Welcome
Having now completed our first full week, we wanted to share with both parents and students how incredibly impressed and proud we have been for the way in which students have conducted themselves.
At the end of the last academic year, we reminded students of our key values.
We aim to support students to be:
Tenacious
Health and Happy
One community
Mindful
Ambitious
Self fulfilled
Over the last week, we have seen many examples of all these values but in this newsletter we wanted to focus on one particular value, that of ‘One Community’.
During the week, we delivered assemblies to students to pay tribute and mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Some of our staff and students have found this a difficult time. We asked the students to come together, support each other and most importantly be kind to staff and their peers.
The students were incredibly respectful. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Thomas Alleyne’s community for being a community that looks after each other.
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.
However, in order for your account to become live, you will need to associate it against your School registered email address. In order to do this please visit the School website (Thomasalleynes.uk) and navigate to the page called ‘Talaxy Login Details (Parents)’ which can be found in the ‘Parents’ section of the website.
If you are experiencing any issues with registering on Talaxy…. please email ‘talaxy@tahs.org.uk‘ and we will endeavour to answer your queries as soon as we can.
Extra-Curricular
Music updates
Please see Mrs Todd if you would like to have tuition in school for instrumental or vocal lessons. If you have already seen me then please check the notice board carefully for your lesson time next week. Lesson times will also be put on SIMS for the next few weeks so please ask your form tutor for the time during registration.
Monday drum lessons
Tuesday guitar lessons
Wednesday Mr Omer voice and violin
Thursday Voice, piano and woodwind
Friday Brass
Music Extra-Curricular Clubs
Extra curricular groups have all started and all are welcome. Please see Mrs Todd in K8 if you have any questions.
Tuesday lunch Year 9 Band
Thursday lunch Choir
Friday lunch Senior Band
French GCSE Revision
French GCSE revision Wednesday 3.05 to 4.05 room A5. All welcome. .
Opportunities in Sport
Football
Boys Football
On Thursday, we had an amazing turnout of 84 boys! Preparations for first fixtures are going well. All welcome next Thursday
Girls Football
Thursday 22nd September – Girls’ football club 3:05- 4:15. You will need football boots and shin pads.
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
Tuesday P3 for all students.This is an open race in which anyone can represent their house.
Netball
This week, we had a fantastic turn out with over 60 students taking part in Netball club afterschool.
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
Starting on Wednesday 21st September 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.
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
Our core revision evening will take place on Thursday 22nd September at 6pm. This session will give an overview of key revision skills and content for the core subjects of English, maths and science. We would encourage all parents of year 11 students to attend.
English
There was a real book buzz developing in the English department last week as we introduced a programme designed to inspire a love of reading to Year 9. Prepare yourselves for some exciting news. More information to follow very soon.
Set Texts
A range of set texts for Year 10 and 11 are available to buy on Parent Pay which can then be collected from Room 21.
Copies of An Inspector Calls are available for Y10 parents to buy ahead of study in January.
Copies of A Christmas Carol are available for Y11 parents to buy for study this term.
Romeo & Juliet texts are currently sold out but will be available to purchase again soon.
Revision
Please use GCSE Pod to revise English Language and Literature skills. Please ask your teachers or form tutors if you have forgotten your log in details. This screenshot shows the different ways that the platform can help you revise for GCSE Language:
School Farm
We have some new arrivals on the school farm .
Geography
Geography field trip reminder for year 11.
Next week, year 11 Geographers will be visiting Cannock Chase and Stafford to collect their primary field data. Students have been issued with letters and should have paid via parent pay. All permission slips should be returned to their class teacher. Students need to wear suitable clothing and footwear and they should bring a packed lunch.
Tuesday 20th 11C1 and 11D
Wednesday 21st 11C2 and 11B
Thursday 22nd 11A and selected students from 11D.
If students or parents have any queries please contact Mr Harris or Mrs Goodwin.
Student News
Performing Arts News
Kathryn W who played Frenchy in our school Production of Grease earlier in the year, won a highly competitive place at the National Youth Theatre summer school. Here she writes about what that amazing opportunity was like.
Over summer , I took part in the junior intake course with the National Youth theatre (NYT). For two weeks, we stayed in the halls of the university of Northampton and each day we played many different drama games/exercises to work on skills , such as: improvisation, clowning ,writing and physical theatre. At NYT there is a definite emphasis on ‘the ensemble’, which means working together -collectively and collaboratively . This was essential in creating our devised piece (based on the theme of ‘Here and Now’).Our piece featured spoken word , music , movement , poetry and was just a celebration of all the numerous things we had learnt on the course! On the last day ,we performed our work to the audience made up of parents , loved ones and our proud course directors.
Overall, this was one of the best experiences of my life and I’d encourage anyone who enjoys drama/theatre/film/music to check on their website -there are so many opportunities for everyone!
Other updates from performing arts.
Congratulations to Ella R who not only achieved a fantastic drama GCSE but has now also been awarded a Distinction for her LAMDA exam.
