MICHAEL TIPPETT Head, Newcastle High School for Girls
What was your background prior to joining Newcastle High School for Girls?
I was Deputy Head at Central Newcastle High School, which later merged with Church High to form NHSG. Before being appointed to the senior leadership team I taught Classics – which is still a huge passion of mine. I also taught English in Greece after I graduated with my degree in Classics, and I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture of Modern Greece and spend time visiting a huge range of historical sites. These invaluable experiences early in my career made me realise that we can’t exclusively rely on the classroom for all our learning.
What have been your major achievements at the school?
When I took over as Head in 2018, I undertook to change the strategic direction of the school and position us as an academic school with exceptional pastoral care, and a school where we encourage each individual pupil to find her own identity and achieve her ambitions. As a result, our external academic results significantly improved and NHSG was named Sunday Times North East Independent School of the Year in 2020. We have continued on an upward trajectory since that time. Leading and navigating the school through Covid is also something I am proud of, with parents content that we have continued to provide an exceptional education for their daughters.
What positive changes have you seen and would like to see in the future in the education sector?
NHSG has always had a strong focus on pupil wellbeing and mental health, so when the pandemic brought additional concerns over pupil wellbeing we were well-equipped to genuinely prioritise this. The focus on pupil wellbeing nationally however has been much higher on the agenda during the pandemic and I hope this will remain there indefinitely as, when pupils are mentally healthy and happy, they are more likely to be engaged in their studies and all other aspects of school life. The pandemic has also forced the sector to consider new ways of approaching external examinations. I do feel we lost something when we replaced modular A Levels a few years ago with high-stakes, final exams. The pandemic has prompted high-level discussions about examinations and I hope the idea of a more modular approach will be given due consideration.
How much emphasis do you place on extra-curricular activities?
By working in teams in sports or getting involved in debating or drama, for example, we can create social and physical activity opportunities that really benefit our pupils’ health and wellbeing, so our extensive co-curricular programme is integral to our provision. Co-curricular activities are also vitally important for the development of character and attributes such as leadership skills and perseverance.
What major student achievements have happened in the past 12-18 months?
Navigating the Covid pandemic has been a massive achievement for all NHSG pupils. Their adaptability and resilience were hugely impressive; I have been inspired by the way all our pupils have overcome the challenges. It’s harder to pinpoint specific examples of notable achievements, when there have been so many, but last year we saw one incredibly talented pupil, Freya Young, named as best in the world for her A Level ICT result which was simply outstanding. Most recently we took to Northern Stage in February to present High School Musical. With 75 pupils in the cast, and an audience of over 1400, it was exactly the celebration we needed.
What can prospective parents expect from Newcastle High School for Girls?
There’s so much to say here. I’d say firstly we are a school that leads the way and we have demonstrated that we are more than well-equipped to deal with whatever the world throws at us. Prospective parents can expect exceptional teaching and learning where each pupil is nurtured and challenged in equal measure to achieve the very best of which she is capable. Our curriculum, teaching and school facilities are also designed to meet the needs of girls. There is a tangibly unique atmosphere which arises from the all-girl ethos linked closely to our values of respect for the individual and celebration of diversity. NHSG is a vibrant and exciting place to be. In prioritising both academic achievement and pupil wellbeing, we have a recipe for success. Our approach not only benefits pupils’ grades at school, but also their future careers, encouraging fulfilling lives and the confidence to go on to be whoever it is they want to be.
What have you got coming up in 2022 and beyond?
School life is really getting back into full swing as the restrictions ease. A long delayed field trip to Iceland is going ahead this month. Our renowned annual Art and Design Fashion Show returns in April, and Junior School pupils are excitedly preparing their production of Wizard of Oz for June. We’ll be celebrating International Women’s Day in school and at the world’s largest women’s festival, Women of the World Festival in London. 2022 also marks 150 years of the GDST, a significant milestone.
How do you relax away from the desk?
In pre-Covid times I would have said travel. Recently though, activities closer to home have become more important such as catching up with friends and family on walks along the Northumberland coast and cycling on the roads and cycle paths of the North East.