UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 16th June 2023
Dear all,
After a hot and humid week we have today held a leavers celebration for our year 11s who finished their last core exam this morning. Whilst we still have GCSE Astronomy and GCSE Further Maths next week, today marked the last day when the whole year group would be in school. It was lovely to get everyone together and wish them well as they embark on their next steps.
Our A level students also still have a few more exams next week before they too head off to pastures new.
Employer Engagement - Year 10 Royal Navy Day
Earlier this week we welcomed the Royal Navy in to school to work with the year 10s. some of our students have written about the day:
Student One: On Monday, members of the Royal Navy came to the UTC and gave Year 10’s an amazing opportunity, to participate in a team building challenge. We had to build a tower over 6 feet tall which tested our communication, teamwork and resilience skills.
We were put in randomly selected teams and had to work together to decide how best to build the tower and ensure that it was stable. I really enjoyed that we got to work with different people and take on a challenge with them. Everyone worked well together and had a fun experience.
The Royal Navy also spoke to us about their roles and what they do. We got to ask questions and get an insight into what life in the Royal Navy is like. I am grateful for them coming and sharing their experience with us so that we have a better understanding of a career in the Navy.
Student 2: Having the Royal Navy come into school and tell us about what it is like being in the Navy, common misconceptions, and advantages was a great experience.
It showed us the different parts of the Royal Navy and how diverse it can be, whilst giving us the perspective of people that work in this field.
Something that was really emphasised on is how much teamwork there is, and how many people must work together for everything to function properly- which requires trust, perseverance, and hard work.
We had specific activities where we were split up- to be put with people we don’t usually work with- and must work together as a team to create a tower over 6 feet tall. It was a challenging task, but as people shown good leadership skills whilst being thoughtful of others’ ideas, most towers were a success! This task taught us how important teamwork is and what difference it truly makes to work in harmony with each other in a team, as it brings amazing results.
In conclusion, having the Royal Navy come in showed us a different carrier path and how diverse it can truly be outside of stereotypes and misconceptions. It showed us how important the Royal Navy truly is, being responsible for keeping us safe and providing most products we use. They taught us a valuable lesson about teamwork and made us realise that working with people we don’t usually talk to isn’t as difficult as expected and is actually quite enjoyable.
Boardroom Ready
Thank you for supporting us with making sure your student is dressed correctly to learn. A reminder that students are expected to be ‘boardroom ready’. In the recent hot weather, we have made allowances for our alternative professional dress code.
If students arrive at school in clothing outside of either of these dress codes, they will be asked to return home to change into appropriate clothing before returning to school.
Alternative Professional Dress Code
- Smart tailored knee length shorts, for example a chino style short
- Boat shoes / formal shoes
- Dresses or skirts without tights (no shorter than just above the knee)
- Short sleeved shirts
- No ties
- Sleeveless tunic style tops / blouses
- Polo tops.
The following items of clothing are not acceptable to wear:
- Trainers
- Flip flops
- Crop tops
- Dresses, skirts or shorts that are shorter than just above the knee
- Strappy tops
- Sportswear including tracksuits, sport shorts, t-shirts, etc.
Can you help?
Do you have any old desk lamps that you don't want anymore? Our year 10 engineers have a project for their Cambridge Nationals that requires them to disassemble the lamps. Any donations would be very welcome.
Autodesk Fusion 360
The first group of students who have been studying for the Autodesk Fusion 360 Certified User qualification have taken the exam today. 9 have passed and have a CAD qualification for their CV and online profiles.
There will be more students taking this in the next few weeks.
Congratulations to: Emily S, Tom A, Callum M, James A-M, George W, Eli M, Colin S, Charlie E, Charlie D.
Year 13 Prom
A reminder that tickets are still available for the Year 13 Prom at Boundary Park Pavilion, Great Western on Thursday 6th of July 2023. If your student would like to attend, please purchase a ticket via Parent Pay. The cost is £12.50 per ticket and each student is permitted to purchase up to 2 tickets, should they wish to bring a guest. The ticket price includes food.
Celebrating World Environment Day with the Community
Monday 5th June was World Environment Day. UTC was approached by All Saints Primary School (Didcot) to support them in a Science Day primarily focused on reducing plastic pollution. UTC Staff and Students (Year 12 Scientists) visited the school in the afternoon to support in-class activities based on the theme and facilitate larger discussions surrounding Science. Year 2 students performed an experiment looking at the difference between different types of packing chips, they had to hypothesise what would happen when they added them to water and discovered that one of them was fully biodegradable. Year 4 students were washing synthetic fibres and then observing the microplastics released which would be in the waste water from washing machines. Year 5 students also looked at the biodegradable packing chips but were able to choose a variable to test, volume of water, number of stirs or temperature. Students from both schools enjoyed the afternoon.
Degree Apprenticeship Congratulations
Congratulations to Callum, one of our year 13 BTEC engineering students. With two offers to choose from, he has decided to take the Civil engineering degree apprenticeship role with WSP in Basingstoke. We wish him well.
