Well done to all students who have achieved their Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus Awards this half term.
Well done also to the following form groups in each house who have achieved the most amount of credits so far this year. These are:
Elkes – 9E2 – 3291 Credits
Orme 9O2 – 3141 Credits
Torrance – 9T1 – 2396 Credits
Whitmore – 9W1 – 2380 Credits
I would also like to introduce the Torrance mascot. His Name is Terrance the hedgehog. You will be seeing alot more of Terrance around so look out for him.
The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue service have informed us that recently, there has been an increase in the number of house fires in Staffordshire. This is very concerning so they have asked us to share with you these information sheets.
Art and Photography students in GSCE and A-Level exam groups can access the following videos to see an overview and access links to graded examples of past work to develop a strong understanding for what is expected of them throughout the exam preparation period.
Year 13: Wednesday after school C24 3.10pm to 4.00pm.
Year 11: Friday lunchtime C4.
Computer Science
GCSE Computer Science and Cambridge National revision lunchtime support
Wednesday lunchtimes in C3. Please come along for support with this weeks revision topic as per homework task.
*New day added *After school session
This is growing in popularity by the week. 3:05 – 4 every Wednesday Thursday after school.
Child Development & Health and Social care
Health & Social Care/ Child Development coursework club on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school for years 10-13 in rooms S2 and S3.
Design and technology
Design and Technology after school interventions are Thursday after school for year 11 and 13.
Room 39 or C 19.
Drama
After school
Tuesday in K9 each week. You will receive coaching for the component 3 exam as well as help with the all -important written portfolio. See you there, snacks and drinks served.
Lunch time
GCSE Drama Revision Thursday lunchtimes in K9. Come along any time during lunch.
English
Every Thursday. Please see English roundup for more details.
Geography
Wednesday
For both GCSE and A-level in either room A1 or A2.
GCSE Podders
Monday lunchtime in C3. Please come along if you are having problems with your account or what to use our resources (computers and headphones) to complete any GCSE Pod revision.
History
Year 11After school in A9 and A10 3.10 – 4.00 pm.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – see Mrs Johnson / Mrs Young for details
Maths
Day
Revision Group
Room
Tuesday
Higher GCSE / A-level Further Maths
J4
Foundation GCSE
C6
GCSE Further Maths
J7 / C7
Wednesday
Foundation GCSE
J6
Higher GCSE
J7
Thursday
Higher GCSE
J5
A-level Maths
C7
Friday
Foundation GCSE
C7
A-Level Maths
C5
MFL
MFL MUSINGS
REVISION SESSIONS
Grade 7 – 9, Wednesday after school in room A5
Grade 3 – 6, Thursday after school in room A4
A Level conversation practice, Thursday lunchtime in A4
Science
Chemistry revision
Takes place Wednesdays after school 3.10pm-4.15pm. Sessions are split between triple science and combined science to take place fortnightly. Week 1 sessions will be Triple Science (Chemistry) and Week 2 Session are Combined Science (Chemistry). Sessions are in C9.
Biology – triple Science
Year 11 – Monday lunchtimes in C14
Year 13 – Biology, it’s Tuesday’s after school in J1
Combined science Higher Tier
This is for any student currently studying for combined science GCSE who has been recommended by their teacher to sit the higher tier exam.
Thursday in F1 each week.
Sport
BTEC Sport
Coursework support and catch-up after school Friday all years. C4
Parents and carers of our year 10 students will be receiving a letter today with the full information needed for parents evening bookings. Key information included:
To prevent queueing we are continuing to do bookings through Talaxy
Bookings will open at 3pm on Friday 17th February
Bookings will close at 5pm on Monday 6th March
Please do let us know if you have any problems booking within this time. We look forward to welcoming you on the night.
Over 35 girls participated in an U16’s rugby fixture last Tuesday. This was a great experience for the girls playing on a full size pitch and putting the techniques learnt at rugby club into a competitive situation. Issy and Sadie captained the side well and communicated the tactics well both during the game and at half time. Martha goose stepped her way up the pitch numerous times and we were able to capitalise with a couple of tries through her. Lizzie’s blistering pace and good ball handling saw us add a further three tries. Heather made several fearless runs forward for us to gain territory. Lexie was also very successful with her kicking. Susie, Elsie, Chloe, Keely and Charlie were all successful in the scrums and rucks to restrict De Ferrers attacks. Hannah was great with her position in both attack and defence and was rewarded with a well worked team try.
Thank you to Mark Tolley refereeing and coaching both teams and to the parents who assisted with transport.
Team – Sadie, Issy, Lizzie, Susie, Lexie, Martha, Hannah, Elsie, Chloe, Keeley, Heather, Charlie
The door is open for more players to join girls rugby, the club runs every Friday 3:15-4:30, all years welcome.
The sporting fixture last week took place last weekend at Phoenix College, Wednesbury.
For the second season running Thomas Alleyne’s had qualified for the regional netball finals in the Under 16 age group. The aim was to win more games than the previous year and as always the team did not disappoint. Victories came against the Arthur Terry School, Wembley and Wolverhampton Grammar School so half our games were won. There was a one goal difference in favour of Worcester Grammar and defeats against Solihull and Wrekin College.
