So the Year 13 deadline for UCAS has been and gone, we are very proud of every student who as applied to further their education at University. We have a number of students that have applied for Higher Level Apprenticeships; we hope they are as successful in their applications. Earn while you learn is a great way to move forward with education. Post-18 Apprenticeships are supported by universities and offer another pathway to the same goal, achieving knowledge and excellence in a specific area.  Unifrog is a great ‘one stop platform’ where they can find out information on Apprenticeships, I recommend that all take a look. If you would like any further information on this platform then please email the Sixth Form Team on sixthform@tahs.org.uk.

All mock exams have now been completed and feedback is being given students on how they can improve on their performance.  One of the main issues is still lack of revision, it is so important that they find a way of revising that works for them and they have started a revision plan, which will take them up to their exams. Please encourage them to revise at home and to make use of their non-contact lessons as school. We would encourage all student to speak to their subject teachers and ask about ways to revise and types of revision.  In history, students have been pointed towards documentaries that are specific to a topic they have been learning.  They have been asked to watch the documentary as part a homework task and to complete research from an area that caught their focus, that research has then been emailed to the subject teacher, collated and the teacher will then pass back all research to the class as a ‘pack of knowledge’. This will then help secure their knowledge on this area. Students have fed back that this has helped them have a deeper understanding of the topic.   Finding ways to revise individually or as group can only benefit them, purchasing subject specific revision guides, making flashcards, or producing their own revision guide with quiz questions, which can be used both at home and at school will support their learning further. I would recommend that parents and carers ask to see revision notes to ensure that time is being used effectively at home.

If Year 12 students are planning on attending University Open Days can you ensure that a confirmation email is shown to their form tutor or shown to Mrs Walton so that we can code the register accordingly, it saves us sending unnecessary text messages home. Could we also ask that if your child is absent due to ill health or a pre-arranged medical appointment that the Sixth Form Office is contacted in the morning to make us aware, sixthform@tahs.org.uk.

Year 9 Options

The Year 9 Options process will begin next week on Thursday 1st February. This will begin a series of information events designed to inform parents and students of the subjects available to them at GCSE and A Level and how the options process works.

These events include:

• A Future Intentions assembly is on Thursday 1st February.
• Future Intentions week beginning Monday 5th February till Friday 9th January.
• Year 9 Future Intentions and Careers Evening is on Thursday 15th February at 6pm in the Sports Hall with option talks in the Theatre starting at 6.15pm and 7pm. This is fantastic event has a range of subjects, universities, colleges and employers to help students make the right decisions regarding their future and is open to all students in TAHS and the Middle Schools.
• Year 9 parents evening is on Tuesday 27th February starting at 4pm.

Year 9 students will receive a letter next week detailing these events. We understand that this is a very important set of decisions that you and your child need to make and if you have any queries regarding these events please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Battlefields Tour

Mrs Fisher and two 6th Formers will taking part in the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme on Friday 2nd February to Monday 5th February. This is the second year that TAHS has taken part in this national programme which is funded by government to commemorate the First World War. They will be travelling with students and teachers from 14 other schools to the battlefields of the Ypres Salient (Belgium) and The Somme (France).

Tim Benton Motivational Speaker

“I want you to live at your best”

Thursday 1st March, 6.00pm at Thomas Alleyne’s

For the fourth consecutive year we are fortunate to have Tim to come talk to year 11 pupils and parents.

Tim has the knack of challenging you to be better than you were before but without you really noticing. Through his disarming manner, his casual and entertaining style and his inarguable logic, he helps all those he works with – young and old – revaluate what they do, why they do it and whether they should be doing something else entirely.

Parents who have been to his talks always head home buzzing with ideas that are not only helpful in dealing with their children but also very relevant to their own careers and personal development.

Come on Thursday 1st March 6.00pm in the Theatre in order to support your child over the next few months in order for them to achieve their full potential.

Dates for Holiday Revision

These are the dates so far for your child to attend revision.  There will be more to come .

