Month: July 2018

July 20th 2018

/ hadfieldj / Leave a comment

A Note from the Chair of Governors

Change of Chair of Governors

After being a Governor at Thomas Alleyne’s for around 22 years and Chair of Governors for 6 years I’ve decided to step down when my term of office expires in September.  It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with such a strong and committed group of governors, such a tremendously dedicated staff group, and of course a body of students who are a credit to our school and the town. 

It has been a demanding 6 years, dealing with Ofsted visits, with tough challenges as funding for schools reduced year on year, with decisions on academy status, and, most importantly, with the responsibility for appointing a new headteacher four-and-a-half years ago when we welcomed Mrs Rudge to the school. 

Now I am delighted to see Alleyne’s going from strength to strength as a founder member of The Uttoxeter Learning Trust, a Teaching School, a school rated ’Good’ by Ofsted and, most importantly, a school giving its students an excellent academic and extra-curricular experience.  Achieving funding for classroom building work is the icing on the cake, and I hope the funds can be raised to save the swimming pool for future generations.

My successor is Mike Prescott who will bring a wealth of wisdom and experience to the role.  I wish him and all students, parents, staff and governors well, and look forward to hearing of the school’s future successes. 

Alison Trenery

Thought for the Week 

Assemblies week beginning Tuesday 4th September
Tuesday: Mrs Rudge (Welcome assemblies)
Wed-Fri: Mrs Maingay will lead assemblies on the theme of ‘New Beginnings’
Thought for the Week
“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” ~ Mary Pickford

 Headteacher blog:

As we come to the end of the academic year, we would like to thank you for your continued support this year. We know that it is by working together with you as parents, that we are able to support our young people most successfully.

I would also like to remind students that in addition to having a break, the summer holiday is an opportunity to review the learning from last year and to prepare for the year ahead. For Year 10 students who received their mock exam results this week, it is very important that the areas of development revealed by the mock exams are addressed. I would recommend GCSE pod as an excellent resource as a starting point for this exercise.

When students return in September they will see the benefits of an extensive programme of building work, which will have allowed us to remodel some of our classrooms and our dining facilities.

A number of staff will be leaving us this year. We would like to wish Mr Sabin, Mrs Blair, Mrs Ingram, Mrs Bracebridge, Mr Beeley, Mr Allen and Mrs Lyon all the best and thank them for their work during their time at Thomas Alleyne’s High School.

We are pleased that we are fully staffed for the start of the Autumn term and look forward to welcoming new colleagues to Thomas Alleyne’s High School in September.

Mrs H Khan MFL teacher

Mrs R Pavey – Physics teacher

Mr B Lloyd – Maths teacher

Miss S Robinson – Geography teacher

Mrs K Goodwin – Geography teacher and Assistant Headteacher

Mrs D Ainsworth, Teaching School Administrator

Ms A Bates, Inclusion Support Assistant

Ms R Rodi – Maths 1:1 teacher

Mrs L Massey English 1:1 teacher

Mrs A Grief – Curriculum Area Learning Supervisor

Ms E Oliver – Animal Worker

Mrs Rudge is looking forward to returning to the school in September.

Last week I mentioned that I am stepping down from my role as a Senior Leader and I would like to wish my successor, Mrs Maingay, every success in her role next year.

Mr Brunt

Examination Results Days

Please note the dates for examination results collections in the school Theatre:
Post-16 : Thursday 16th August from 7am
GCSE: Thursday 23rd August 9am-12pm
Ensure contact is made with the school Examination Officer if you need to arrange for your results to be posted, or you need an alternative arrangement.
I will be available alongside the school Mrs Sosinski on both days to discuss reviews of marking, if required. I will be based in the school library and Mrs Sosinski will be based in her office.
Wishing you every possible success!

Swimming Pool Crowd Funding

We need your help to save our school Swimming Pool.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-uttoxeter-swimming-pool-/

Here is our award winning vlogger Max telling you why we should save our pool.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AgF2gDAKrgyFa70gknOnDYLn53E

Dates for your diary

20/07/18 – Last day of Summer Term 2018

03/09/18 – Inset day

04/09/2018 – All students return to school – Autumn Term 2018 

03/10/18 – Y9 Open evening

11/10/2018 – Post 16 Open Evening

16/10/2018 – Y11 Core Subjects Revision Evening
24/10/2018 – Y9 Tutor Evening

 

w/c 29/10/18 – Half term 

05/11/2018 – Inset day

20/11/2018 – Y13 Parents Evening
29/11/2018 – Y11 Parents Evening
20/12/2018 – Last day of term
21/12/2018 – Inset Day

