TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
Sixth Form Skills Session
There is a mandatory skills session with your Sixth Form form tutor scheduled for the following time next week:
Week 2 – P3 on Wednesday 24th March from 2.05pm – 3.05pm
This session will be replacing your timetabled lesson if you have one at that time. Please remember to bring you TAP booklet with you for this session. This is the booklet you received in your resources pack Copy attached as a reminder.
There will be another skills session on Thursday 1st April – more details to follow regarding this in next week’s round up.
You must attend this session even if you have a non-contact or no scheduled lesson as registers will be taken.
Year 13
Look out for opportunities and information regarding apprenticeships and virtual workshops on offer. This information is available to everyone even if you have applied to University.
Virtual Workshops ASK Programme.
Virtual Workshops information sheet
These virtual workshops will encourage students to undertake practical, engaging activities to help to prepare them for an apprenticeship. These workshops will look at the whole recruitment process from Applications, interviews and online processes. These will be interactive and fun!!!!!
Workshop 1 – Recognising your strengths
Activity overview- Students will gain an understanding of what ‘strengths’ are. They will identify their top 5 strengths and assess themselves for each of these strengths and come up with an example of their top strength. Students will be encouraged to discuss why strengths are important when applying for jobs by competing interactive activities.
Workshop 2 – Write a winning application
Activity overview – Students will gain an understanding of how to write engaging and well-structured answers to the application questions on Find an apprenticeship. They will learn to identify buzz words in vacancy adverts and will analyse the strengths and weaknesses of answers to the 3 questions included.
Workshop 3 – Interview Skills
Activity overview – Students will gain an understanding of face to face and online interviews. They will discover what to expect from the different interview situations, how to prepare and how to structure their responses to questions
Workshop 4 – Preparing for online recruitment
Activity overview – Students will gain a detailed understanding of what to expect from online recruitment methods, including video interviews, online testing and the use of different platforms. They will discover how to prepare and how to structure their responses to questions effectively
Workshop 5 – Searching for jobs in the current market
Activity overview – The purpose of this activity is to encourage individuals who are seeking jobs to consider a range of resources and support when searching in the current climate, considering the types of jobs that are advertising at the moment
Workshop 6 – Boost your employability
Activity overview – Students will be encouraged to identify, capture and plan for practical ways that they can boost their employability. Students will share examples of where they have enhanced their skills / knowledge / experience during lockdown, and then complete an Employability Action Plan which captures their actions to further boost their employability.
Assessment Updates
Year 9 Assessments
In the weeks leading up to Easter, you will be receiving assessments in your Core subjects; English, Maths and Science.
These will test the skills and knowledge that you have learnt over this year, but your subject teachers will guide you to areas on which to focus your revision. It is important to use your time out of school making sure that you are revising and re-reading notes. Remember that many lessons are available on Teams for you to re-use to support your learning.
Year 10 and 12 Trial Exam- 21st June- 2nd July
Students in Year 10 and 12 will be sitting trial exams from the 21st June.
These are a useful way for us to assess your learning over the first year of your GCSE, BTec or A Level courses. So that you are well prepared for the final year of your courses, these will be formal, timed assessments in the style of exam papers that you would expect to see when you sit your terminal exams.
You may be assessed on content that you have been taught over the course, including that delivered during remote lessons. Starting revision now will help you to feel prepared for these assessments. A good starting point would be to go through your exercise books; you could use post it notes to identify where you need to add to your notes or ask questions of your teachers if you are unsure.
A timetable for the Year 10 and 12 Trial Exams will be published to students in May.
Year 11 and 13 Assessment Fortnight- 23rd April- 10th May
Students in Year 11 and 13 will be sitting a range of formal assessments. The majority of these will take place between 23rd April and 10th May.
It is important that you are provided with the opportunity to evidence the level at which you are working. The assessments will provide us with one piece of evidence as we work to submit your grades- However, please do be assured that this will not be the only piece of information used.
