Progress Opportunity Individuality
Welcome
Students have been embracing a wide range of opportunities offered to them this week. Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Year 11 revision evening this week and congratulations to all students who took part in the House Cross County and Geography field trips.
Year 11 and 13 trial examinations will commence on 21st November. Please remind your daughters and sons to ensure they put in place revision plans to support them in making excellent progress over the coming weeks. Examples of plans can be found at GCSEpod. We have purchased a subscription to this superb package for every student in the school regardless of year group. Their “swift” logins, coupled with “frequent” practice, will lead to “tangible” progress. (See English update for further details regarding our words of the week) https://www.gcsepod.com/
We are looking forward to meeting Year 8 students to our open evening on Wednesday which starts at 6.00pm. If you have friends outside our catchment who would like to see what is on offer at our school, please let them know that they very welcome to join us for the evening. The following week we look forward to seeing Year 11 students at our sixth form open evening.
Talaxy Update
Notice to all parents – Talaxy Logins. (Our Homework portal)
We are pleased to announce that all pupil and parent Talaxy logins are now available.
In order for your account to become live, you will need to associate it against your School registered email address. Please visit the school website http://www.thomasalleynes.uk/ and navigate to the page called ‘Talaxy Login Details (Parents)’ which can be found in the ‘Parents’ section of the website or click on this link http://www.thomasalleynes.uk/page/?title=Parents&pid=9
If you are experiencing any issues with registering on Talaxy please email ‘talaxy@tahs.org.uk‘.
After school revision/support sessions for Year 11
Extra-Curricular
Art Competitions available for all to enter – deadline for all entries 30th November.
Music updates
Please see the music noticeboard for instrumental and vocal lessons times.
Music Extra-Curricular Clubs
Tuesday lunch Year 9 Band
Thursday lunch Choir
Friday lunch Senior Band
Opportunities in Sport
House Handball
Thomas Alleyne’s House Handball competition is on Wednesday 28th September during Open evening. Year 9 is 6pm- 7.30pm. Year 10 and 11 7pm-8.30pm
This is a mixed team competition so is open to boys and girls and houses can enter more than 1 team. See Mr Barrow on Monday if you would like to play.
Swimming Club
Swimming club will be starting after school on Monday 3:15-4pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy time in our wonderful swimming pool. Hope to see you there.
Football
Boys Football
We are now up to 96 boys for football training! This has included an amazing 54 from year 9! First games are Tuesday after school away v Repton.
Girls Football
We had a good turnout for our first girls football club this Thursday. Well done to all of the girls who attended. Girl’s football will be on Wednesday 28th September with Miss Arrowsmith and she is looking forward to seeing you all there in preparation of our up-and-coming Football fixtures.
Message from Burton Albion Community Trust
My name is Harry Clamp, and I am the Youth Engagement Coordinator at Burton Albion Community Trust.
We have recently started up a free multisport and activities youth club at Uttoxeter Heath Community Centre on a Wednesday evening, 4pm – 5pm for children aged 8 – 18. Please see information below with all the details regarding the session
House Cross Country
On Tuesday we had a fantastic turnout for house cross country. The results are:
Year 9 girls – 1st Susannah N, 2nd Isle H, 2nd Ramily G
Torrance 1st, Elkes 2nd, Orme 3rd, Whitmore 4th
Year 9 boys – 1st Jack S, 2nd Harry O, 3rd Leo G
Elkes 1st, Orme 2nd, Torrance 3rd, Whitmore 4th
Senior Girls – 1st Martha B, 2nd Georgie S, 3rd Elizabeth W,
Torrance 1st, Whitmore 2nd, Elkes 3rd, Orme 4th
Senior Boys – 1st Rhys M, 2nd Ben P, 3rd Joel M
Elkes 1st, Whitmore 2nd, Torrance 3rd, Orme 4th
Well done from the PE department to all students that took part in house cross country
Netball
Tuesday – U15 & U16 netball festival at Deferrers (A)
Wednesday U19 netball Vs Newcastle under Lyme (A)
Thursday Year 9 netball club
Fitness Club
Fitness club will be every Friday 3:05-4pm with Mr Scott in the new pavilion Gym. Please see Mr Scott for more details.