6th

I love the last week of term but probably not for the reasons you think. It is a hive of activity, lots to do and excited students at every turn. Teachers and students ensuring loose ends are sorted and that we are all prepared with our ‘to do’ list for over the summer break. I have been able to revamp my classroom displays and ensure that resources are prepared for September, although I still have quite a bit to do over the next few weeks. This year has seen many Year 12 students facing their fears. For many this year has been a roller coaster of emotions, bridging the gap between GCSE and A Level, the amount of work needed to achieve their target grade, the extra work put in by those that are reaching for the stars and lastly Mrs Walton who faced a very large and very real fear on Wednesday. Mabel was very well behaved, she did not answer back and she did as she was instructed. Mabel is a Tarantula. Mrs Walton is petrified of spiders and she saw Mabel being brought into the Sixth Form Common Room she did have a knee wobbling moment. Mabel looked at Mrs Walton and she seemed determined to help her overcome her fear. The pictures that were taken and that I’m sharing with you do not fully show how scared Mrs Walton was but I’m sure you will agree the look of relief when Mabel was given back to Mrs North speaks for its self. As well as Mrs Walton doing this for our forever charity, Douggie Mac, I held Mabel alongside some very brave students. Mrs Walton raised close to £100.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This week Jess Poole and Rachel Clemett organised for a Holocaust survivor to come in and talk to all of Year 12 students. Martin Sturn works with the Holocaust Education Trust (HET) and delivers educational talks to students all around the country on his experience. It was clear from the account that Martin gave that he owes his life to luck, from his mother dropping anti-Nazi propaganda in front of a Nazi Brown Shirt on a train and him just helping her to pick up her leaflets without reporting her to his name being missed off a transport list which was destined for Auschwitz. As a child, Martin and his sister would have been sent straight to their deaths in the gas chamber. It was very thought provoking and Martin was also kind enough to relay some of his early life to four classes of Year 9 and 10 English and RE students. Euan Walsh in Year 10 spoke to his English teacher after and thanked her for the opportunity to hear Martin talk. This sentiment was relayed from Year 12 students. I would like to thank Rachel and Jess for all their work on the Lesson from Auschwitz programme; they have gone above and beyond in all aspects.

Holocaust

Finally I would like to share with you an extract that we received from a Year 13 student, Rhiannon Kenny. The words are very genuine and the message resonated with all of us in the Sixth Form Team.

‘My teachers have given me the most important and supportive life advice and the confidence and belief in myself that was sometimes missing. Now leaving Sixth Form, I’m going into a career I never thought I’d be confident enough to pursue…This would not have been possible without the careers advice and UCAS guidance that we were given during the most crucial times of the application process. And it’s not only me, I don’t think there’s a single one of my friends that hasn’t grown and achieved success during their time in the Sixth Form.’

So on this positive note I would like to wish all our Year 12 students a lovely holiday, but don’t forget to work on coursework and read through subject content during the holidays. We look forward to seeing them all return as Year 13

House Competition 2018

After 43 House Competitions, Mr Hawthorne is proud to announce that Torrance have retained the House Trophy. Mr Hawthorne, the House Captains and all Torrance students are incredibly happy to have won the trophy for the second year running. Three years in a row has only been achieved by Elkes in 2011, 2012 and 2013, can Torrance House match this record?
The final results are as follows:
Torrance – 192.5 Points
Whitmore – 165 Points
Orme – 135 Points
Elkes – 129.5 Points
Congratulations to all of Torrance House!

Sports Day

Results
Elkes
3rd
Orme
4th
Torrance
2nd
 Whitmore 1st
377 360 419 518

As we published last week the results are as above, but Max has been at it again and here is his report on the biggest sporting event of last week:

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AgF2gDAKrgyFaQFXejrYlsu_y9Y

Sports Day update.  
Well done to Max Haughton who won the Yr9 boys 80 meter hurdles.in a time of 12.88. Owen Birch was 2nd and Callum Stockbridge 3rd.

 

 

Girls Summer Coding Camp

For the 2nd year, Vodafone is running a 4-day coding workshop for girls aged 14-18, as part of a global programme spanning 26 countries. This programme will give girls the skills, confidence and encouragement to learn, develop and thrive in STEM fields and occupations. They will be taught the technical skills to build their own website including Html, CSS, GitHub and JQuery.

The Manchester course will take place at Atlas House, Monday 6th – Thursday 9th August.

Applicants must identify as a female/non-binary, be 14-18 years old, and have the necessary English language skills to complete the programme.

CLAG leaflet

A Maths Reunion

Six years ago as I said farewell to my year 13 maths class, they suggested we have a reunion in July 2018. They bought me a notebook and put the date in, clearly they had known me long enough to realise that my memory would fail over that length of time. Well that date was last Saturday. I was delighted and honoured that they took time out of their busy lives to travel back to Uttoxeter to meet up. They looked so well……and grown up! All working and incredibly successful. I heard all about their jobs, the different places that they are living, travel plans and career plans. How proud….and old I felt, what incredible young people. It was a lovely afternoon.

Thank you folks.

Jewellery Designer Visits Art Dept

 
Jewellery designer “Emily Jane” AKA Emily Deacon visited 9H3 art class this week to share with students her experience of the design process and experience in contemporary jewellery and fashion accessories design industry. 
As a one woman designer-maker Emily develops her designs through inspiration found in a variety of sources especially natural patterns and shapes. Often using her Photography  and drawing mark making skills to capture patterns and textures in her work. She uses a variety of materials such as aluminum, silver and wood to develop designs that are highly original and contemporary in style. 
Our students were able to see Emily’s portfolio and view images of her paper models she develops before using metals, so that she can work out any issues. Also paper is a quick way of generating lots of ideas. Our inventive 9H3 had a chance to develop their own paper designs, with Emily selecting her favorites at the end of the lesson.
Recently Emily has returned from Milan where her work was exhibited and her work has been advertised in Vanity Fair magazine, but is based in her studio at Spode in Stoke where she handcrafts every piece. Since graduating Emily has been working for individual commissions and for craft shops, her work is also available on the Etsy webite too.
Emily was a student at TAHS, studying Art and Photography gaining top marks before going to Staffordshire University too pursue 3D Design, where she gained a First Class hons degree. 
More of Emily Jane’s work and contact details for commissions can be found on her website www.jewellerywithlife.co.uk
instagram: @emilyjanedesigner_

 

Art Trophy Awarded to Lizzie Steele (Year 9)

 

Last week we shared with you the news of Lizzie’s award, so why did she win it? Well here are some examples of her work and I am sure you will agree they are fantastic!

