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Friday 12 July 2024 |
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Why we need to trust children with AI Let it be whispered, we are entering a new era where your phone is cleverer than your entire family, your fridge might be monitoring your every move and artificial intelligence is making headlines faster than you can say ‘Elon Musk’. Suddenly, only 18 months on from the release of Chat GTP, the future is here and it has a slight whiff of the dystopian about it. But don’t worry, I hope to persuade you that digital skills are essential for the future, and of why we absolutely must trust our children to use the power of AI for good. Spoiler alert: If we don’t, we might just end up in a world where AI is controlled by people with the moral compass of a pantomime villain. I remember the days when even knowing how to send an email made you something of a tech guru. At university in the early 90’s the web was a text-based quagmire that required ninja-like coding skills just to access. Well, those days are long gone. Today’s digital world is all around us and is not just for geeks in their bedrooms anymore; tech skills are ever present in the modern workplace. Even your local barista is probably dabbling in Python between lattes and your hairdresser may have a side hustle on TikTok bringing in cash and kudos in equal measure. But why are these skills so crucial? It’s simple: the digital world is the real world now. Every industry, from agriculture to zoology, is being transformed by technology. If our children can’t navigate this new landscape, they risk being left behind, and it is our responsibility to ensure they can make the most of the wonderful tools available to them. Of course, many young people are naturals with technology. They can multitask across devices and they understand social media algorithms better than we understand our tumble dryer programmes. I would also argue that with a little encouragement and some skills development, they have the creativity and curiosity to push AI in directions we haven’t even dreamt of yet. And, yes, we need to trust them to do just that. Children have an innate sense of fairness, justice, and (at the High School at least) a propensity to question the status quo. I would say that these are exactly the qualities we need in the people who are shaping the future of AI. There is a danger that if we leave AI development solely to those with dubious intentions or an anti-democratic agenda, we’re letting the fox guard the henhouse. Nell Watson is President of the European Responsible AI Office and in her recent book, Taming the Machine, she speaks of how AI promises to transform our world, supercharging productivity and driving new innovations. Her focus is on how we can responsibly harness the power of AI. Indeed, if we can encourage young people to do this the possibilities are endless – and endlessly positive. Imagine an AI developed by a teenager who’s passionate about the environment, which could help predict climate change patterns, suggest sustainable farming practices, or even develop new recycling technologies. Consider an AI program created by a young person dedicated to social justice, that could identify biases in recruitment processes, or ensure fairer distribution of resources to help address social inequalities. To read the full entry, please click here. Mr Rickman |
Resolved issue for users of Yahoo mail |
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We are pleased to report that the issues we reported last week with Yahoo email addresses not receiving all SchoolPost messages has now been resolved. The parent company Firefly have apologised for any inconvenience caused and we very much hope that everyone is now receiving messages as expected. If you have any concerns, or think you may have missed an important message, please contact the school in the usual way. |
High and Junior News survey |
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We kindly ask for your feedback in regards to our weekly school newsletters, so that we can improve this service to best meet our parents’ needs. We look forward to reviewing your responses, which will steer the direction of this function from September. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts with us. Please find the survey here. |
Cultures Day |
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We were delighted to host our annual Cultures Day on Tuesday for students and staff to enjoy! This special event is dedicated to exploring different cultures and celebrating the diversity within our school community. It is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated events in the academic calendar and a favourite among staff and students! In preparation for the big day, pupils enjoyed decorating their classrooms to honour a variety of cultures. Both Junior and Senior students enjoyed touring the classrooms and admiring the effort their peers had put into the celebrations. As is tradition on the day, our school community were invited to dress in clothes that they feel reflect their culture. This is always a beautiful part of the day, as girls can choose to interpret this theme however they wish. Many chose to dress in clothes representative of their religion, nationality or heritage, whilst others elected to wear sports kits, band t-shirts, school uniform or mufti! Over breaktime, pupils gathered in the Junior Hall to sample a variety of national and regional treats. A huge thank you to our students and parents who generously contributed to the celebrations by preparing food for the community to try. It was a wonderful opportunity for girls to explore different foods and learn more about the dishes on offer. |
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In a special whole school assembly, we were treated to music and dances performed by students and a guest dohl performer. Sixth Form students also led a fabulous quiz titled ‘The Big Nigerian Game Show’, followed by a fashion show that displayed a range of magnificient outfits from a number of cultures. For lunch, pupils enjoyed a special menu that incorporated a range of cuisines before embarking on the afternoon activities. During the second half of the day, Year 7 to Year 13 participated in a number of exceptional workshops designed to provide insight into various cultures around the world. Hosting 20 different sessions around school – including African Drumming, Chinese Calligraphy, Fashion in the USSR, American Politics, ‘Languages That Help Us Understand The World’ and Japanese Shibori (to name just a few) – students were encouraged to select workshops that interested them. |