News from PE

Girls House Football

House Basketball Results

Cheerleading

This week was the first cheerleading session and 28 students attended. They all worked incredibly hard and achieved so much within only 1 hour. Next week we will still be accepting new members in preparation for a competition in March. Well done to everyone that came, I’m excited to see what you can all achieve.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER 16 GIRLS BADMINTON

Congratulations to Scarlett Simister, Alice Radley, Sophie Lomas and Emily Barton in becoming runners up in the county championships held at Clayton Sports Centre.

The girls were part of a ten team county tournament and narrowly lost 3 rubbers to 2 to Clayton High School. In the groups stages both single players and doubles teams were very difficult to beat. The team beat 5 school 4 – 1 and the final school in their group 5 – 0. such a dominant performance put the girls in the semi final against Biddulph High school. once again they played some excellent badminton and dominated Biddulph 5- 0. This set up an exciting final against Clayton. Scarlett lost her singles game in a hard fought battle, to a player 2 years her senior 21 -11, in the next game Sophie and Alice got Alleyne’s back on winning ways with a 21 – 11 win. Alice unfortunately lot in the singles match. The next match would be a very tense affair with Clayton needing to win to become Champions. Scarlett and Emily came back from 10 -1 down to tie at 17 all. Unfortunately Clayton were too strong in the final stages and won 21 -17, winning the championship outright. Not to be out done Alic and Sophie finished the day off on a positive by winning the last rubber 21 -6. Well done girls a great days work.

School Council

Another successful meeting was run by the student council this week. The students invited Mrs Lister, the canteen manager, to answer questions on the sources of food in school, the costs, vegetarian and vegan options and queueing for food. Mr Brunt was also given a grilling about the year 9 options process and the students came up with some ideas for improving this process. The amount of litter around school was a big issue and the school council are going to lead an assembly to encourage other students to dispose of their litter in the right way.

If you would like to get involved with the student council please see your tutor and discuss with your form rep any issues that you would like the council to look at.

Year 11 ICT & Computing Support

Art GCSE Exam Preparations

Year 11 students are getting well on the way to preparing for their project in response to ONE of the themes given by the exam board this year. It’s great to see some of our students making a strong start with moodboards full of inspiration images, concertina research sheets and considering how to respond through drawings/photographs etc.

Help for research/ inspiration can be found on the art department Pinterest Boards.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/tahsart/

ART CLUB is available WED, THURS and FRIDAYS til 5pm- make use of it to help you.
Timeplans are available as homework links on INSIGHT

A level Art & Photography Coursework Deadlines

Our students have been very busy finalising their personal Investigations for the coursework submission deadline on Monday 29th January

The Art, Craft & Design Students have until 31st January to submit their Personal Investigation coursework.

Exam papers for A Level are released to students on February 1st, and then the process of choosing a theme and responding to it will begin again.

Keep going Y13- nearly there!

Y9 ART

We have Lots of great students in year 9

Eve B and Sam B from 9U1 have been particularly industrious working on their Bridget Riley and Aboriginal Art ‘merge’ pages.
Well done

Year 10 Artists

Just sharing some lovely work from a few of our talented members of year 10 Art

Rowan H, Annie W, Sophie B-E

Can’t wait til they get started on these designs! Watch out for more art updates.

Piglets

School born and bread piglets are now ready for sale.

Any inquiries please contact the school farm via the main school switchboard.

Origami Club

Thank you to all that came to Origami Club.

We made butterflies in many colours, they look fantastic!

Remember, Tuesday lunchtime in Room 104.​

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Assemblies wb 22nd January

Assemblies will be on the theme of ‘Freedom of Speech’ and led by Mrs Lindsay

Thought for the week

I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.

Evelyn Beatrice Hall

UCAS Deadline for the 2018 cycle passed on Monday 15th January at 6.00 pm .

Some Statistics…

· 97 full University Applications have been sent off by the Sixth Form Team since September of which;

· 92 are current Year 13 students have applied to University – 75% of the cohort.

· 50/92 students have at least one choice from a Russell group University (some have all five choices) – 54% of the cohort.

· 9 Oxbridge Applications, 7 Oxbridge Interviews and 2 secured conditional offers – Lowri Spear (Oxford) and Trudy Yates (Cambridge).

· 1 Medicine, 1 Dentistry and 1 Veterinary application – all have secured interviews.