 

20,000 Doves Project

 
The Art department have been accepted to be part of Lichfield Cathedrals upcoming  20 000 Peace Doves Project. We will be using the origami skills of TAHS students to make our target of 400 doves to contribute along with doves from school across Staffordshire.
The doves are a symbol of peace and will be an impressive sight in such numbers suspended in the Nave of Lichfield Cathedral. This will form part of the cathedrals centenary commemoration for the end of the First World War. 

We will also  personalise each dove with a message or drawing related to peace. 

The display are expected to be in Lichfield Cathedral from late November, over Christmas and January. 

Keep reading future Newsletters to see how we get on!

 

doves

Music Concert

Well done and thank you to all pupils who were involved in the music concert on Thursday night.  A range of talent was on show throughout the 2 hour performance, it was excellent to see all year groups working together to put on a great show.

 

Internet Safety

As we fast approach the summer holidays the students ill have more time to be on social media. Please see below parental fact-sheets for the main sites to assist you with your understanding.

 Facebook_Flyer(oct 17)AHV9 –

interactiveInstagram Safety

InteractiveSafer Internet Day 2018 –

Parents and Carers Pack – Factsheet

Snapchat Checklist interactive

Twitter Checklist-Interactive_0

 

Uniform at Thomas Alleyne’s

It is the time of year where school uniform begins to be replaced for the academic year ahead. Please see the details below of when the “uniform pop up shop” will be open in school over the summer holiday.
Please also see the specific details of our uniform policy. It is a clear expectation that this is followed correctly and we ask for the support of parents and carers with this. Please note skinny fit trousers are not accepted as part of our uniform policy. Any student who wears incorrect uniform will be asked to change and parents/carers will be contacted. 
Your support is very much appreciated, particularly to ensure we all make the best start possible to the new school year.
Any questions, please do contact your child’s Head of House.

Old Uniform

If you have any school uniform or PE kit that your child has grown out of we would welcome any donations in school. Students can drop this at their House offices.

Lockers for Students

Should you wish to hire a for your child over the next academic year, please see the details for this below.
If your child has rented a locker this year, please remind them to empty it before the summer break.

Students need to keep their locker key if they are keeping the same locker in September.

Careers

Don’t forget to check out the new careers page on tahsroundup.wordpress.com 

Links

Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop

 

cropped-newlogo-large.png   facebook-logo-4   Twitter_bird_logo_2012.svg  newlogo large

 

July 13th 2018

/ hadfieldj / Leave a comment

Thought for the Week 

Assemblies: w/b 16th July

Mrs Maingay will be leading assemblies on Wednesday and Thursday on the theme of ‘Change’.
On Friday we will have Year 9 and Year 10 end of year Celebration assemblies.
Thought for the Week on the theme of ‘Holidays’
Holidays have been commercialized. It has become about material things. But the holidays are about sharing stories and being in each other’s presence.
The fact is, we need markers in life, whether we subscribe to a religion or not. And the major holidays, such as Christmas, serve to remind us of the turning world.

The holidays stress people out so much. I suggest you keep it simple and try to have as much fun as you can.

 Headteacher blog:

The theme of this week’s blog is reflections.
On Tuesday I had the chance to address students and their families at our Year 10 and Year 9 Prize Giving Evening. As always this was a hugely enjoyable event where staff and families came together to celebrate the impressive outcomes achieved by students this year. I would like to thank Mr Godwin and his team for organising the event, Mr Johnstone for hosting it and Vince Owen, our guest speaker, for his interesting and thought provoking speech.
A traditional feature of the evening is the Headtechers’ reflection on key events and activities taking place during the year. I was able to make reference to a host of opportunities that students have been involved in this year, including sporting successes, maths enrichment and participation in World Challenge.I was promoted to share some personal reflections which I would like to share here also.
At the end of next week I will reach the end of a 28 year long teaching career. 16 of those years have involved me working as a senior leader, 13 of them as a Deputy Head at Thomas Alleyne’s. As many will know, I am a Uttoxeter person through and through and have lived in the community all of my life apart from a few brief years when I was at university.When I began working at Thomas Alleyne’s in January 2006, I was excited and motivated to be part of a group of people who were determined to ensure that the children of the town had an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of an excellent education.
As I look back over those years I feel a sense of pride and feel very privileged that I have been able to make a significant contribution to the community that I am rooted in and I would like to thank all of the staff, students and parents I have worked with during my time at the school.I am delighted that my association with the school will continue as I will be returning in a very different role in September.
Mr Brunt

Swimming Pool Crowd Funding

We need your help to save our school Swimming Pool.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-uttoxeter-swimming-pool-/

Across Staffordshire we have significantly less access to swimming pools than is needed for our population. (In fact we are over 1000sqm of pool space short.) This is particularly acute in Uttoxeter where we risk only having one pool in our town. 

For this very reason back in 1974, the Uttoxeter community came together to raise sufficient funds to build an indoor 17 metre x 7metre swimming pool at our school. Since then thousands of children from the age of 5 to 18, have learnt to swim in our pool. Over the years the school has supported community use of our pool ensuring it has been open in the evenings and at weekends. Every Saturday morning prior to closure, over 100 children were able to make use of the pool to learn to swim and have been doing so for over 10 years.

As a school, we share our facilities with our local community at all possible opportunities. Our swimming pool has ensured that many young people and adults have had the opportunity to learn to swim. It has also been the venue for numerous swimming galas.

At a time when Adam Peaty is representing Great Britain in swimming, it would be a loss to see the pool, which is based at the heart of his home town, close permanently. He has inspired many to swim in our area, and yet the facility has been unavailable for 7 months.

