Withernsea High School

Congratulations to Ms Harris, head of humanities and teacher of geography, who has been recognised for 25 years of dedicated service to the school. 

At an end of term staff meeting, Ms Harris was presented with East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s long service award by Mr Crofts. 

Reflecting on the milestone, Ms Harris said: “I can’t quite believe it - 25 years has gone so quickly. It’s been an incredible experience. I’ve taught in both the old school and the new building and worked under four headteachers. I started in the humanities faculty under the leadership of Andy Day, who was head of geography, and from the very beginning I really loved being here. Some of my favourite memories in the early days were teaching A-level geography and it’s wonderful to see that some of those former sixth form students are now members of staff at the school.” 

Ms Harris joined Withernsea High as a main scale geography teacher in September 2000. Initially on a temporary contract, the role was made permanent later that academic year. Reflecting on what attracted her to Withernsea, Ms Harris said her decision was driven by the geographical significance of the Holderness coastline.

“I always wanted to work on this coastline because it is so geographically dynamic. It holds a deep fascination for geographers, and to have my classroom 400 metres away from an area that is rapidly eroding provides an exceptional real-world context for geography education.”

Over the years, Ms Harris has held a number of leadership and specialist roles. She served as designated outdoor activities coordinator, leading trips to the Pyrenees and Poland in the early 2000s, and holding rock-climbing qualifications to support the school’s facilities at the time.

She later became assistant head of Key Stage 3 before being appointed head of Key Stage 3 in 2005. Further change followed in 2014 when she became head of geography - a role that subsequently developed into head of faculty. 

Among her career highlights, Ms Harris cited the overseas trips and more recent work linked to coastal erosion, saying: “Leading sixth form trips to Poland and the Pyrenees were real highlights. More recently, I’ve been involved in various projects with an emphasis on driving change locally and internationally and helping other people. These have included the Hull University-led INSECURE coastal erosion project, exploring coastal change and community resilience, and working with a Belgian filmmaker to make a short poetic film about life on the Holderness coast.”

Reflecting on the sense of continuity that comes with long service at the school, she added: “I love it when I end up teaching the children of former students. Some parents’ evenings feel like a reunion, especially with students in years seven and eight.”

Alongside this continuity, the energy of new challenges and the enthusiasm of her students continue to motivate and inspire her. “I like finding new ways of doing things and I enjoy a challenge. Being invited to take part in different projects keeps my work exciting and allows me to stay creative in how I approach teaching. I’m always keen to explore new projects and initiatives; it’s that variety that keeps me interested and inspired. However, student enthusiasm is what drives me most.”

Mr Crofts praised Ms Harris’ long-standing commitment and impact on the school. “Twenty-five years is a remarkable achievement. Even after all that time, she has maintained the same level of enthusiasm and commitment to the school, alongside a strong desire to try new approaches and get the very best for both herself and our students. She is completely student-centred and an absolute asset to the school.

“She consistently keeps the bigger picture in mind and is deeply involved in educating students about green energy and the major global changes that directly affect our area. While she is not originally from the town, she has become very much a part of it. She has an exceptional understanding of both her subject and the local community, and she ensures that generations of young people leave the school with a clear sense of their place in the world.”

Students at Withernsea High School marked the end of term with their annual Santa Run. 

Now in its fourth year, the event brought together students from all year groups to walk or run a lap of the school field.

Despite the cold air, the weather was bright, clear and dry, creating ideal conditions for the run. 

Many students embraced the festive spirit by wearing Christmas-themed costumes, with a minimum donation of £1 required to take part. 

Students conducted themselves impeccably throughout, fully engaging with the occasion and supporting one another.

All funds raised from the Santa Run will be donated to Dove House Hospice, with the final total to be announced in the new year.

The school would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

At the start of the academic year, WHS launched its Tutor Championship - a school-wide initiative designed to recognise and reward positive student behaviours. 

The competition encourages strong attendance, punctuality, positive conduct and enthusiastic engagement, with students earning points for their tutor group through the everyday choices that support their personal success.

At the end of each half term, the highest-performing tutor group in each year group from Years 7 to 10 is rewarded with a special treat. This half term’s celebration took place today, with winning groups enjoying a non-uniform day alongside a breakfast reward. Students were treated to freshly prepared bacon sandwiches, sausage sandwiches or toffee Danish pastries, kindly provided by Cooplands. 