Year 12 Parents Evening

Thursday 8th February
4.00pm – 7.00pm

Students have been given letters today to being home.
Appointment booking goes live on Insight from Monday 22nd January

TAHS in the News

Please have a look at this fantastic article in the Burton Mail:

https://www.burtonmail.co.uk/news/local-news/terry-terrapin-ethel-gecko-gertrude-1072421

Date for the Diary Thursday 1st March 6.00pm

We are delighted to confirm that Tim Benton, motivational speaker and mentor has agreed to come and work with year eleven pupils and parents. More details to follow.

Student Council

Origami Club

 Year 13 Art & Photography Mock Exams in Full Swing

Students studying Art, Craft & Design or Photography in year 13 have been preparing for their 15 hour controlled conditions exam in May, with a trail (mock exam) over this week and next week.

Students have worked in exam conditions over 3 full days. -see the images below for some of the exciting work in progress from our dedicated students.

Art & Photography Year 13 coursework will be submitted and the end of the month and their Exam units start from February onward. For students to be successful in this subject, it is important all the assessment objectives are met in sufficient depth.

Effective use of your time is essential, remember art staff and spaces to work in the art department are always available during your non-contact times as well as after school Art Club on Wed, Thurs and Fri until 5pm.

Year 11 Art GCSE Exam Preparation

All students should now have their art exam papers (released from the exam board from January) and will be choosing one of the themes to respond to. To help students, we have lesson time plans, resources as well reminder notes from the parents/student meeting on 9th January which is shared via INSIGHT.

We do understand students have other subjects mock exams at the moment, but please feel free to talk to your art teacher for just 5 mins at lunch or after school at Art Club if you have missed lessons so that they are clear you have a great idea to get started on. It’s great to see lots of students getting a start with their mood-boards and research concertinas after discussing ideas with staff- There has been such exciting ideas

The art department Pinterest boards are being added to daily to help inspire you- https://www.pinterest.co.uk/tahsart/

Only 14 weeks (including 3 weeks of holidays) left from 22nd January……..

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Thought for the Week

All Year 13 students are in the middle of their mock exams and it is inspiring to see so many of them working independently or as small groups revising and working through past papers. If your child is in need of any need of support, whether it is skills or knowledge, please direct them to their subject teacher to ask for advice.  Preparation is needed in the run up to the exam and the good habits that are being formed now should continue it to the upcoming months.

We don’t recommend that revision stops, we hope that all Year 13 students will continue to revise, act upon feedback given by teaching staff and strive to surpass the grades that are achieved in these mocks.  The phrase ‘super-curricular’ will not be new to our students within the Sixth Form. It could be reading an article that has been published with a ground-breaking discovery, it could be a new historical view point that could be useful or listening to a podcast by a scientist. All ways in which a student can improve their knowledge is encouraged and can only compliment their revision. 

The national UCAS deadline is 15^th January at 6pm; there are still a few students who are last minute applicants who must ensure that all aspects of their application are completed before they come to school on Monday. This will give their assigned member of the Sixth Form Team the opportunity to check through it, and if needed send it back to be altered.

Mock Examinations January 2018

This week was the first full week of mock examinations, and also the first external examinations for some.

Well done to our students for your excellent attitudes towards these first exams. It is great to see so many of you showing commitment towards revision and a determination to keep this going. Thank you to parents and carers for all you are doing at home to support your son or daughter.

For many of our students, this will be the first taste of what is to come in the summer. You may have felt a mixture of emotions after a examination. Well done for working as hard as you can with revision and please remember that we can help you keep this going with support and motivation. Do see one of your teachers if you need help getting started.

Wishing you every success for next week.

Be prepared, be very prepared GCSE + is coming.

News from PE

House Matches
The next round of house matches are coming up. List of dates and captains are attached.

Upcoming fixtures

Boys House Basketball Mon 22nd Jan Yr9 P3, Y10 P2, Yr11 P5 – Teams minimum 5 players max squad 12.