We have been working tirelessly to secure a significant proportion of the funding we need to improve the fabric of the building and to upgrade the mechanical services. For instance, we have successfully secured £124,000 from the Education Funding Agency to replace the swimming boilers. We now need to raise funds for the changing rooms, air-handling units, pool side pipework and plant upgrade. The showers are beyond repair and the changing facilities are currently not fit for use. We are also working with East Staffordshire Borough council to get the support we need to keep the pool open but we need your support. 

In order to allow us to continue to offer this resource to our local community and to teach children to swim, we need to raise £100,000 to refurbish the pool.

If we are successful in this bid, our pool will become a sustainable facility utilised once again by the local community at the weekends and evenings. We would be able to recommence swimming lessons during the day for first, middle and high school students and return to our regular galas.

Here’s why so many people feel we need to save our pool:

‘As a swimmer, it’s great to have the chance to show off all of my efforts to get to where I am now. It’s also great to watch all of the non-swimmers and less confident swimmers progress and to be competitive in a sport that’s new to them.’ Jenson Hulbert, a current Year 12 student, House Swimming Captain and national swimmer.

‘Dove Valley ASC has used the Thomas Alleyne’s High School Pool for a number of years as it’s Swim School catering for young swimmers in their formative years. It is small and friendly, allowing swimmers and parents alike to have confidence at this early stage. Our Teachers find the pool excellent as a lot of time is spent in the water with swimmers giving them additional confidence. Having parents close on poolside also adds confidence to the swimmers.

‘To lose this facility would be a retrograde step for DVASC, stopping the most important roadway for new swimmers. It is imperative that swimmers are taught correctly at these early stages.’
John Plant Dove Valley Swimming Club
DVASC is Swim Mark accredited club, ensuring that all our swimmers and activities are carried out in a professional manners. Parents can be assured that their children are safe.

‘We have run an after-school swimming session for staff on a Friday for many years. This has provided an important well-being service to reduce stress and is open to all members of staff.’ Sarah Jones, staff swimming club leader.

‘I’m in a privileged position within the school where I get to see the varying abilities of our pupils in regards to swimming. Over the past 7 years, the standard of swimmers coming into our school has fallen and there is a higher percentage of non-swimmers each September. We pride ourselves on the fact that no child has left Thomas Alleyne’s without being able to swim 25m and all have a basic idea on how to help somebody if they were in trouble.

‘Swimming is a life skill that no child should go without. All children should have the opportunity to learn in a safe and supervised environment and hopefully have the ability to stay safe in and around water through the rest of their lives. Without a pool at Thomas Alleyne’s, the ability to learn and develop the essential & potentially lifesaving ability to swim is being denied to the young people of Uttoxeter.’ Helen James, Life Guard and swimming teacher

‘We’re a keen swimming family (three of us are members of our local Dove Valley Amateur Swimming Club, including myself!) My youngest was having lessons with our club’s swim school at the TAHS swimming pool when it closed and I was also learning to teach. It was a real shame, as despite trying very hard, the club’s Swim School has been unable to find an alternative suitable venue. This is a big disappointment for: the kids learning to swim, I know my little girl missed her swimming lessons; the older kids, who had been gaining valuable volunteer experiences helping to teach the young kids; the families, who now have to search for comparable teaching and the club, who’s main source of young swimmers was their swim school. I sincerely hope that this local teaching facility will re-open soon.’ Parent and member of Dove Valley Swim School Helen McPherson

‘The pool has enabled Thomas Alleyne’s to provide water polo and triathlon to pupils both of which are Olympic sports that could not be delivered without a pool. The after-school clubs we ran proved popular with pupils and attracted pupils who weren’t already swimmers to come and get involved.’ Ian Cartwright, Triathlon coach.

‘Thomas Alleyne’s swimming pool has been invaluable for enabling young competitive swimmers to train and compete. The facility is vital to provide pool time to swimmers at a competitive level. I myself used the pool each week in the build up to the national championships.’ Laura Evans, national swimming champion. 

 

Dates for your diary

18th July Summer Concert 
20th July End of Term
4th September Start of Term

Mobile ‘phones

 

Many of you may have seen in recent weeks comments from Ofsted about mobile ‘phones adding to low lesson disruption and distractions during lesson times.
In response to this, some schools have changed their policies and no longer allow students to take mobile ‘phones into school.
We currently do not want to take that step at Thomas Alleyne’s. We recognise the benefits of students being able to contact family members, particularly on their journey to and from school.
However, we would like to ensure that mobile ‘phones, their notifications and alerts are not disrupting the learning of your children. 
Therefore, we wish to clarify our policy as follows,

  • Mobile ‘phones should be off or on silent without any vibrating or lighting alerts.

 

  • All devices should be placed in school bags or lockers before Form period. Students should not carry their mobile in their blazer pockets during Form period or lesson time. 

 

  • In the event of a student not complying with this, they will be expected to hand in their mobile to the member of staff and collect it from their House office at the end of the school day. 
  • In the event of a mobile phone being confiscated three times, we will contact parents/carers and ask you to collect the device and discuss the matter with your child’s Head of House.

    As ever, should you need to speak with your child urgently during the school day please contact the school on 01889 561820. Our Student Support Team are on duty through the day and will always support yourselves and your children with any urgent messages

 

Summer Concert

Thomas Alleyne’s Summer Concert will be held on Wednesday 18th July at 7PM.
Tickets can be purchased in the on-line shop or via Julie in the Finance Office at a cost of £5 each (£3 concessions).
Come and celebrate the end of term in style!

Non-Uniform Day

Staff & students are invited to donate a minimum £1 donation for a non-uniform day on Tuesday 17th July.
All donations will be in support of the crowdfunding for our school swimming pool.
Please note that non-uniform must be appropriate clothes for a school day, despite the warm weather. No crop tops, super short skirts or shorts & no flip flops.