You will be guided on the topic for the assessments to ensure that you can feel prepared and to give you time to review this area of the curriculum. This information has been shared in Mrs Rudge’s Parent News on Friday, 19th March. You may be assessed on content that you have been taught over the course, including that delivered during remote lessons. Starting revision now will help you to feel prepared for these assessments. A good starting point would be to go through your exercise books; you could use post it notes to identify where you need to add to your notes or ask questions of your teachers if you are unsure.
For any assessments, your subject teachers will guide you through these and please be assured that you will only be assessed on materials that you have covered in class.
Geography
Year 11 revision sessions will be starting up again on Tuesday 23rd March, then running every Tuesday, between 3:15 and 4pm in Miss Robinson’s room. These sessions will focus on the topics that will be coming up on the assessments that will take place after Easter. Students from all year 11 geography classes are welcome to attend.
Year 13 revision sessions will also take place on Friday’s after-school in Mr Harris’ room. More information on these sessions will be given out during lessons.
PE Update
PE – Update
This week we have returned to practical PE lessons. Please ensure all students have full PE Kit. They will all require Reversible Rugby Top (This is to be worn for all outdoor lessons), Black Polo shirt, Black Shorts, Black Football Socks, Shin Pads, Gum Shield, Football Boots, Indoor Trainers. Activities are on Insight. If students are injured or unwell they should bring a note and their PE kit as the will still have a role to play in the lesson and should have a coat if the weather in inclement.
Year 9 Options – On the Core PE Team is a presentation on the option subject we offer for PE, Entitled BTEC Tech Sport Activity & Fitness. There is also further information and materials about the course.
It is important you are trying to get 60 minutes of physical activity and eating healthily each day. Why not have a go at making your own fitness or healthy cooking video and send it in on Teams? For Ideas and inspiration have a look at files on the Core PE Team.
BTEC Sport**
We have purchased on line learning resources for BTEC Students in Yr10, 11, 12, 13. Please see Teams for Log In details and how to access the resources **
Year 10 – students are working towards coursework on Sports Injuries.
Year 11- All Component 3 coursework needs completing on Teams. Students are now beginning to practice their practical leadership and so need PE kit for lessons.
Year 12- Students are now working on Unit 3 developing understanding of the sports industry. Students should now be using homework and independent study time to work on their Coursework.
Year 13- Students have received an individual mark breakdown via email. It is important that they use this to access lessons and resources they require. With uncertainty around summer exams it is vital students are fully prepared for the units they are taking to give them the best chance of their highest grade.
Please see message below from Uttoxeter Cricket Club- They are also require a wicket keeper for their U15 team
Dear parents and carers,
Are you looking for the opportunity to involve your child in a fun outdoor activity this summer? Why not come down to junior training at Uttoxeter Cricket Club in Marchington? It doesn’t matter whether you are experienced or new to the game, we have coaching programmes to suit all ages and abilities in a safe and sociable environment for both children and parents.
Our sessions are planned to start on Friday 9th April and will run through to mid-September.
For more information, please contact Rick Ormiston on rickuttoxeterjnrcc@gmail.com.
Science News
All Year 9 students will be taking a science assessment in the week beginning 29.03.21. The test will be out of 60 marks and comprise equal amounts of Biology, Chemistry and Physics marks. The topics to review are listed below. The Science Department will be loading a Year 9 Science Assessment TEAMS account over this weekend and adding hints, tips and links to revision in preparation for this assessment.
Biology
Cell structure, microscopes and differentiation to specialised cells
Cell division and mitosis
Transport in and out of cells
Chemistry
Atomic Structure and electron arrangement
The history and development of the Periodic Table
Trends and reactivity within the Periodic Table groups
Physics
Contact and non-contact forces, Magnets and Electromagnetism
Scalars and vectors, Gravity and Hooke’s Law
Speed, distance, time and stopping distances and Density
This week’s Science Students of the Week
Year 9
Miss Thorley would like to nominate Ashton H 9E2 for an amazing first lesson back with a seriously improved work ethic and high standard of verbal and written contributions to the lesson!