The vast majority of the squad play and train regularly at Tean and they have improved greatly since last year’s tournament. Their passion for netball, strong work ethic and determination should see the team develop further.
Sophie and Jess combined brilliantly in the defensive D to restrict the opposition’s shooting chances. Lexie and Aimee both did a great job as WD reading the game well to win the ball before it reached the shooters. Martha was the engine of the team, covering most of the court but she was not rushed with her passing to ensure we remained in possession. Poppy’s work rate was high and she linked the play effectively between midcourt and our offensive D. Bella and Louie were both solid with their shooting and as the tournament progressed they were able to create easier shooting opportunities for themselves through intelligent movement.
With the tournament being held on a Sunday many spectators were able to come and support. The girls and Miss Jones really appreciated all of the family and friends who came to cheer the team on. It was also great to see ex- premier league footballer Ben Foster in the crowd.
All students have access to this fantastic resource. There are 1,000s of pods covering the whole range of subjects and exam boards offered at Thomas Alleynes. Data has shown that students who make good use of these pods to review and revise work achieve significantly higher than predicted in their exams. If any student is struggling to log on to GCSE pod then they can access support in C3 on Monday lunchtimes.
Last week students in Elkes house accessed the most pods with 10E1 watching more pods than any other form. Physics was the most popular subject for pods watched.
Club – GCSE Podders
GCSE Podders is on a Monday lunchtime in C3 where you can have access to computers and headphones to support you in using GCSE Pod. You could also get help setting it up on a mobile device for access from home.
To support your revision of Buddhist Beliefs – we will be running a session on Friday 24th February 10 – 12pm. In the first part of this session we will focus on ways to remember the key beliefs and in the second part we will focus on practising past questions. All welcome. Please bring yourself, a pen and your revision guide.
Timetable
Please find version 2 below our revision sessions over February half term.
It’s been a great week in Bedrock world, with some absolutely brilliant work. 9HL are leading the way, with over 65% of students attaining their 20 points+. Esmee W continues to lead the way on time spent and overall points, but is being rapidly chased by Delilah O and Ellie B. Although not spending the longest online, Dylan R is being ruthlessly efficient and claiming second spot for points. This half term, we have over 80 students eligible for Bedrock’s laptop draw – good luck!
Revision this week
Miss Beevor would like to spend more time looking at Paper 2, Question 4. Whether or not you were here last week for her superb session on Paper 2 Q2, this would be a really good opportunity to get your revision underway. Remember, for English Language half the battle is knowing what each question is requiring.
Mrs Hunt’s Romeo and Juliet imagery session will be postponed until next half term, to enable everyone to attend Miss Beevor’s.
Revision tip of the week
Anything can be English Language practice… Whilst you’re watching TV, look out in particular for anyone expressing a particular viewpoint, and think about how this in influenced by their perspective. This works really well on factual or news-based programmes.
Talking the talk…
On the Tuesday and Thursday after half term, we’ll be having “Talk the Talk,” an external oracy company, in to work with our Year 9 and Year 10 students. This is a great opportunity for Year 9 students to learn how to present their ideas, and ties in really well with their work in English on their Spoken Language Endorsement. The Year 10 students will be learning how to formally debate an issue. We can’t wait!
Rotary competition / Work of the Week
This week saw the closing date for the Rotary competition (if this goes out before Wednesday, you have until 3pm on Wednesday to get your entry and your signed consent form to Mrs Hunt. We have some amazing entries in both prose and poetry categories.
Mrs Hunt wanted to single out two for “work of the week” – Evie N’s evocative story, and Oscar S’s reflective poem. Evie’s story focuses on the effect of family conflict, and how challenging it can be to find “Peace” when your family is in turmoil. Oscar’s poem explores how to define peace, using some stunning imagery. Extracts from both are below.
Evie: It’s quiet here. Sometimes too quiet. You know what would make it better? Your ridiculous piano playing. There is a piano in our new house: it’s like it was made for you. Mum cried when she first saw it, but she plays daily now. I taught her the first song you learned: I think she believes it will bring you closer, so I don’t discourage it.
Oscar:
Peace.
It chooses when to come to us;
finds us in the quiet moments.
Peace is the first breath of a deep sleep,
respect from your elders,
the velvet caress of a blanket.
World Book Day is approaching!
The English Department are busy getting ready for World Book Day, but in a change to previous years, we are no longer distributing paper tokens. Instead, you’ll need to check your school inbox / Talaxy for your digital token, which can then be saved to your phone or tablet. These cannot be redeemed online, but you can show it in most booksellers to purchase your free book, or to redeem £1 off a different book of your choice.
Note – activities in school will be running on Friday 3rd March,due to other events.
Half term World Book Day challenge
To help get everyone in the mood for World Book Day, the English Department would love to see photos of you reading in unusual places. Can you beat Ella R, who last year sent us a photo of her reading from the top of an Alpine ski run?! Make sure you’re safe, but be as creative and inventive as you can.
Thomas Alleyne's high school 