Exams

Well done to our Year 10 and 12 students for their hard work throughout the summer mock examination period. The results will be handed out on Monday 16th July. Year 12 will get their results in form time and Year 10 will get their results period 5.
Use the results to prepare yourselves as much as you can over the summer holidays for Year 11 and Year 13. Speak to your teachers if you need any additional guidance.

House Music

As I type I am awaiting confirmation of the result, but here are a few images from the day:

 

Sports Day

Results
 
Elkes
3rd
  
Orme
4th
  
Torrance
2nd
   Whitmore 1st
  377   360   419   518

 For a full list of winners please see this document:

Sports Day 18

Science News

On Friday last week, our Year 12 students visited Formby sand dunes and pine forest, situated on Merseyside, to carry out a required practical as part of their A Level Biology course. 

The sand dunes provided the ideal opportunity to study some of the plants growing along the coastline. The students investigated the growing conditions of marram grass – which helps to stabilise the sand dunes and prevent coastal erosion.  Older sand dunes were found to have a lower density of marram grass, but higher plant species diversity overall when compared to younger dunes.

The students also studied the plants growing in the adjacent forest. The light-level conditions in the pine forest were studied with respect to the location of lichen on the tree bark.  The students concluded that the most favourable growing conditions were on the north facing tree trunks away from direct sunlight.

After spending a glorious summer’s day by the seaside, the students are now back in the lab analysing their data and presenting their findings!

For a selection of images please click this link:

Photos 13th July 2018

 

Y10 Mock NEA 2 Practical – Afternoon Tea

This week our Y10 food and nutrition students had a mock NEA 2 exam where they had to cook 2 or 3 items in 2 hours to meet the brief of ‘Afternoon Tea’. This was an excellent oppportunity to practise dovetailing in order to cook more than one item and time management to fit their dishes in the time allowed as best they could. Have a look at the photos to see their finished dishes – they definitely show promise for their real NEAs next year!

Girls Summer Coding Camp

For the 2nd year, Vodafone is running a 4-day coding workshop for girls aged 14-18, as part of a global programme spanning 26 countries. This programme will give girls the skills, confidence and encouragement to learn, develop and thrive in STEM fields and occupations. They will be taught the technical skills to build their own website including Html, CSS, GitHub and JQuery.

The Manchester course will take place at Atlas House, Monday 6th – Thursday 9th August.

Applicants must identify as a female/non-binary, be 14-18 years old, and have the necessary English language skills to complete the programme.

CLAG leaflet

Art Trophy Awarded to Lizzie Steele (Year 9)

 

This Years Junior Prize Giving Presentation night had a very special award to give. The past students from a group who attended Thomas Alleyne’s in 1961, visited the school a couple of years ago and were so impressed by the vibrant art department they donated a trophy to be awarded each year to the Junior and Senior student who had demonstrated outstanding creativity and ‘Original Thought in Art’. This year was the first opportunity to present to the Junior winner, Lizzie Steele. Past Art teacher Mrs Mary Shemza (who taught some of the class of ’61) also returned to the school and was given a tour around the Art department with current Head of Art Mrs Derby. It was interesting to note that although Mrs Shemza was part of the design of the art block, she didn’t get to teach here. Mrs Shemza was delighted to see that the place was full of art works and the energy of the work on display palpable, as well as how the spaces have adapted for our current needs including the ICT suite dedicated for digital photography.

Year 9 student Lizzie Steele has demonstrated outstanding ability in and out of school, where she has been commission to create portraits and animal studies. She is a worthy winner indeed. Although Lizzie was unable to make the Presentation evening itself, we have presented her with the Trophy (please see picture) and she is very pleased to receive it! Further images of Lizzie’s portfolio will follow in due course.

 

IMG_5944

TV and Set Designer Visits Art Department.

 
Past TAHS A Level Art and Photography student Ellie Koszak, came back to visit and talk to our current students after graduating from Cardiff University with a First Class degree in TV and Film Set Design.
Ellie talked through her degree course, design process and the exciting opportunities she has worked on already including Disney’s Aladdin Film, Disney’s Aretmis Fowl (released soon) , BBC’s Doctor Who, CBS crime documentary- Murder by the Sea game show Big Heads to name a few. It is an impressive CV already and one where timekeeping, work ethic and creativity are vitally important. Some of the exciting 3D models and a portfolio Ellie kindly let our students look through of past work are testament to the hard work Ellie has undertaken, but also a great insight for our students to see how careers in the creative industries are varied in a thriving economic sector. 
Our students were interested to see how her creative skills have been used from initial research, concept, drawings models and presentation. Skills from A level art and Photography were useful in developing ideas, but other skills such as CAD design were taught from scratch at university. Also how contacts in industry are made and cultivated so you get more work in the future.
We look forward to hearing from Ellie and other Past Students in their Art & Design Careers.
Ellie Koszak.jpg

Internet Safety

As we fast approach the summer holidays the students ill have more time to be on social media. Please see below parental fact-sheets for the main sites to assist you with your understanding.

 Facebook_Flyer(oct 17)AHV9 –

interactiveInstagram Safety

InteractiveSafer Internet Day 2018 –

Parents and Carers Pack – Factsheet

Snapchat Checklist interactive

Twitter Checklist-Interactive_0

French Exchange Students

 

Thomas Alleyne’s is welcoming four French students from the Limousin area. They have been to Birmingham and the Gladstone Pottery Museum. We hope they are enjoying our English weather!