Year 10
Miss Thorley would like to nominate Chloe F 10E2 for always coming to lesson with a hard-working attitude and successfully recapping all of our lockdown work on Energy and Work Done.
Year 12
Mrs Gwynne would like to nominate Tommy M and Adam M in her A Level Biology group for creating particularly good mitosis revision resources.
Mrs Hughes would like to nominate Jack B, Jamie, Tom and Izzy for a great result in their A Level Chemistry test.
Mr Melland would like to nominate Harry C and Ben S in his A Level Physics group for making good progress in their Circuits assessments.
Royal Society of Chemistry – UK Chemistry Olympiad 2021
Mr Mitchell would like to say a massive (massive) well done to Vicky C, Aaron G and Emma R for competing in the National Chemistry Olympiad Competition. This is an incredibly difficult challenge that all three students took on during lockdown. We are immensely proud of their achievements and great plaudits must go to the students for achieving awards, 2 Silvers and a Bronze, in this competition.
Very well done!
English Stars
The English department has been enjoying seeing classes back in face to face lessons over the last two weeks. So many of you have been working brilliantly and we are pleased to make a special note of our students of the week:
Year 9 Will F, Amina K, Laura G, Susie C
Year 10 Ben L, Spencer D
Year 11 Duncan C, Jessie, Meg, Millie, Owen, Alex P, Ben B, Harley S
Year 12 Eve B
Year 13 Tom F
Congratulations to Maddie A for winning first place in the Uttoxeter Rotary Club Young Writer Competition, 14 to 17 age group. Thank you to all those that took part on behalf of Thomas Allayne’s High School.
Year 11 GCSE Maths
Over the next 10 weeks, Year 11 students will complete a GCSE maths past paper in class every other week. Revision lists will be made available on Teams and Insight before each paper.
Week beginning 29th March (week 3)
| 11H Tuesday 30th Period 2 | 11U Tussday 30th period 1 |
Week beginning 26th April (week 1) – Assessment week
| 11H Tuesday 30th Period 2 | 11U Tussday 30th period 1 |
Week beginning 10th May (week 3)
| 11H Tuesday 30th Period 2 | 11U Tussday 30th period 1 |
Week beginning 24th May (week 1)
| 11H Friday 19th Period 1 | 11U Thursday 18th period 1 |
Good sources of revision:
https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk/vle/
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z38pycw
BTEC ICT
Congratulations to our year 13 and 12 BTEC ICT students for a fantastic set of results in the January examinations.
Against all the odds, disruption and lockdowns you performed and excelled.
Career of the week
| Job title: | Interior Designer – Interior designers plan and supervise the layout and decoration of the inside of buildings |
| Routes into this career: | University – You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject like: interior design art and design interior architecture spatial design You’ll usually need: 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree College – You could take a college course to get started, for example: Level 3 Diploma in Interior Design Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design A Level in Art and Design You may need: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and a creative subject Apprenticeship – You could do a furniture design technician advanced apprenticeship to get into interior design. To get onto an apprenticeship, you’ll find it useful to have: 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship |
| What you’ll earn: | Starter: £18,000 – Experienced: £45,000 |
| What skills will I need? | You’ll need: design skills and knowledge to be thorough and pay attention to detail customer service skills the ability to come up with new ways of doing things the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure knowledge of building and construction the ability to use your initiative the ability to work well with others to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently |
| Day to day duties: | Your day-to-day tasks may include: meeting clients to discuss their requirements and ideas developing designs to suit clients’ needs, their budget, and the type of building preparing initial sketches and mood boards for the client to approve advising on use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture working out costs and preparing estimates creating detailed drawings from the initial sketches, usually on a computer finding suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, and wall and floor covering |
| Career path and progression: | You could move into related work like theatre set design, visual merchandising, exhibition design or furniture design. |
Information sourced directly from www.nationalcareersservice.gov.uk ,
You can get more details about careers and training in design from the British Institute of Interior Design.
You can get information on working in this and other creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
If you have any suggestions for a career you would like to know more about then please email me at featherstone@tahs.net
Thomas Alleyne's high school 