Summer Fayre
As a trial for this year, we are going to hold our Summer Fayre straight after school on Friday 12th June (3:30pm until 7:00pm). We hope to see more of our alumni at the Summer Fayre which offers you the perfect opportunity to return to your old school, reconnect with familiar faces and relive some happy memories. The Summer Fayre raises money for the school’s PTA which provides equipment or activities to enhance school life as well as organising fun events for the children throughout the year.
Mrs Prince
Get Involved
We would love to showcase more of our alumni’s achievements and experiences. There is an alumni form on the Alumni website page (link below), if you’d like to share a general update, career news or any accomplishments we can celebrate, or you can post them in the Alumni Facebook group. You could be featured in the next Alumni Newsletter, have your photo and achievement on our website and you may even find your story on the walls of the school!
Individual Updates
Caitlin Duckett (Class of 2010)
After nine years together, Caitlin Duckett married her fiancé on 9 November 2024 in the stunning surroundings of Loch Lomond, Scotland. Caitlin first met her husband while they were both students at Bolton School. Following the wedding, she is now Caitlin Middleton.
Charlotte Rowlandson (Class of 2002)
Charlotte has built a career as a successful corporate lawyer at global firm A&O Shearman, specialising in transactions in the FinTech, Insurance and Technology sectors. Charlotte has been recognised as a Rising Star/Leading Associate in The Legal 500 from 2020 to 2026.
Lyla (Class of 2023)
After impressing at football trials and dedicating countless hours to improving her fitness and performance, Lyla was offered a place at not one but two professional football academies: AFC Fylde Women’s and Liverpool FC Academy. At just 13 years old, Lyla faced a difficult but exciting decision between the two. Following her dream, she accepted the opportunity to sign for Liverpool FC Academy, a goal she has pursued with tremendous determination and passion. Since signing, Lyla has trained hard throughout pre-season and played in friendlies across the UK. Her dedication paid off when she made her first official appearance against Manchester City, a fantastic milestone in her growing football career.
James Beet (Class of 2008)
James Beet is the Head of Academy Recruitment, Loans & Player Pathways at Preston North End FC. He leads the club’s work identifying young talent, coordinating strategic loan moves and mapping development pathways from the academy to the first team. James coordinates the Academy’s analysis department which supports with both player development and talent identification decision making processes.
Ollie King (Class of 2010)
Ollie qualified as an ICAEW chartered accountant in August 2024, following in the footsteps of both his parents. He is currently working as a Senior Finance Analyst at PGL Beyond, the UK’s leading provider of trips and outdoor activities.
Matthew Bessent (Class of 1999)
Matt, who hasn’t run a marathon before, will be taking part in the London Marathon to raise money for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation. The Rosemere Cancer Foundation funds vital equipment, research, staff training and patient support services that enhance treatment and comfort for people undergoing cancer care in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
If you’d like to donate to an amazing charity, here is the JustGiving link: https://www.justgiving.com/running-for-rosemere.
We wish him all the best on 26th April.
Memories of Highfield Priory
Shashi Tadi (Class of 2004)
I was at Highfield Priory from 1997 until 2004 and have nothing but fond memories! I was a very shy child but got involved with hockey quite early on which I continued into secondary school and ended up going on tour to Australia & Fiji which was a phenomenal experience!
I found my love of playing the piano whilst listening to an older student play in Assembly. After finally persuading my parents to allow me to have lessons, I started playing regularly in Assembly time, which is quite ironic given I could barely speak in front of people! It’s now something I do to unwind and still remains a passion of mine. Having Elocution lessons was very character building and really pushed me outside of my introverted comfort zone. I truly believe that that, along with the support of the incredible teachers and the strict headmaster at the time (Mr Duckett), allowed me to flourish and gain a lot of confidence which has ultimately pushed me in everything that I have achieved! I admittedly was not the most academic child but I was really well supported and was awarded an Academic, Music and Art & Design scholarship into Secondary School (Arnold School, now known as AKS).
My passion for Art began when I was in Reception and won an art competition. It’s this love of Art that was really encouraged at Highfield, that ultimately led me to become a Dentist (as I now create beautiful smiles whilst helping people). If there’s one thing that Highfield Priory taught me, it was the value of hard work! I worked extremely hard to become a Dentist, ranked in the top 5% of UK Dental Students and gained a seat on the very competitive Central London Scheme for my Foundation Training. I somehow also became a professional Bhangra dancer 10 years ago, which I juggle alongside my dental career. I feel incredibly lucky for all the opportunities I’ve had and I truly believe that it was my early years at Highfield Priory with the supportive environment, a strong sense of discipline and the ability to work hard that set the foundation for my fun and fulfilling life!
If you would like to share your story or recount a particular memory in the next Alumni Newsletter, please contact us at alumni@highfieldpriory.co.uk. We hope we can get people from different year groups telling their story which may bring back memories for other people or teach you something new.
Facebook Group
We are delighted to share that we have launched an Alumni Facebook Group, providing a space for former pupils to reconnect, share memories and stay up to date with school news and alumni updates.
If you would like to join the group, please follow the link to request access and become part of our growing alumni community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499000974507163/
We would love to welcome you and we look forward to reconnecting and sharing many special memories together.
Throwback Thursday
Be sure to keep an eye out for our weekly Throwback Thursday posts on Facebook and Instagram! You never know which special memory might appear next! From fun-filled events and much-loved teachers, to familiar faces, perhaps even your own! These posts celebrate the moments that make Highfield Priory so unforgettable.
When you spot someone you know, don’t forget to tag your friends and share the memories!
Visit Us
We warmly invite you to join us at one of our Open Days, which are the perfect opportunity to step into your old school, see Highfield Priory in action, and reconnect with the community that helped shape your journey. You’ll have the chance to look around the school, chat with our current pupils and even share memories with familiar faces from your own school days. It’s also a wonderful way to see the exciting developments and changes that have taken place over the years.
If you know someone currently looking for a School or Nursery place, we’d be delighted if you shared the invitation with them. We would love to welcome both returning alumni and new families into our Highfield Priory community.
Please see our calendar for open events: School Calendar – Highfield Priory
Thank you for staying part of the Highfield Priory family! We’d love to hear your news, adventures and achievements- don’t be a stranger, keep in touch!
Yours sincerely
Mr G Bailey (fellow alumni)
alumni@highfieldpriory.co.uk