Mental Health
Mrs Brooks will be running a club to promote positive Mental Health and well-being . This will run from 3.15 -4.15 in Room A11. See you Wednesday.
Interested in becoming a MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADOR?
Join us on WEDNESDAY EVENINGS in A11 3:15-4:15pm
The WHAM Plan is delivered by young people and anyone who has completed the full course is able to deliver the sessions to others, such as in a school or youth organisation.
There are a variety of different topics that we cover, including:
- What is emotional wellbeing?
- The food-mood connection
- Positive activities for wellbeing
- Healthy relationships
- Helping others
- Planning ahead for troubled times
- Mindfulness in nature
Department News
English
We’re getting very excited about the impending trip to see An Inspector Calls. Students who have already reserved a place, or who are in receipt of Pupil Premium funding, have been issued consent forms this week. Mr Hulme has asked that these are returned asap, in order that places can be confirmed. If you have been allocated a place, and no longer wish to take up this opportunity, please let us know asap as there are quite a few students on a waiting list hoping a place becomes available.
Bedrock: Vanquishing villanous vocabulary!
English teachers are reporting some superb commitment from Y9 to their vocabulary homework this week, as all classes begin their Bedrock journeys. Their “swift” logins, coupled with “frequent” practice, is leading to “tangible” progress. No longer are we “apprehensive” as we “endeavour” to develop our vocabulary. Students have been set the challenge of using these words in their wider curriculum lessons… and at home. As a reminder, students are expected to earn 20 points each week: equivalent to 2×15 minute sessions. Find out more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-uRnVWyZk
Set texts / Revision Guides
Y10 – students should have their own copies of Romeo and Juliet: we have some more back in stock if required.
Y11 – students should have their own copies of A Christmas Carol.
New and exciting revision guides for Romeo and Juliet are also available for Years 10 and 11. These do NOT contain the text, but do contain useful practice questions, close focuses on themes and key quotations, and helpful summaries.
All texts are available on ParentPay.
Year 10 Reading Group
Last year’s Carnegie Shadowing Group have evolved into the Year 10 Reading Group. The students have chosen to read “The Honeys” by Ryan La Sala: described as “a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendour of a secluded summer retreat,” we can’t wait to get stuck in! If you want to join us – and are in Y10 – we meet on a Tuesday lunchtime in A15.
Staff and Sixth Form Reading Club
Mrs Bowler is pleased to announce the launch of the Staff and Sixth Form Reading Club. Open to all staff and all Sixth Form students, they will meet once per half term in the library. If you’re interested, see Mrs Bowler.
Work of the Week
This week’s work comes from 9HS. Tasked with writing a poem inspired by the trench letters of Wilfred Owen, one student certainly rose to the challenge. We found the star imagery particularly effective: well done!
Social & Health Studies
Students in year 11 are making strong progress in their coursework components. Child Development students are planning theme days for children in a nursery and Health & Social Care students are looking at the care values and developing their own skills using the care values. Students who have made great progress in their Health & Social Care work are Aimee Sharp and Carly Dowling – well done!
Geography
Geography field work
Cannock Chase river studies and urban change on Stafford High street.
We were delighted to take all of our year 11 geographers to Cannock Chase and Stafford this week. Students worked to collect data on river characteristics and urban change. It was great to be back learning outdoors, developing practical skills and knowledge. The year 11 assessments next week will test students understanding of the fieldwork. Well done to all of our students who really embraced this opportunity.
