TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
SIXTH FORM TRANSITION
The three weeks of transition lessons have now come to an end.
We have been very impressed with how students have embraced the opportunity for transition and hope that they now feel in a better position and more prepared for Sixth Form.
We have received some very positive feedback from teachers.
If you have any questions about Sixth Form or wish to apply for a place in the Sixth Form, please contact Mrs Walton in the Sixth Form office on 01889 561820 or email sixthform@tahs.org.uk
YEAR 12 UCAS REGISTRATION
Year 12 students, be on the lookout next week as Mrs Dodd will be sending out information on how to register for UCAS.
YEAR 12 YOUNG LEADERS IN SERVICE AWARD
We are continuing to offer the internationally recognised Lions Young Leaders In Service Award. Any unpaid community service counts eg mowing the lawn for a neighbour, coaching another student in their studies, sports coaching, brownies and guides, shopping for others etc. Awards are given from 25 hours per year for bronze up to 100 hours per year for gold. Please see Mrs Bell for a log sheet or contact bell@tahs.net.
LIONS VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY
Uttoxeter Lions are hoping to hold a litter picking event in the town (or any other local area). If you would be interested in leading this project, please see Mrs Bell or email bell@tahs.net. This can count towards your YLIS award and would be excellent evidence for leadership for personal statements and job applications.
Calling All Creative Minds
Writing To Reflect
Enter now for your chance to win a programme place and tablet!
At InvestIN, we want to finish the school year on a high by taking a moment to reflect on
what we have gained this year, rather than what we have lost.
To celebrate National Writing Day, we’re calling on students aged 12-18 to enter our ‘Writing to Reflect’ competition. We’re looking for positive, thoughtful submissions detailing a skill or life lesson you have learnt outside the classroom and how you think it will benefit your future.
Shortlisted entries will be judged by a professional writer and the winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a place on one of our ‘Live Online’ weekend programmes! For every entry, we’ll make a donation to UNICEF, whose life-changing work helps children across the world access education.
The deadline for entries is Friday 6th August and must be no more than 250 words. Enter now for your chance to win!
YEAR 12 GCSE CERTIFICATES
Students who have not received their next GCSE certificates can collect them from Mrs Walton in the Sixth Form office
COVID-19 Test Kits
Any Sixth Form students who have not received their next batch of COVID-19 test kits can collect them from Mrs Walton in the Sixth Form office.
Year 13 – Gofundme
Can you help support our Year 13 students.
Over the past 18 months students education has been massively disrupted due to COVID-19 and everyone has had to work tirelessly to adapt to an unprecedented and ever-changing environment.
Normally, the Senior Prefect Team, would have been organising Sixth Form balls, fundraisers, and activities for the sixth form to raise the funds to provide an end of year celebration of what we have achieved in the Sixth Form. Sadly, however, this has not been possible ☹️. We feel like it is our responsibility to provide one final celebration for our peers so that they can finish off this chapter in a positive way.
We are therefore reaching out to the community in trying to raise money to support us in paying for our formal leaver’s celebration, making it accessible to everyone in Year 13, regardless of their circumstances.
If you would like to support us you can make a donation on our gofundme page by clicking on the link : https://gofund.me/aadc3a6b
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
Well Done Frankie
Congratulations to Frankie G (Y10) who got a commendation at the Support Staffordshire Volunteer of the Year Awards.
For her volunteering at the community Center which she did before COVID but did a lot more during lockdown helping with food bank, activity packages for children, helped out at holiday hunger days.
Aspiring Medics in Year 11
There is a free online event for year 11s and soon-to-be 12s who are just starting to think about applying to medical school. This is primarily aimed at year 11s who will be starting A-levels (or equivalent) in September 2021. It will involve Doctors and current medical students covering the application timeline, work experience, entrance exams and everything they need to hit the ground running in September. An event timetable can be found on the Google registration link below.
Event name: Medicine Application Timeline – Getting Ready
Location: Online
Date: 21st August 2021
Ages: Current year 11 (going into year 12 in September)
This is a FREE event and booked on a first come first serve basis.
Google registration link: https://forms.gle/Dud254nM1dozd3uF7
PE Update
It has been great for students to return to PE lessons. We have begun the term with, rounders, cricket, softball, swimming, tennis and frisbee. Please ensure all students have full PE Kit. They will all require , Black Polo shirt, Black Shorts, Sports socks, Indoor Trainers. Students also require a black swim costume / black swim shorts. 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. 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 and Technology
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. During lessons students are taking part in practical methods of training.