 

Uniform at Thomas Alleyne’s

It is the time of year where school uniform begins to be replaced for the academic year ahead. Please see the details below of when the “uniform pop up shop” will be open in school over the summer holiday.
Please also see the specific details of our uniform policy. It is a clear expectation that this is followed correctly and we ask for the support of parents and carers with this. Please note skinny fit trousers are not accepted as part of our uniform policy. Any student who wears incorrect uniform will be asked to change and parents/carers will be contacted. 
Your support is very much appreciated, particularly to ensure we all make the best start possible to the new school year.
Any questions, please do contact your child’s Head of House.

Old Uniform

If you have any school uniform or PE kit that your child has grown out of we would welcome any donations in school. Students can drop this at their House offices.

Lockers for Students

Should you wish to hire a for your child over the next academic year, please see the details for this below.
If your child has rented a locker this year, please remind them to empty it before the summer break.

Careers

Don’t forget to check out the new careers page on tahsroundup.wordpress.com 

Another opportunity here for an Apprentice Electrician working in Rugeley
Also how about being a Business & Admin Apprentice at the Staffordshire Clinic Dental Practice in town:
The vacancy is currently advertised on indeed.com 

Links

Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop

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July 6th 2018

/ hadfieldj / Leave a comment

Thought for the Week 

 

No assemblies w/b 9th July due to the whole school taking part in reading during form time
Thoughts for the week:  on the theme of reading
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” 
― Groucho Marx
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” 
― Margaret Fuller
“Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.” 
― Stephen Fry

“One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time.” 
― Carl Sagan

 

 Headteacher blog:

This has been an exciting week at Thomas Alleyne’s in that we have had the opportunity to meet with  next year’s Year 9 students and their families.  

On Tuesday students were accompanied by parents and carers as they attended their House Transiton Evening. Students took  the opportunity to meet key staff who will be looking after them next year and I hope the evening did much to soothe the natural nerves that will be apparent during a period of significant change.  The positive comments we received about the evening indicate that we were successful in meeting our aims for the evening.   I would also like to thank Mrs Catterall and her team  the organisation of a complex event that made it run very smoothly.

On Wednesday and Thursday,  the Year 8 students attended for a full day of education at Thomas Alleyne’s and will have got to know some of the teaching staff in addition to their tutors, Heads of Houses and Student Support Assistants.  
On the first day I welcomed the students to the school in an assembly in which I stressed the importance of making a positive first impression.  I am pleased to report that the students were successful in achieving this.
On 10th of July I am looking forward to participating in the Junior Prize Giving Event where we will be celebrating the achievements of our Year 9 and 10 students.  This is always a special evening and a wonderful way to mark the ending of the school year.  
Mr Brunt

Dates for your diary

  
10th July Junior Prize Giving
20th July End of Term

4th September Start of Term

 

6th

What a success Future Intentions has been this week. Despite the hot weather all students were fully engaged with the activities that were undertaken.  All our guest speakers were complimentary on how well our students presented themselves and reacted positively to all situations ‘thrown’ at them.  It was lovely to see the participation in the sessions and the feedback that has been given to the Sixth Form Team was very positive.  There is a parental session on July 11th at 6.30pm to provide information and advice on post-18 options. We look forward to seeing you there.  I have attached some photographs so can see some of the activities that were carried out.

Thursday 5th July saw two of our wonderful Year 12 students shaving their head for Dougie Mac, our Sixth Form Charity. John Dee and Thomas Barrclough are going on the World Challenge next week and decided that as they were going to have their haircut they have their heads shaved and donate all money to the charity. They raised £50. Students who either watched or paid to help shave their heads gave the money. Some photographs were taken and these have been attached.

I would like to say a personal thanks to the future Year 12 students who either gave up their evening on Tuesday or came into school to support with the Year 8 Transition Days. They were amazing. We have had such a wonderful response from staff who have complimented them on their commitment to the school, some of them even arranged activities for some of the students on their lunch break on Thursday. I look forward to working with them as ABC Mentors in September, letters have been sent home to these students thanking them for their time.

History News

Over the last few weeks Mrs Young has tasked her Year 9 students to complete homework projects, the results have been ‘out of this world’. Both projects were based around current topics of World War Two and the Sixties. It is lovely to see such a varied range of individual and group work. An open brief was given to the students and all students rose to the challenge as well as the homework that you can see on the images there were also cakes and biscuits made and then shared amongst their peers. We love this type of homework as it compliments the rigerous writing tasks that we complete in lesson, homeworks and assessments. In room 15 there is an abundance of work that can be viewed by all students and staff.

Sports Day

This years Sports Day is on Wednesday 11th July.  All Heads of House and Form Tutors have team lists.  Changes can be made up until the day to competitor lists.

Science News

 

This week Mr Melland’s Year 12 A-level Physics group have been studying projectile motion by rolling a marble off the edge of a desk.
The students investigated the relationship between initial horizontal velocity of the marble and the range, which is the distance the marble travelled.
The students used light gates to measure the velocity of the marble and used either a sand tray or carbon paper where the marble fell to measure the range.
The students concluded that the initial horizontal velocity is directly proportional to the range.
The School’s PTA funded the new light gates that the students used during this investigation; Mr Melland would like to thank the PTA for their generosity and support.

 

This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mr Melland are:

Year 9
Chloe Yates and Caitlyn Woodings

Year 10
Sasikan Jaenprakhon
Libby Fry

All four students were selected for excellent effort and attainment.
Well done!

 

Pastoral students of the week

So many to name, but we and our new year 8s could not have had such a successful couple of transition days without the following students from years 9 and 11, all of whom were outstanding. They guided and supported the year 8s, and stood as models for conduct and approach. Our tremendous thanks to them all!