Girls House Football Mon 22nd Jan Yr9 P3, Yr10&11 P2

Boys House Football Yr11 Wed 31st Jan P5, Yr9 Thu 1st Feb P1, Yr10 Thu 1st Feb P2

Girls House Netball Yr11 Wed 31st Jan P5, Yr Yr9 Thu 1st Feb P1, Yr10 Thu 1st Feb P2

House Badminton & Table Tennis- Friday 16th Feb P1. Badminton min 4,max 5 players/ boys or girls. Table Tennis min 4,max 5 players/ boys or girls (cant play both)

Extra Curricular

Monday 15/1/18- is East Staffordshire Cross Country- See attached team list.
Tuesday 16/1/18- U14 Basketball county cup H v St John Fisher- See attached team list
Thursday 18/1/18- U14 Boys Futsal at John Port- See attached team list

Thursday- Trampolining Club

Trampolining Club has now started. It is running on Thursdays after school until 4.15. It is suitable for all abilities and may lead towards competitions held later this year. Normal PE kit is to be worn but black sports leggings may also be worn. Any questions please speak to Mrs Fletcher.

Burton and District Table Tennis

On Thursday, 12 players attended the Burton and District tournament held at Robert Sutton.  A number of schools from across the area competed in a sixteen table competition.  The standard was very high with a large number of county players in attendance..  The players played in a league structure with the top two moving into the next round.  Congratulations to Alfie Bednal who was the only Alleyne’s player to get into the quarter finals. Unfortunately he lost in a close fought game, to Robert Sutton.  Well done to all those who attended.

House Match Captains 2018

Teams 12th Jan

Science Students of the Week

This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mrs Hughes are:

Year 9
Harriet Bebbington and Haydn Fisher for performing well in the B1 end of module test.

Year 10
Gregor Hayes and Lottie Cooper for contributions during chemistry lessons.

Year 11
Lorna Hill and Emily Barton for hard work and commitment in chemistry lessons.

This week’s Environmental Land Based Science Students of the Week selected by Mrs North are:
Ellie Cope and Beatrice Egerton for working hard to complete their course work.

This week’s Animal Care Students of the Week also selected by Mrs North are:
Alicia Lyon and Lucy Greatrex for all their help with the new calves.

Well done!

Teaching School Information Evening

17/1/18 6.00pm -7.00pm

Thomas Alleyne’s High School has applied to become a Teaching School. A Teaching School works with others to provide high-quality training and development to new and experienced school staff. Teaching Schools are part of the government’s plan to give schools a central role in raising standards by developing a self-improving and sustainable school-led system.

We would like to offer parents and carers the chance to hear about our plans and the opportunities that Teaching School status will bring, should we be successful in our application. Therefore, we are holding a Teaching School Information Evening taking place from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm on 17/1/18. We would be pleased if you could join us.

Student Council

  Girls in Maths

On Wednesday this week myself and Mrs Ingram were fortunate enough to be able to take 15 year 9 and 10 girls to Keele university for a “Girls in Maths” event. It was run by the further maths support programme to encourage girls to continue with their education in maths, science and engineering subjects. We watched the film “Hidden Figures” about three African American women in the 1960s and their roles in the space programme. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

There were some guest speakers, ladies that were successful in engineering careers and they spoke about their journey and how maths had played a role in their careers.
We also had a design project, to build a structure to hold a tennis ball off the table. We were all successful and fortunate that the rules weren’t too specific!

On a personal note it was a pleasure to take the girls out, as always they were incredibly well behaved and a credit to the school. Many thanks girls for a lovely day. Mrs Payne

ART YEAR 11 GCSE EXAM PAPERS RELEASED!

On Tuesday 9th January we welcomed a packed room full of Year 11 students and their parents/guardians to a presentation aimed at supporting the start of their GCSE Art Exam unit.

Exam papers were given out in brown envelopes and the students will be choosing ONE of the themes to work on over the following four months before the 10 hours controlled conditions exam is held in early May- just 16 weeks (including holidays) or 32 lessons away!

We looked at good examples from previous years, and looked at common pitfalls to avoid. Mrs Derby and Mr Robinson emphasised the support available and will help advice students as they complete their work.

