of everyone’s efforts. They are never obliged to contribute. Even the most experienced of writers can have an off day. Tell me about it! Sometimes we run out of time because there’s so much exciting writing to hear.

 When a student who attends regularly but has never contributed to any of the tasks, suddenly posts a piece of writing, I feel very delighted. Those who read aloud or post work achieved in a comparatively short time should be proud of their performance. Confidence is achieved in many different ways. So if you hear your son or daughter speaking over the mic about being chased by a dragon or watching their mum being captured by aliens, please don’t worry. It’s only that Monday woman again.

 

Sandra Mackness

 

 

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