Issy Watts, Holly Chatfield, Eleanor McCarthy, Scarlet Simister, Freya Hadgett, Alice Boothby, Dylan James, Amelia Hadgett, Eve Bednall, Jack Doyle, Jimmy Wilson, Grace Harvey, Matthew Payne, Vicky Catterall, Katie Lawrence, Tom Johnson, Sophie Gibson, Max Hayes, Millie Hodges, Joe Haywood, Archie Whitehead, Kieran Coates, Amelia Barnacle, Amy Burrows, Lilly-Ella Holgate, Dan Campion, Lorna Hill, Beth Millward, Abbie Chilvers, Lucy Parker, Chloe Cartwright, Ellie Roobottom, Samantha Cotterill and Andrew Pye.

Reports

Year 9, 10 and 12 reports are now ready for you to view on Insight.

 

 

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Message from the Fire Service

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to communicate to young people how to stay safe during the warm weather we are currently experiencing. The main points to cover are as follows:
• Deliberately setting grass fires is a crime. It could result in a prison sentence or a £5000 fine.
• Grass fires are very dangerous as they can quickly spread and get out of control.
• Deliberate grass fires can also put both firefighters and members of the public at needless risk of injury.
• When enjoying the outdoors put rubbish in a nearby bin or take it home.
• Open water can be dangerous. There may be unseen dangers including the risk of waterborne disease. Cold water shock can kill within one minute of being in the water.
Only swim at lifeguarded pools
More safety information can be found on our website at http://www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk and we are also on Facebook ‘Staffordshires Fire and Rescue’ and Twitter ‘@Staffsfire’.
Please help to keep your pupils safe by sharing this information with them. It is really important that they enjoy the summer safely.

Reading Week

Next week sees our annual reading week whereby the whole school silent read for 30 minutes each morning. Students are required to bring in a book for this period, one that will captivate them and keep them engrossed for the whole week.

 

New Logo

Thanks to Mrs Turner in the D and T Department for designing the logo for the Uttoxeter Learning Trust Teaching School.  Her vision for this design is explained below:
The teaching school logo is based on the idea of a tree signifying growth and enrichment, the overlapping of the leaves show our collaboration as colleagues and schools work together to share strengths and skills; the colours used throughout Thomas Alleyne’s High School are reflected in the logo.

FINAL curved TS logo (1)FINAL side TS logo (7)

Bake off challenge!

Our Y10 students are about to do their mock NEA 2 practical next week in preparation for next year. This week they bought cupcakes they had made at home and practised different decorating techniques focusing on piping and presentation skills.

Some lovely plates presented which is no mean feat in this hot weather!

They will be cooking their own version of afternoon tea next week.

 

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Uniform at Thomas Alleyne’s

It is the time of year where school uniform begins to be replaced for the academic year ahead. Please see the details below of when the “uniform pop up shop” will be open in school over the summer holiday.
Please also see the specific details of our uniform policy. It is a clear expectation that this is followed correctly and we ask for the support of parents and carers with this. Please note skinny fit trousers are not accepted as part of our uniform policy. Any student who wears incorrect uniform will be asked to change and parents/carers will be contacted. 
Your support is very much appreciated, particularly to ensure we all make the best start possible to the new school year.
Any questions, please do contact your child’s Head of House.

Old Uniform

If you have any school uniform or PE kit that your child has grown out of we would welcome any donations in school. Students can drop this at their House offices.

Lockers for Students

Should you wish to hire a for your child over the next academic year, please see the details for this below.
If your child has rented a locker this year, please remind them to empty it before the summer break.

Careers

Don’t forget to check out the new careers page on tahsroundup.wordpress.com 

Another opportunity here for an Apprentice Electrician working in Rugeley
Also how about being a Business & Admin Apprentice at the Staffordshire Clinic Dental Practice in town:
The vacancy is currently advertised on indeed.com 

Links

Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop

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June 29th 2018

/ hadfieldj / Leave a comment

Thought for the Week 

 

There will be House assemblies on Monday and Tuesday led by Mrs Maingay on the theme of ‘CHANGE’
Thought for the week
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 
― Nelson Mandela
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” 
― Rumi

 Headteacher blog:

Today saw the return of our Year 11 students in all of their finery as they attended their Year 11 Celebration Day.  The Celebration Day is a hugely important Thomas Alleyne’s tradition and a wonderful way to mark the end of the students’ time with us before they move on to their various Post 16 destinations.  
Of course,  many of our students will be returning to Thomas Alleyne’s to join our 6th form and we look forward to them beginning the next stage of their journey with us in September.  I would like to wish every success to all of the students who are moving on from Thomas Alleyne’s as they start their apprenticeships,  college courses and new employment.
I has the privilege of welcoming the students this morning to St Mary’s Church for their leavers service and took time to reflect on how quickly time passes since the students sat in the same venue at the start of Year 9 for their welcome service.  
Looking towards the future,  I am particularly looking forward to meeting next years’ families and students at our transition evening on Tuesday,  where there will be an opportunity to meet key staff and hear about new and exciting developments in school relating to our recently awarded teaching school status and building improvement programme. In addition,  I know our staff are looking forward to seeing the new Year 9 students on Wednesday and Thursday next week  as they attend their two transition days.
I would like to finish this blog by wishing everyone a nice weekend and I hope you get the opportunity  to enjoy the good weather while it lasts.
Mr Brunt

Dates for your diary

  
3rd July Year 8 Induction Evening
4th & 5th July Year 8 Transition Days
10th June Junior Prize Giving

 

6th

Monday 2nd July and Tuesday 3rd July is Future Intentions for Year 12. They will be off timetable for those two days completing a whole host of activities linked to their ‘next step’. They will be looking at Post-18 options such as work, apprenticeships and university courses. Attendance at these sessions is compulsory as is normal school uniform. All Year 12 students were informed of this in assembly today.   A schedule will be issued to students upon arrival at school on Monday and we will put it on Insight for parents to access.  Please contact us if you require further information. We would also like to inform you that will be a parental session on July 11th at 6.30pm to provide information and advice on post-18 options.
In assembly this morning, we made reference to school uniform. We have noticed that as the weather has improved that the uniform has become unacceptable in some cases. As a Sixth Form we do not accept short lycra skirts or off the shoulder tops to be acceptable for the girls. It must be smart work wear so we would remind all parents to support us on this. Unless stated by the Head Teacher ties must be worn at all times in school by the young men in Year 12, again we ask for your support on this. 