English Stars
English department student of the week nominations go to:
Year 9 9HB – the entire class for doing amazing presentations and listening respectfully/ asking thoughtful questions when it wasn’t their turn to present
Year 10 Ryan B, Shannon B, Tyler R, Jason A, Lucy B, Hannah W, Flo W, Chloe K, Amy-Lee J, Jack T, Chloe S, Jake L, Callum G
Year 11 Freya S, Alyssa W, Erin H, May C, Evie N
Year 12 Katie G
Amber C for showing resilience
Congratulations to everyone nominated by their teachers!
Dementia Awareness & First Aid in Health & Social Care
Our Health & Social care transition group had some great vocational experiences this week with a Dementia Awareness course aimed at promoting our knowledge of all kinds of dementia. All students passed the course and were awarded a badge as they became ‘Dementia Friends’. We have also been learning the skills for CPR in emergency situations and using practice AED devices to watch defibrillation in practice.
Coming soon ….. Our year 12 students are visiting Staffordshire University Centre of Clinical Excellence on 14th July.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
I have created a new tab on the school website where I will post apprenticeship opportunities shared with the school. At the moment there are two accounting opportunities, a welding and fabrication and a carpentry role which have all been shared by local businesses with the school.
Thomas Alleyne’s High School – Local Job Vacancies (thomasalleynes.uk)
If students need support applying for apprenticeships then they can contact me at featherstone@tahs.net.
In addition I have also uploaded a parents information video on apprenticeships on the following link: Thomas Alleyne’s High School – Information for Parents (thomasalleynes.uk)
Career of the week
This week I listened to an interview with a 17-year-old apprentice blacksmith who was just starting out in his training. They were discussing whether with an 8.6% contraction in jobs in this sector whether it was worth training in this profession. The boy was really enjoying his training and his employers had plenty of work coming in. The profession is still needed even though demand is far less than it used to be, but with over half of the current workforce set to retire before 2027 there will be opportunities for new recruits to fill the gap.
I have included some information below and also some links to find out more.
| Job title: | Forge worker, artist blacksmith Blacksmiths work with different metals to make and repair decorative, industrial and everyday items. You could: sketch out new design plans or follow customer instructions heat metals to the right temperature in a forge or furnace shape metals with hand tools like hammers, punches and anvils create moulds for casting use power tools, like drills, lathes and hydraulic presses join metal parts together using riveting and welding methods apply finishes |
| Entry requirements: | University You can do a degree course in artist blacksmithing at university. You’ll need a portfolio of your work and creative ideas for course interviews. Entry requirements a foundation diploma in art and design 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree College You could take an introductory college course in working with metal before looking for a trainee position with a blacksmith. You could also take a Level 2 in Diploma in Blacksmithing and Metalworking though this is only available in a small number of places. There is a Level 3 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding, which may lead you into industrial blacksmith work. A course in general metalwork or art and design may also give you an advantage when looking for a job. Entry requirements 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course Apprenticeship Level 3 Blacksmith Level 2 General welder Level 3 Plate or Pipe welder You may be able to use industrial welding experience to find a trainee blacksmith job with a specialist metalwork company. Entry requirements some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship |
| Skills required: | You’ll need: to be thorough and pay attention to detail design skills and knowledge the ability to work well with your hands thinking and reasoning skills physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity the ability to use your initiative the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure to be flexible and open to change to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device |
| What you’ll earn: | £15000 – £30,000 |
| Working hours, patterns and environment: | Shift work, potentially self-employed or Freelance. You could work as an assistant to an experienced blacksmith and learn the craft on the job. Experience in metalwork and technical drawing can be useful for this career. You could work in a factory, in a workshop or in a foundry workshop. Your working environment may be physically demanding, hot and noisy. You may need to wear protective clothing. |
| Career path and progression: | As an experienced artist blacksmith you could set up your own gallery. You could also teach craft skills. As an industrial blacksmith, you could move into workshop management. You could also train to become a design engineer. |
https://careertrend.com/the-average-salary-of-blacksmiths-13655253.html
https://www.bandjblacksmiths.com/
Thomas Alleyne's high school 