BTEC Tech Award Sport Activity & Fitness
All Year 11 Need to be completing coursework on Technology in Sport. All details are on Teams
School Lottery
Thomas Alleyne’s PTA is a successful and friendly group of parents and staff. We help at school events by serving refreshments and using the proceeds of these events to donate money to departments across the school. This year we have donated to the Art, Music, PE and provided calculators to ensure all students have the access to equipment needed for exams. We have thoroughly enjoyed helping at the performance of Grease, the Summer Concert and Junior Prize Giving. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know that our AGM is on Monday 26th September at 7.00pm at Thomas Alleyne’s. We would like to recruit parents of students in Years 9-13 to come along and support the school. If you can’t attend the AGM but think that you could help at one or more of the events that the school hold throughout the year then please email Mrs Young at younge@tahs.net
Head of House updates
Whitmore – Miss Jones
This week’s assemblies have been focusing on the Thomas Character values and the delivery of these in form periods on a Wednesday and Friday. Tenacity was also discussed, we saw plenty of examples of this in the House Cross Country this week. There were many students who turned up and found it difficult but gave their best efforts to finish high in the placings. Well done to all involved!
Elkes – Mrs Brooks
I would like to say an enormous well done to all pupils who participated in House cross country this week. We’ve had excellent results in all categories and the effort from Elkes students was exemplary. House competitions are a fantastic way to build resilience, confidence and to try new experiences.
I’m also delighted that so many pupils have signed up to extra-curricular clubs. For those yet to join, ensure you look at the range of opportunities available in the extra curricular section. Extra curricular clubs build social bonds, encourage positive relationships and can foster good mental health.
Torrance – Miss Arrowsmith
It was pleasing to see so many of our students taking part in the first house competition this year (cross country). I would like to say well done to anyone who took part. Regardless of your overall finishing position or time you secured points for your house. I have also been impressed with the amount of students taking part in extra curricular activities during lunch time and afterschool across many subjects. Lets continue making the most of all of the opportunities on offer.
Orme – Mr Brassington
Congratulations and thanks to all the students (especially Orme) who took part in house cross country this week. I spoke at our first assembly this academic year about the importance of taking part and it was wonderful to see so many of our students getting involved. Well done to Orme year 9 boys for a respectable second place finish.
My message to Orme students this week is a plea, a call to arms if you will. The current house competition standings have us trailing behind. Students of Orme, we few, we happy few, we band of green tie wearing brothers. We need to rally and improve our position. Mrs Brooks is already incredibly smug at the early lead from Elkes and the handball competition this Wednesday is the perfect opportunity to reduce that lead. Getting involved is key to success and it is the memories that you make in the extra curricular activities that will be looked on most fondly in years to come. I look forward to hearing about our resounding success in this house competition and the subsequent points boost.
Sixth Form updates
Year 12 Work Experience week – Monday 28th November to Friday 2nd December
All Year 12 students are to undertake a week’s work experience. You need to be actively looking for a placement. You will need to register your placement via your Unifrog account. Mrs Young will be going into more detail regarding this during a Year 12 assembly. If you are having trouble accessing your Unifrog account please contact Mrs Walton on walton@tahs.net
Sixth Form Volunteers needed
If you are interested in supporting the school and would like to volunteer during the following upcoming Open Evenings please see Mrs Walton in the Sixth Form office.
Year 8 Open Evening – Wednesday 28th September 2022
Post 16 Open Evening – Thursday 6th October 2022
Sixth Form Finance:
The school has been allocated a Discretional Bursary Fund (DBF) which students are able bid into throughout the academic year providing they meet the financial criteria set by the school and outlined in our DBF policy.
For the academic year 2022-2023 students are eligible for funding of up to £400 if their parental income is below £27,000 (proof required) or if they were designated as pupil premium. If a student is a looked after child (LAC) they may be entitled to up to £1,200 of financial support. Students must use this funding to support their Post-16 education. For example, Sixth Form uniform, transport costs to and from school, textbooks, revision guides, course materials, IT equipment (up to £150), educational visits, UCAS application Fee, University entrance tests etc.
