Senior School pupil lifePupil life

Years 7-11

'Having spent more than a few busy years at this school, I can safely say that time is always packed full of the joys of the staple Highgate diet: English, science, languages, geography, history and that most delightful of lessons: mathematics. Surely, what little spare time we have is spent doing extra homework, reading The Economist or translating Macbeth into Chinese? And yet, no, there are those heroic individuals who manage to find the time to cram that little bit more into their already packed and hectic schedules.'

'I really enjoy coeducation. Firstly, I think that being around boys gives us an opportunity for prepare for university. Secondly, I think that having boys in our class gives a more relaxed atmosphere; however, at the same time they give us healthy competition. I can’t imagine not learning in a mixed class, and it’s great that the teachers are always willing to take on board any suggestions that we have. Coeducation, I think, gives us the chance to become good friends with the boys but it also makes the girls’ friendships stronger.’

'Every Wednesday lunch break, a group of Year 10 pupils, including myself, meet to discuss and learn extra physics with Mr Short. We have covered a number of topics ranging from surface tension to loop quantum cosmology. The highlight of our year was a trip to the particle accelerator, or Large Hadron Collider, at CERN in Switzerland. On the first evening we met a famous physicist who answered a variety of our questions such as "What exactly does C-E-R-N stand for?" and "How exactly does the Higgs boson give things mass?" A session like that was something that very few, if any, other schools would ever get an opportunity to do. Our good fortune had a lot to do with the fact that another leading scientist at CERN, John Ellis, is a Cholmeleian. All in all, everyone had a brilliant time visiting the potential destroyer of our solar system and I feel we have learned a huge amount this year, thanks to Mr. Short.'

'Since September, Year 9 pupils have been participating in a community service scheme. I was to be working in a local residential home with my friend. We were told that we would be walking to Kenwood House with one of the residents. What they failed to mention straight away was the fact that she just happened to be 102. We didn't know what to expect but, simply put, Mrs B was one of the most extraordinary people we had ever met. As we walked, she told us about herself, her family and her life. And it made me think about how young and inexperienced I am with so much to look forward to in the future. In brief, I may have been there to give to the community, but I can’t help feeling I got as much out of it as they did, if not more.'

Sixth Form

'Looking back to when I was thinking about joining Highgate, it seemed crazy for someone to leave a school they had been in for five years, where they knew everyone and everything in it, in order to go somewhere completely different where they knew nobody. I was so happy, therefore, when I finally arrived, as my fears were completely eradicated. Everyone was so friendly and supportive.'

'The most important advice I can offer to anyone thinking about joining Highgate is to not be afraid of trying new things and to pioneer changes in aspects of school life for your successors. If there is a sport you want to play or even a pastoral issue that is concerning your year group, speak up and be heard. Getting involved in the many house activities is a brilliant way to make friends and, as Head of Southgate House, I can safely say that your housemates will really appreciate your input. Choosing Highgate was one of the best decisions I have ever made.'

'I came from a small girls' school and was slightly apprehensive about joining such a huge and pre-dominantly male Sixth Form; however, at not one point have I felt that I am a girl in a boys’ school and, from September, 2010, there will be girls throughout the Foundation. The sense of belonging, that I feel, is primarily due to the positive relationships between people here: not only do the teachers go out of their way to welcome you but the boys themselves make a real effort to make friends with the girls.'