This week I led the ABC Mentor training for our future Year 12 students and was pleased with their attitude and commitment to the school by volunteering their time over the next week, these students are already showing potential to be on the Senior Prefect Team.

If any Year 11 students missed their taster sessions then can they visit the school website and all the information they need is in the Sixth Form section.

 

FI Plan 2018 – RR

Celebration day

With the GCSE exams  finished, we were today able to formally celebrate the achievements of our year 11 students. It was a glorious morning as the students arrived in their finery, and we started with the traditional service in St Mary’s Church. Many parents and family members were able to join us in the church, which the students really appreciated. Then it was back to school for presentations from their form tutors, lunch and ice lollies in the sunshine, musical performances and the student-led awards, before the students departed for the last time as year 11s. 
We would like to say again how proud we are of the year 11s, and of how they conducted themselves today. A huge thank you to all the students and staff who contributed, and we look forward to seeing many of you on results day. 

We will share images once they have been sorted & checked.

Art Show

See a sample of images for the fantastic art show below, further images can be seen under this link 

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Rotary Competition and Arts Society Awards Evening
Thanks to all who were involved, supported and took part in the Rotary Young Photographer of the Year Awards held at TAHS on Tuesday 26th alongside our A-Level Art Show.  Well done to all our winners who attended along with an extra big congratulations to Erica Poyser who won the Arts Society award for outstanding overall performance in her A-Level Art and Photography.
It was great to see lots of parents and students attending alongside past Alleynians from the Class of 1961 and our Mayor Mrs.Trenery.  As for our Artists and Photographers….we are all really proud of you!

Screen Addiction

 Do you know the signs…..

Screen-Addiction-Guide-May-2018 – all years

 News from PE

U15 Staffordshire Moorlands Cricket Semi-Final
 
On Thursday Thomas Alleynes travelled to Cheadle cricket club in fantastic weather to play competition favourites Painsley.   Alleyne’s lost the toss and bowled first. We made a great start with Harvey Belcher removing star man Degg with a good catch from Owen Carrington.  At the other end Frankie Bussell bowled a great spell getting the other opener caught behind by Dreher for a duck and then bowling number 3 Lowe for another duck and number 5 Lowe for 1.  The Painsley middle order though dug in and took the score from 19 for 4 to 98 for 6.
In reply Alleyne’s began well with Gregor Hayes finding the boundary regularly scoring 21 before chipping to mid off.  Then disaster struck as we went from 41 for 2 off 5 overs to 49 all out off 12 overs. A disappointing result after we gave our selves a great opportunity to win.
BBAll.png

Year 9 Cricket.

 
On Thursday year 9 played Abbott Beyne in the league.  Once again the team produced an excellent to beat them by 47 runs.  Electing to bat first Alleyne’s got off to a great start with 37 runs coming from the first four overs, a succession of wickets then feel with captain John Ball needing to steady the team. He came into bat and hit an unbeaten 30 runs.  This allowed Alleyne’s to score 120 runs off 16 overs.  Abbot Beyne’s opening batsmen resisted well against opening bowlers Whitehead and Ashton  but they could not match the scoring rate of Alleyne’s.  As Abbot Beyne’s need for runs increased wickets started to tumble, Alleyne’s bowlers bowled a steady line and length and eventually they were bowled out for 73.  That is 2 wins out of 2 in the league.  Well done. 

Science News

 

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

Year 9

Levi Gill and Alyssa Shaw for hard work in chemistry lessons.

Year 10

Mason White and Amy Latchford for hard work and revision in chemistry.

This week’s Animal Care Students of the Week selected by Mrs North are:

Mia Stevens and Rowan Hall for all their hard work in preparing to do the farm mural.

Well done!

 Summer Concert

Thomas Alleyne’s Summer Concert will be held on Wednesday 18th July at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased in the on-line shop or via Julie in the Finance Office at a cost of £5 each (£3 concessions).
I would really like to ask all who can sing to attend choir on Monday lunchtimes in Room 67 (as we don’t have enough singers for the concert). Also anybody who would like to offer a ‘humourous’ musical act in the concert should see Mr Power in Room 67 asap.

Year 9 Vaccinations

3rd July – all year 9 vaccinations in the old Gym
Form tutors will advise them of the time to attend for their vaccination.
If parents have not returned the form please do so asap.  Replacement forms available from the office.

 

 

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Vacancies @ TAHS

Come and join the team we presently have vacancies for:
Teaching School Administrator
Inclusion Supervisor
School Librarian
Inclusion Support Assistant
Further details are on the main school website

Hamper Raffle

These beautiful hampers are the result of your amazing donations and the PTA wish to thank you all for your magnificent efforts. Tickets are £1.00 a strip and are now available via reception and at the Junior Prize Giving on Tuesday 10th July and Summer Concert Wednesday 18th July.
Don’t miss out on the chance to win one of these fabulous prizes!
Thank you
PTA

Careers

Don’t forget to check out the new careers page on tahsroundup.wordpress.com 

Foxes are recruiting for Engineering aApprentices please see this link for further details.

APPRENTICE – Engineering

Links

Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop

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