The breakfast celebration created a positive start to the day as tutors and tutees came together to celebrate their shared achievement.

Miss Griffiths, Progress Leader for Tutor Development, highlighted the importance of the initiative, saying: “Tutor time is a vital component of students’ social and personal development. We are proud to offer many opportunities for students, in particular the Tutor Championships, which were launched in September. The competition rewards the everyday good practice we see from the vast majority of students, while also offering opportunities to earn additional points through subject-specific challenges throughout the year. It is wonderful to see tutor groups bonding and working as a team to earn such fantastic rewards, and I am extremely proud of both our students and tutors for their engagement.”

Staff have praised the impact the initiative has had on motivation and teamwork. Year 10 tutor Mrs Jesney commented: “Every single one of my tutees has loved this reward.” While Year 7 tutor Ms Walters added: “I am highly competitive, and my form truly rose to the challenge. They improved their attendance, worked exceptionally hard on the tutor challenges, and competed to earn a Golden Ticket each week. I am incredibly proud of their dedication, effort and determination. Celebrating with yummy breakfast sandwiches was fantastic!”

Students also shared their enthusiasm with Year 7 student Florence saying: “Wearing your own clothes is good - it’s a great reward,” while her friend Libby described the breakfast as “delicious!”

With scores resetting to zero at the start of each term, the Tutor Championship offers a fresh start and a renewed opportunity for every tutor group to succeed, ensuring that all students remain motivated and engaged throughout the year.

Withernsea High School’s annual Christmas Door Decoration competition returned this year, providing tutor groups and staff with the opportunity to showcase festive designs on their classroom and office doors.

Last year, two Year 9 students launched the decorated door trail to bring a little Christmas cheer to the corridors of WHS. The initiative has now grown into an annual tradition.

This year, a total of 29 doors were decorated, with contributions from both form groups and staff teams. Voting was held on Monday, 15th, and Tuesday, 16th December. All students and staff were eligible to vote, although they could not vote for their own door. The doors receiving the highest number of votes were 10HJB (G14) in first place, 8AE (B4) in second place, and a tie for third place between 9KHO (G9) and 9KER (B5).

Among staff entries, Mrs Norris, Head of Design Technology, received the most votes for a door decorated independently, with the main office team placing second.

The activity formed part of the Tutor Championship – a school-wide contest to reward engagement. Points were awarded based on participation and the outcome of the votes, with every participating form group receiving three points simply for taking part.

The form group in each year that received the most votes earned twelve points and a selection of sweets, while the second-place group received ten points. Staff members without form groups who participated were also eligible for prizes, with the non-form-group door receiving the most votes awarded sweets. The overall winner was presented with a trophy to display for the year.

Andrea Monaghan, Head of Personal Development, said: “Activities like this are an important part of school culture. One of the things that makes Withernsea High School such a special place to work and study is the sense of community and belonging. It was wonderful to see so many members of this community, both students and staff, giving up their time and energy to turn our corridors into a festive treat. Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual door decoration trail; it was a delight to see so many wonderful creations spreading Christmas cheer.

Levi, a Year 8 student, commented, “It’s been great looking at all the doors; my friends have all been talking about which they like best!”

The school’s Performing Arts community delivered an evening of music and dance to a packed hall of supporters last Tuesday, 16th December.

Returning for a third year, the WHS Winter Festival featured students from across all year groups in a programme of individual and group performances. The evening featured solo vocalists, ensemble performances combining vocals with piano and guitar accompaniment, and a variety of dance routines.

Among those taking part were the eleven members of the school’s string band, led by music teacher Lewis Fryer alongside Rebecca McKee, a peripatetic teacher of upper strings from the East Riding Schools’ Music Service. The group meets every Monday evening as part of the school’s extra-curricular Strings Club.

Reflecting on the success of the festival, Mr Fryer said: “Huge congratulations to everyone involved in the WHS Winter Festival. Having around 150 parents, friends and family members in the audience made it a truly special occasion. The students have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks, dedicating their time to rehearsals and producing an outstanding range of performances. I am immensely proud of them all and delighted with how successful the evening was.”

Jamie Hughes, Head of Sport and Performance and teacher of dance, added: “Mr Fryer has once again put together a wonderful evening of performances that students were proud to be part of. My thanks go to him for organising another fantastic celebration of talent, as well as to our very talented Year 11 dance leaders, Neve and Savannah, who choreographed and directed the dance performances. Well done to everyone involved.”

