TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
Well do to all our Year 12 and Year 13 students who have successfully navigated their way through the last 8 weeks. We have implemented changes and would like to remind all students, with your support, that they must sit facing forward at all times in lessons and also in their social areas (common room, study room, wooden gym). We have needed to remind some of the importance of facing forward which, we feel, we shouldn’t need to do as Sixth Formers. Thank you to those that always follow our new school policies. Again thanks to those that continually wear their face covering when moving around the school, this is useful as it sets a wonderful example to lower school students.
I would like to remind all students of the ‘rule of 6’ as they go through half term and for when they return after and that when they are in school that they should be social distancing and following protocols. We have placed hand sanitisers in all classrooms and social areas and that all students should be using them when entering and leaving the venue. Our site staff monitor these regularly and ensure that are always working.
It is important that students in Year 13 and 12 are monitoring their Insight, Teams and Outlook as these are the ways that we will communicate with your child. If your child is unable to attend school please let us know by calling in or emailing Mrs Walton on sixthform@tahs.org.uk, if they are well enough then please encourage them to use aforementioned platforms as this is where their teachers will set the work for the lesson, all students can submit work to their teacher via Teams or Outlook.
After half term all students will have a new timetable. This information will be on Insight. A way to check this is for them to log onto Insight and put in a date after half term and it will allow them to see their timetable. It is important to check this before they return. This new timetable will also show skills sessions, where they will meet as a tutor group. If you have any queries regarding this then please email me younge@tahs.net.
All Year 13 students should be focusing on revision as well as their Next Steps. UCAS is open for applications for university 2021 entry. All students should have completed their personal statements and their form tutors or subject teachers should have been able to have provided feedback. If you would like advice then please ask.
All students should be accessing Unifrog, we have instructed all to have logged on and should be looking at Post 18 opportunities, including university courses and apprenticeships. Unifrog is also for parents and if you would like help navigating this platform then please ask.
Year 9 Tutor Evening
Thank you to all parents who attended Wednesday’s parent evening. It was pleasing to see and hear so many conversations taking place throughout the evening. If you were unable to attend please contact your child’s tutor if you have any concerns. Thank you.
Half Term Year 11 Walking Talking Mocks
Over half term staff will be running virtual revision sessions throughout the week, please see the timetable for the sessions. Thank you to all staff and pupils in these sessions.
GCSE Drama Students of the Week
Year 9: Kiera J and Libby H for excellent progress in our theatre review lessons
Year 10: Jasmin W for an outstanding attitude to learning in our theatre review lessons
Year 11: Lucy L for excellent focus and dedication with her devised piece
Excellent Health & Social Care Coursework Submitted
Here in the Social & Health studies department, we are very proud of the coursework that our year 11 Health & Social Care students have been submitting this week. The theory for this work was done during lockdown and since returning in September they have been applying their knowledge to 2 celebrities with outstanding results. We are so very proud of them all and looking forward to excellent results at the end of the course. If you are in year 9 and thinking of choosing Health & Social Care as an option, look through the pictures to see some of what you will be learning about.
Geography News
Just a reminder for ALL year 11 Geography students:
On Tuesday 27th October, Miss Robinson will be running a ‘walking, talking’ mock revision session on both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of your Geography exams.
These will be:
Paper 1 – Tuesday at 10am-12pm
Paper 2 – Tuesday at 12:30pm-2:30pm
Both of the papers that we will be going through will be uploaded onto the Y11 Geography Teams files – you can either print these off if you would like a physical copy to make notes on OR have as an electronic copy.
Both of these sessions will be recorded and saved to the Y11 Geography Teams (if you are unable to attend one of/both of these sessions).
If you are attending these sessions, please join the session with your camera on so we can verify who you are.
Hope to see as many of you as possible!
Mission YTF
Mr Hollins is proud to announce that Joe H in Year 10 has won this year’s ‘Mission YTF’ competition. His entry, based on J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, placed first, beating all other entries from across Staffordshire. Well done Joe!
PE Update
We have been really impressed with students’ engagement in PE lessons since September.We are now delivering practical PE lessons. The activities delivered are based on the government’s guidance. Please ensure all students in Years 9, 10 and 11 have all items of PE kit and that they fit correctly.
PE kit / Uniform List
- Black TAHS polo shirt
- Reversible TAHS rugby shirt ( This is for all outdoor lessons not just rugby)
- Black Shorts
- Black Football socks
- Black Swimming shorts / Swimming costume
- Shin Pads (Must be worn for Football and Hockey)
- Gum Shield (Must be worn for Hockey and Rugby)
- Football Boots
- Indoor Trainers
Optional – Black Skort, Black TAHS fleece, Plain Black leggings, Plain Black Tracksuit bottomsCoats can be worn outside in inclement weather for PE.
Students will be informed of the activities they are doing on Insight. Due to the nature of the timetable and the changing government advice it is important students check this before each PE lesson for any changes.
BTEC Tech Award Sport Activity & Fitness- Yr11 students have got an online revision session on Teams from 10am-12 on Tuesday 27th October. This is in preparation for exam in Feb which will give students the opportunity to improve on the grade they were allocated by the exam board in the summer. Students allocated a L2D do not need to attend.