We were very much impressed by the level of interest in this meeting and that our art students make a good start to their exam unit worth 40% of the overall grade. The majority of the exam marks; 75% from the Assessment Objectives relating to A01) research and development A02) experimentation A03) recording eg. drawing and photography, are from the ‘preparation’ work BEFORE the remaining 25% is gained from A04) ‘realising intentions’ from 10hours in May.

Any questions please contact the art department via the school office.

ART GCSE EXAM DATES

All the preparation work completed during January, February, March and April will be submitted on the first day of your Art 10hours controlled conditions exam.

Mr Robinsons 11C group- Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd May 2018
Mrs Derbys 11D group- Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May 2018

YEAR 13 ART & PHOTOGRAPHY TRIAL EXAMS

Year 13 Art students will be starting their 15hour trial exams over 3 days between next Monday 15th January and Thursday 26th January.

Due to the number of clashes with other exams or university interviews, students should please check with their art teachers as to which day they are undertaking their exams.

Farm News

As part of Waitrose ‘Community Matters’ scheme, Uttoxeter Community Farm at Thomas Alleynes High School were presented with a cheque for £600. We would like to thank all those shoppers who supported us by choosing our project for their green tokens.  Since September we have started offering a new course on the farm and students are now able to choose to study for a BTEC level 2 award in Animal Care as one of their option subjects.  This qualification provides hands on experience of a wide range of livestock and companion animals for students who wish to pursue careers in veterinary medicine, animal care and farming as well as those who just love animals and want to learn more about caring for them.

We are currently in the process of redeveloping the site and have been working closely with Carillion Tarmac partnership and other local businesses to build new pens and improve existing ones. The money from Waitrose will be used to repair fencing around one of our outside poultry areas as well as replace our old wooden hen houses with more suitable plastic ones.  We can then increase our flock of laying hens and improve our profits from egg sales. We are always keen to expand the range of animals on the farm and have recently added two corn snakes and a tarantula to our collection which includes geckos, bearded dragons, turtles, hens, ducks, geese, sheep, pigs, cows, guinea pigs and rabbits. Uttoxeter Community Farm continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the hard work, support and enthusiasm of the students and local community.

IMVU

Please be aware of this app

It’s a social media app that is currently circulating amongst children and young people.

It is called ‘IMVU’ and allows you to create an avatar and speak to strangers. It also pinpoints your location.

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Thought for the Week

This week has been a short teaching week but I am still so impressed by the commitment of our 6th Formers. On Wednesday we had our annual Light Up Uttoxeter Conference which was held at Uttoxeter Racecourse. As always our 6th Formers shone. Our Head Girl and Head Boy, Iona and Ryan opened the Conference alongside Tom. All three were well spoken, confident and were complimented by many. All of the 6th Formers that were in attendance were also working hard when they were supporting staff. At break and lunchtime many staff from other schools approached us and stated that they were shocked to see all of them has brought revision materials to the conference and were revising. We were not shocked as we know this group of students very well and this is typical behaviour from them. All the hard work they put in now will pay off and allow them to access the next stage of their journey, whether it is employment, apprenticeships or university. So far 73 of our Year 13 students have applied to university with all them being able to boast that they have received at least one offer.

On Thursday evening, the Sixth Form common room was transformed into a celebration function room. Every year we invite last year’s Year 13 back to celebrate their journey through TAHS and the next steps that they have taken. The amount of students that turned up to the event was overwhelming. At least 50 students returned to hear Mrs Dodd talk fondly of their time within the 6th Forms, awards were presented and certificates given out. The staff in attendance were happy to see their past students at to discuss their experiences of employment, apprenticeships and university. Mrs Walton ensured that photos were taken so that we could share the event to all those who read round up.

15th January is the closing date for UCAS applications so if you are aware that your son or daughter is still yet to complete it then please urge them to complete it over the weekend.

The closing date for applications to attend the Sixth Form is Friday 5th January.

Children’s Play, Learning and Development

Year 10 and year 11 students studying Children’s Play, Learning and Development:

On Wednesday 10th January please go to the canteen at 12.20 (period 4) for lunch.

You can bring your own lunch or cold snacks/ sandwiches will be available to buy (hot food will not be served).

Please stay in the canteen until 12.50 when you line up for your exam which starts at 1 O’ clock.

Good Luck!

Catering Price Increases

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