House Drama and Dance rehearsals went off to an amazing start this week with our houses represented by over 40 students. We still have space for more performers, so come along and join the fun next Wednesday , 3.10-4.15pm.
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
Students in Whitmore have made a great impression during the first two weeks of the term. They all looked fantastic in their uniform as they entered the theatre for assembly on Thursday. This week’s assembly was highlighting physical education and opportunities. The first House competition takes place on Tuesday period 3, we hope many of students take the opportunity to represent our House.
Elkes – Mrs Brooks
Students in Elkes have settled in really well. I would like them to make the most of all opportunities on offer both in school time and afterschool. I will be starting a mental health and wellbeing club running on Wednesdays afterschool in room A11 – everyone is welcome!
Torrance – Miss Arrowsmith
I have been impressed with how well students have settled into the new academic year. Students look smart and ready to learn which is pleasing to see. I would like to encourage all students to make the most of the opportunities on offer afterschool to further their learning outside of the classroom. As House Cup winners, I am looking forward to seeing as many Torrance students taking part in the House cross country P3 on Tuesday. This will be your first opportunity to get house points for Torrance. Lets start as we mean to go on and get to the top of the leader board!
Well done to any students who have achieved credits this week – Keep up the good work!
Orme – Mr Brassington
As a member pastoral team at Thomas Alleyne’s part of my role is to support student’s and their families in attending school each and every day.
Days off school soon add up and missing lessons makes it hard to catch up, resulting in students having to work harder when they come back and missing vital information that will prevent their progress. Being absent for just 3 days each half term will mean you miss 10% of the school year.
We often think of attendance in percentage points but I think it is vital to recognize how those points translate into hours, lessons and often weeks of missed learning. If you end the year on 90% attendance that means a student has missed roughly 74 lessons, that’s 93 hours, or almost 4 weeks of lost education.
Here at Thomas Alleyne’s we are always eager to support you with any questions/requests about attendance. If you have any such queries please contact myself (Brassington@tahs.net) or Mrs Major (Major@tahs.net).
Sixth Form updates
Social & Health Studies – Year 12
Students starting their Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care have made a great start already achieving a certificate in British Sign Language, Abi, Calum and Salwa have completed all parts of the online course learning about how to communicate using BSL. Their Health & Social Care course prepares people to work in health care, social care, early years and primary teaching amongst other careers and having this additional skill could really help them in the future – well done!
Dates for diary
Year 12 Work Experience week – Monday 28th November to Friday 2nd December
You will be finding out more about work experience requirements soon during registration as part
of your Tutor Activity Programme.
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 19th September 2022
Year 12
Tuesday
Watch the clip to reinforce that students need to log work experience on Unifrog so that Mrs Walton can communicate to organise paperwork – students will not be able to go on work experience unless it is logged on unifrog. They should add details asap. Mrs Walton also needs time to check health and safety policies for each placement.
https://www.unifrog.org/student/placement
Wednesday
Vision activity – setting goals for Year 12
Thursday
Write a work experience letter
Year 13
Wednesday
Manage brain performance by watching the ‘net 6th form chimp paradox’ powerpoint about getting the most out of 6th form and not repeating Y12 mistakes.
Thursday
Improve personal statements. Plan open day visits. Or CV/apprenticeship research.
Future intentions Careers
Virtual Work Experience.
Virtual work experience only became available following the pandemic and since then has been fantastic for students giving them the opportunity to discover what specific jobs entail, gain valuable skills and meet employers.
There are a wide range of Virtual Work Experience opportunities available on the links below:
Virtual Work Experience Search (springpod.com) – includes a range of talks and programmes in the week we break up from school
Work Experience | Speakers for Schools
Free Virtual Work Experience Programs from Top Companies – Forage (theforage.com)
Once you have completed a piece of work experience don’t forget to add it to your unifrog page for future reference.
NHS opportunity
NHS Virtual Work Experience Programme
Commencing on Sunday 2nd October.
Students can register using the link below:
Once they’ve registered, students will be emailed links to their virtual work experience portals.
This programme is suitable for students in years 10, 11, 12, and 13 who are interested in the following careers:
Nursing
Midwifery
Paramedicine
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Radiography
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Speech and Language Therapy
Pharmacy
During the work experience day, students will follow 2 patients from their initial presentation to recovery. They will gain a unique insight into how patients interact with a variety of healthcare professionals and what it’s like to work in an NHS multidisciplinary team.
Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals throughout each day. This will empower students to make an informed career decision and demonstrate their commitment to healthcare in their UCAS applications.
Students will receive certificates as evidence of having participated in the work experience programme. Those that complete the full 5-month programme will also be awarded Highly Commended References.
Students can register individually at any time throughout the 5-month programme using the link below. We recommend booking early to gain as much out of this programme as possible. Places are £10 a session to cover administrative and technological costs.
Thank you for helping to inspire our next generation of healthcare professionals.
Kindest Regards,
Work Experience Team
Allied Healthcare Mentor
Enquiry Form: https://airtable.com/shrM6UPT8Z2uxx7OL
Allied Healthcare Mentor Helpline: 01530 417299 (Open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday)
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 