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A huge thank you to the staff and students who organised a packed programme of events for all to enjoy. To our staff and guests who offered their expertise to run a workshop, parents who volunteered their time and knowledge, and to everyone who shared a part of their culture with others today – thank you! We had a beautiful day filled with love, acceptance, learning and joy, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year! Miss Price |
Year 9 Business Enterprise Day |
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The Business Enterprise Day on the Friday 5 July was dedicated to Year 9 students with a view to prepare them for a modern working life and develop the skills they will need to flourish in a continually evolving workplace. The students competed in teams of four or five to win an ‘investment’ for their newly designed product or service. Full instructions relating to the tasks involved were given and were available on Google Classroom which the students had access to. The day took the format of the famous Dragons’ Den TV programme, with our very own ‘Dragons’, Mr Isaac and Mr Viesel. The teams developed their skills in entrepreneurship, communication, team work, problem solving, innovation and presentation skills. They split themselves into different roles accordingly, including project manager, human resources, finance director, marketing etc. All students were professional and excellent team members throughout the day, showing creativity and commitment to the task, for which they received a certificate of achievement. Pupils expressed that they really enjoyed the day’s activities and felt it had developed their entrepreneur skills. All groups had great innovative ideas and presented their pitches fantastically. It was really difficult for the Dragons to decide, but ultimately, having applied the success criteria and discussed the pitches, the Dragons chose ‘Glow Greens’ (skin care products) as the winners and ‘Roll n Go’ (new ice cream) as the runner up! Well done Year 9! Mr Isaac |
Year 12 visit Wicksteed Park |
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On Thursday 20 June, we were delighted to visit Wicksteed park in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The Year 12 Business and Economics students, along with Mr Isaac and our very helpful minibus driver, Mike, commenced our short journey to the park in the morning. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Kelly Richardson (Director of Finance and Governance) and her colleague, who took us to a conference room. The set up was very professional and we were treated to an informative and interesting presentation on the history of the park. This was followed by a conversation on the challenges the park is having to face with regards to business operations and economic tradeoffs. Year 12 were challenged by Kelly to propose methods of marketing which will create more awareness of the park. Our students were fantastic with proving some really realistic solutions based on what they have learnt in their lessons. After a short break, we had a great experience visiting the farm where we enjoyed seeing the animals and feeding the meerkats! This was followed by our lunch break and two hours of fun on the rides in the park. Overall, it was a fantastic experience to learn about a real business, including their economic-related challenges and how they manage them. We would like to thank Kelly and the team at Wicksteed for letting us visit their wonderful park and for their wonderful hospitality. We certainly hope to return next year with the new Year 12 students. Mr Isaac |
Summer Term - High Sports |
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We are delighted to share with you the latest edition of High Sports. High Sports is a termly publication for parents that looks back at the world of sport here at Northampton High. In this edition, we celebrate all that has been achieved in the final few months of the 2023/24 academic year. Please click here to view the summer terms edition. Miss Price |
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High Sports |
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House Cricket Year 7 House Cricket Year 8 House Cricket Mrs Littlewood |
Book Review |
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The Summer Book by Tove Jasson – The worldwide classic about a tiny island and larger love. Recommended for Yr9+ An elderly artist and her six year old granddaughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. As the two learn to adjust to each other’s fears, whims and yearnings, a fierce yet understated love emerges – one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the very island itself. |
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Written in a clear, unsentimental style, full of brusque humour and wisdom, The Summer Book is a profoundly life-affirming story. Tove Jansson captured much of her own life and spirit in the book, which was her favourite of her adult novels. Miss Buxton |
Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 23/24: July |
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Northampton Hockey Club Junior Summer Camp |
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Junior Camps for the summer are open! Northampton Hockey Club are running camps for 5 to 13 year olds on the 5th, 6th and 7th of August. Olympic Gold medal winner, Stephen Batchelor, is the Head Coach running all of the club’s camps this year, and with 20 years experience in the London area, he brings a wealth of experience.
Steve will lead the camps with a team of Saints coaches, and if you are lucky he will bring his gold medal! Steve will talk about what it takes to be an elite hockey player, but above all, the camps will develop young players’ skills and be a lot of fun! The price is £32 and will include a hot lunch on each day. To book a place, please click here.
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Kings Camp |
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The Lowdown Wellbeing Event |
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Northampton Swim Club Intensive Course |
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Code Ninjas Northampton |
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PQA Stage & Screen sessions |
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Made for Girls |
Term Dates |
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Northampton High School |
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