Opening its doors in September 2000, Highlands School was the first secondary school in England to be built under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Twenty-five years on, the school has gone from being a brand-new school on what was once a building site to one of the country’s top-performing schools for student progress, now ranking in the top 25% nationally.
The celebrations perfectly reflected the school’s journey.
One of the standout moments came when Chair of Governors Matt Miller MBE surprised guests with a special video message from former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who officially opened Highlands back in 2000. It was a wonderful way to connect the school’s beginnings with everything it has achieved over the past quarter of a century.
There were also some incredibly moving moments as the school paid tribute to former Headteacher Bruce Goddard, who dedicated many years of his life to Highlands before sadly passing away. His daughters were in attendance to witness the heartfelt words shared about their father and the lasting impact he had on generations of students, staff and families. It was a touching reminder that a school’s legacy is built not only through academic success, but through the people who shape it.
Guests also heard from the school’s very first Headteacher, who shared wonderful memories of those early days. She recalled welcoming prospective parents to what was, at the time, little more than a building site, asking them to place their trust in a school that hadn’t yet opened its doors. Looking around the thriving campus today, it’s clear that trust has been repaid many times over.
The afternoon with memories and celebrations, culminating in the unveiling of a commemorative time capsule that will preserve this special anniversary for future generations of Highlands students.
Congratulations to everyone at Highlands School on reaching this incredible milestone. Twenty-five years of outstanding education, community spirit and changing lives is something the whole borough can be proud of.
Here’s to the next 25 years. 💙