More detailed information will be available in the DBF booklet which students can be obtain from Mrs Walton in the Sixth Form office or by emailing sixthform@tahs.org.uk
Sixth Form Code of Conduct
Reminder for students from both Year 12 and Year 13 to return their signed codes of conduct to their form tutor as soon as possible. Spare forms can be collected from the Sixth Form Office. Thank you to those who have already returned them.
TUTOR TIME ACTIVITIES W/C 26th September 2022
Year 12
Thomas Character: Ambition, Self-Fulfilled
Monday:
Work experience planning. Watch the Unifrog guide. Staff help students gather ideas and discuss how to contact people. Students can draw up letters and CVs as part of their 6th form 7 or study periods. Hand out the work experience journal to help make this reflective and productive. A guide to placements / work experience : Unifrog Blog
Thursday:
Students should make a list of their transferable skills eg when they have showed team work, resilience, problem solving etc. They should use the Unifrog competencies page to log these. Then they can add these to their work experience request letter.
Year 13
Thomas Character: Ambition and Tenacity
Monday:
Interview skills: preparing you for the future – an employer might ask ‘why you?’ Students discuss ‘What animal are you?’ and other questions from the James Reed employment agency.
Wednesday:
Revision time: students should organise their notes from the first month of learning. Show them the Cornell notes video and challenge them to condense each module they have learned into one sheet of Cornell notes (2 minute video link below).
Thursday:
Future intentions fantastic four choices to either: Improve personal statements, plan open day visits, develop a CV or use Unifrog to do some apprenticeship research on their live database.
Future intentions Careers
Not Going To Uni? How Can Parents Help?
For our students who are not planning to go to university, and to help their families support them, please visit the Amazing Apprenticeships website. There is a host of information available there including podcasts aimed at parents.
Episode 1 is available here to help families understand what different options are available: https://amazingapprenticeships.com/the-parent-perspective-podcast/.
Students will receive lots of information on both apprenticeships and university via their form tutor throughout Y12 and Y13.
Another good resource is the ‘not going to uni’ website which includes blogs, case studies and live apprenticeship opportunities: https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/,
Please contact the Sixth form team for any further information: sixthform@burrow11
We’re delighted to let you know that our 2023 School and College Leaver opportunities are now open and we have many routes through which you can join us.
If you have students looking for opportunities to join us straight from school or college, our full-time School and College Leaver programmes are designed to help them develop their business skills through real client work, while also completing formal training and studying towards qualifications. Explore these opportunities here.
Perhaps your students are looking for an opportunity where they can gain a degree and a career. Our Flying Start degree programmes offer the opportunity to start a career and go to university. You can find out more about these here.
Find out more about our upcoming events including our Virtual Classroom series and register here.
Don’t let your Year 12 and 13 students miss out on our newsletter!
Unifrog’s student newsletter The Post now has over 18,000 subscribers worldwide!
Each fortnightly edition features useful stuff for students like:
- insider tips from employers and universities on how to get in
- new and topical Know-how library guides
- exclusive Unifrog events like careers and subject webinars
Students can sign up from the box at the bottom of their Unifrog homepage (above).
TERM DATES ACADEMIC YEAR 2022 – 2023
Inset day: Friday 21st October
Holiday: Monday 24 October – Friday 28 October
Term ends: Friday 16 December
Holiday: Monday 19 December – Monday 2 January
Spring Term 2023
Inset day: Tuesday 3 January
Inset day: Wednesday 4 January
Term starts: Thursday 5 January
Holiday: Monday 20 February – Friday 24 February
Term ends: Friday 31 March
Holiday: Monday 3 April – Friday 14 April
Easter Sunday: Sunday 9 April
Summer Term 2023
Inset day: Monday 17th April
Term starts: Tuesday 18 April
May Day: Monday 1 May
Holiday: Monday 29 May – Friday 2 June
Term ends: Tuesday 25 July
Holiday: Wednesday 26 July – Friday 1 September
Thomas Alleyne's high school 