The event raised approximately £300 through ticket sales and refreshments, with funds going towards the staging of the school’s 2026 production of Matilda. The show will take place from 10th to 12th March and follows the success of last year’s production, Popstars: The 90s Musical.

Mr Fryer said: “Rehearsals for Matilda are going really well for both the cast and the musicians who make up the production band. There’s a real buzz of excitement already. Last year’s show was a jukebox musical that offered a slice of 90s nostalgia, but Matilda takes us back to a more traditional musical theatre format. We’re excited to bring our own amateur production of one of the West End’s most popular shows to the school.”

Meanwhile, the school’s dance students are preparing for their next performance, which will take place at Hull University’s Middleton Hall on Wednesday, 11th February. Further details will be shared early in the new year.

Year 8 students have taken part in an entrepreneurship masterclass designed to develop their confidence, teamwork and understanding of the world of business.

The activity was delivered by members of For Entrepreneurs Only (FEO), an award-winning Hull-based community interest company comprising more than 200 business owners from across Hull and East Yorkshire.

Throughout the day-long event, students were introduced to the key principles involved in creating and running a successful business. Sessions focused on areas such as positive attitudes and behaviours, effective communication and people skills, marketing, and basic financial management, giving students a practical insight into enterprise and self-employment as potential future career pathways.

Working in small teams, participants were challenged to design their own product or service and develop a business plan around it. Each student took on a specific role within their team, encouraging collaboration, leadership and independent thinking. With support and guidance from FEO’s business professionals, students refined their ideas before presenting them to a judging panel.

Presentations were assessed on a range of criteria, including the originality and viability of the business idea, marketing considerations, financial planning, teamwork and presentation skills. Judges commented on the consistently high standard of work, with a number of team and individual prizes awarded to recognise budding entrepreneurs. 

Reflecting on the experience, Year 8 student Malachy said: “The masterclass gave us a real head start for later in life and helped us understand more about how the world beyond school works. The most important thing I learned was how to work effectively in a group, balancing independence with collaboration. I also feel I developed my leadership skills and confidence throughout the day.”

Viki Foster, school careers leader, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome FEO back to the school. As always, the masterclass offered our students a full day of engaging activities and inspiring talks delivered by local business owners. The students were fully engaged throughout and were a credit to themselves and the school. FEO members were particularly impressed by their business knowledge and awareness of financial markets, with several students receiving recognition for the depth and confidence of their discussions about enterprise.”

A group of Year 9 students recently gained first-hand experience in the healthcare sector after taking part in a career insight day at Hull Royal Infirmary. 

Hosted by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at its Clinical Skills Centre, the event offered students an immersive introduction to the realities of working in a clinical environment. The visit also formed part of the school’s Ready 4 Work initiative, which provides structured work experience opportunities for students in Years 7 to 11, in line with updated government guidance.

During the session, students took part in a series of hands-on simulations designed to reflect the day-to-day challenges faced by healthcare professionals. One scenario required participants to identify potential risks on a mock hospital ward, including unattended medication, poorly made beds and trip hazards. Students also explored key principles of infection prevention and control, alongside wider considerations relating to patient safety and experience.

The importance of precise and effective communication in clinical settings was highlighted through an exercise that challenged students to give clear instructions to a partner in a noisy environment, simulating the pressures and distractions of a busy hospital ward. 

Reflecting on the visit, Year 9 student Logan said: “I think workplace visits like this are really valuable because they give you a realistic insight into what a career is actually like, including things you might not expect. One of the most important things I learnt was just how intense hospitals can be, what the wards look like, and how many different career pathways and choices are available within a hospital environment.”

Viki Foster, school careers leader, said: “With our Year 9 students preparing to choose their GCSE options in the new year, the opportunity to broaden their horizons through immersive workplace visits is crucial. Experiences like this allow them to see first-hand the range of pathways available and begin to form a clearer picture of the direction they may wish to take.”

ABOVE: Maisie C gets to grips with an oxygen mask as part of a simulated experience on the ward. 

ABOVE: Among the practical skills covered was how to safely make a hospital bed to avoid patient discomfort.  

ABOVE: A ‘messy ward’ scenario tasked students with identifying potential safety hazards on a mock ward.