BTEC Tech Award Sport Activity & Fitness- Coursework. Both Year 10 and 11 all have a piece of coursework due in on the first day back after half terms. This can be uploaded to Teams or handed in on paper. All support resources for this are on Teams.
PE students of the half term- Yr 9 Core PE – Bella R and Callum R
Yr10 Core PE – Tasha M and Liam A
Yr11 Core PE – Ellie A and Sam E
Yr10 BTEC Sport – Harriet E and Alistair D
Yr11 BTEC Sport – Mia B and Ben T
Online Safety
How much do you know about the social media apps your children use? Have a look at these handy Parental Guides to, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp & TikTok.
MFL
ThisIsLanguage.com Leaders
In a controversial twist, former champion Joe seems to have lost all of his previous points after a group change – Grace A is now top of the table. Ben in Y9 has more than doubled his score, and it’s all to play for in the next few weeks with at least 10 people merely a hundred points behind the current champ.
Higher Tier Walking Talking Mock
Keep an eye out for messages home/emails/Teams messages about the WTM taking place Friday 30th October at 10:00am. We will be looking at the 150 word task, translation, and section B of the listening and reading papers (the bits all in French).
Please contact Mr Noon if you want to join.
Half-term joy
Check Insight from tomorrow if you’re bored. You will be without French lessons, and it’s OK to admit that life isn’t the same without us. Just go on Insight and find some French-based joy.
English Success
Well done on a very busy and productive term in English. Students have been working hard and particular praise goes to:
Year 9
Logan C, Luke N, Oakley P
Year 10
Harmony G, Henry F, Eloise P, Sarah W, Tim W, Neve R, Henry A
Year 11
Alexander C, Evie N, Ellie S, Evie B
Year 12
Charlie S, Martha M, Rosie Mai KP, Darius B
Year 13
Chloe L, Maddie M
Pastoral Update
So we have made it. 8 very long, challenging but also inspiring weeks. It’s now time to have a rest, reflect on what we have achieved and look forward to what the next half term may bring us all.
Amazing Apprenticeships
On Tuesday 20th October our year 11’s had a talk on apprenticeships during their skills session. This was run by Daniel Birch from Amazing Apprenticeships and included information on the wide range of different apprenticeships on offer as well as how to start looking for an apprenticeship opportunity if that is a route you are considering. We hope they all found it useful. More information can be found on https://amazingapprenticeships.com/.
If you do have any further questions regarding apprenticeships then you can come to see Mrs Featherstone in room 74 – email first at featherstone@tahs.net.
School Website – Careers Section
You may have noticed that there is a new tab on the school website called Careers. The page includes; information about the local labour market, the support that is available to our students, links to subject career booklets and other important information in regards to future intentions. You will find the careerometer and skillsometer in the ‘exploring your careers ideas’ section, this will give you quick information about your potential pathways. We will be updating and building these pages over the next few weeks so if there is anything you feel would be useful then please let us know at futureintentions@tahs.org.uk.
Career of the week
I have selected Speech and Language Therapists as our career of the week. Speech and Language therapists support people with a range of different communication barriers and special needs.
| Job title: Speech Therapist | Speech and language therapists help children and adults who have speaking and communication problems. |
| Entry requirements: | You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or a university course. For an university course you’ll need a degree in speech and language therapy that’s approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). If you’ve got a degree in a science or language-based subject, you could do a 2-year fast-track postgraduate course in speech and language therapy. Entry requirements You’ll usually need: 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study You’ll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in the health or care sector before you apply for a course. For an apprenticeship you’ll usually need: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship |
| What skills will I need? | You’ll need: knowledge of English language sensitivity and understanding the ability to work well with others to be flexible and open to change to be thorough and pay attention to detail excellent verbal communication skills patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device |
| Day to Day tasks could include: | talk to clients, observe them and use tests to assess specific difficulties plan and develop therapy programmes support clients through treatment work closely with colleagues like doctors and teachers coach parents and carers to continue their therapy at home keep detailed progress records work with groups or individuals to improve the way they communicate |
| What you’ll earn: | Starting Salary from £24,907 up to £44,503 as your experience develops. |
| Working hours, patterns and environment: | 28-40 Hours a week between 8am and 6pm You may work privately or for the NHS. |
| More information: | https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/speech-and-language-therapist https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/speech-and-language-therapist |
Information sourced directly from www.nationalcareersservice.com If you have any suggestions for a career you would like to know more about then please email us at futureintentions@tahs.org.uk
Toyota Opportunities
Toyota have sent us an email to inform us of their new apprenticeship opportunities for 2021. They will be hiring 36 students for our Production Apprenticeship and 12 for our Maintenance Apprenticeship. They are hosting open evenings which need to be booked https://recruitment.toyotauk.com/ on
Production Apprenticeship Dates
Tuesday 10th November 2020
Thursday 19th November 2020
Maintenance Apprenticeship Dates
Monday 9th November 2020
Wednesday 18th November 2020
This could be a fantastic opportunity for some of our students and worth having a look at.
Links
Thomas Alleyne's high school 