Attendance
Below are the figures for attendance at the end of last week. Sadly attendance in year 10 and 12 is still well below where we would hope. Some parents in Year 10 will have received a letter at the end of last term highlighting their students’ declining attendance and encouraging improvement over the course of this term. As ever, please share any relevant information regarding barriers to your student attending regularly, so we can offer support and signpost to any additional services. We don’t expect students to attend if they have a high temperature and are feeling very unwell, or have an upset stomach, however, we do encourage students to attend if they are feeling under the weather. We would rather a student came in a little later in the day than not at all in these circumstances. Please report any absences or expected lateness to attendance@utcoxfordshire.org.uk or by calling 01235 391587 and using option 1 to leave a voicemail.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Soaring To Success
Soaring to Success® is a careers enrichment programme that bridges the gap between education and industry. It aims to inspire, enable, and support the next generation to consider a career within aviation and aerospace. They offer virtual careers conferences, in-depth understanding and further insight into the roles and pathways available and finishing with Air Experience Days. Further details can be found here https://airleague.co.uk/our-programmes/soaring-to-success Airleague soaring-to-success
UKAEA Women in Engineering
UKAEA are holding a women in engineering experience day for 6th form students and their parents/carers on Saturday 1st July from 10:00-17:00. Participants will create, design and build a solution to tackle one of fusion energy's challenges. There are 20 spaces available. book your place here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-engineering-experience-day-tickets-648744962647
Free Virtual Work Experience
MEDICAL WORK EXPERIENCE - Geriatric Care
Aspiring doctors will learn about the unique qualities and skills required to look after frail, older people who can present with atypical symptoms, such as confusion, and often have multiple comorbidities.
Students will join a medical team assessing a patient with new onset limb weakness and speech disturbance and observe the essential role of the multidisciplinary team in managing these complex health issues. They will also hear from geriatric care experts to understand how we can improve healthcare when people near the end of their lives.
Free registration link: https://wexlibrary.yourmedicfamily.org/courses/medic-mentor-work-experience-palliative-care/
DENTAL WORK EXPERIENCE - New Patients
Aspiring dentists will be introduced to the team at Dental Mentor Smiles and observe a range of both child and adult patient consultations. This includes a possible oral cancer diagnosis, aesthetic solutions and child safeguarding concerns. There will be debriefing sessions for each of the cases.
Free registration link: https://wexlibrary.yourmedicfamily.org/courses/dental-mentor-work-experience/
Aspiring vets are welcomed into the world of small animal surgery! Chief Vet mentors will demonstrate how vets prepare owners for their pet’s surgery and administer anaesthesia and routine surgery.
Free registration link: https://wexlibrary.yourmedicfamily.org/courses/vet-mentor-virtual-work-experience-surgery/
Engineering Apprenticeships
The Engineering Trust - are currently advertising a wide range of engineering apprenticeships in Oxfordshire with companies like FMB Oxford, Viridor, Oxford Instruments, Chiltern Railways, Zircotec, ICE Oxford, Paintbox Banbury, SI Pumps and Barrus. https://apply.theengineeringtrust.org/#/vacancies
Science and Technology Facilities Council – have readvertised their Advanced Engineering Machinist Apprentice. More details can be found here: Advanced Engineering Machinist Apprentice - Careers Portal Careers
University of Oxford Apprenticeships
Becoming an apprentice at the University of Oxford is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience, training and qualifications. They have a variety op opportunities available: University of Oxford Apprenticeships
Year 12 Future Cities (Virtual) - 24 July to 26 July 2023
Future Cities is a virtual course, run in collaboration with experts from the University of Southampton and generously sponsored by the Ove Arup Foundation who are committed to promoting education and knowledge in the built environment through the interdisciplinary nature of design.
Students will get to explore how Civil Engineers design and develop these amazing structures, making our cities clean, safe and energy efficient. From skyscrapers and bridges to water and waste services, civil engineering is all around us.
This three-day virtual course will explore how Civil Engineers work on environmentally friendly infrastructure, but also manage existing public services and work to improve future sustainability.
Students will learn the social value of a career in Civil Engineering from leading academics and improve their CVs and UCAS applications.
Cost: £99
More information here: Small Peice Trust - Future Cities
Year 10 Human Habitat on Mars (virtual) - 29 August to 31 August 2023
Human Habitat on Mars will involve students in space exploration, how to get to Mars, how the journey would impact the human body, and look at Quantum Computing.
This course – which starts August 29 - is for Year 10 students and is run with the support and input from experts in their field from City, University of London.
Cost: £99 All kit included
More information here: Small Peice Trust - Human Habitat on Mars
School Health Nurse Update – Measles
We have been notified that measles is now circulating in England and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Europe is likely to see an increase of infections. They are urging us to get vaccinated and offer the following information: Measles - Don't let your child catch it
Ever thought of being a governor?
Becoming a school governor is an invaluable role, contributing to “transforming lives through learning” of all Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) learners. This is an extremely rewarding opportunity to make a difference and give something back to the local community. Becoming an ALET governor will allow you to use and develop your skills in a board-level environment. You would also be joining the largest volunteer network force in the country, with over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state funded schools in England.
To become a governor, you must be aged over 18 and have the necessary skills, attributes, and time to positively impact our learners. You do not necessarily need an understanding of education systems to be successful in this role as plenty of training and support is available and school governance benefits from a range of backgrounds such as from business, HR, legal, marketing and property. Our schools and University Technical Colleges in Theale, Bicester, Reading, Didcot, Swindon and Hillingdon need the benefit from a wide range of professional knowledge to provide a balanced and diverse range of knowledge, skill, and experience to be effective. As noted by Ofsted – the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management, which includes the governing body.
Should you wish to discuss what this role entails in more detail, please contact Heledd Walker, Head of Governance and Compliance via email Clerk@alet.org.uk.
Elements Café
Alice's Day at Oxford Botanic Garden
Saturday July 1st at Oxford Botanic Garden is Alice's Day when their Walled Garden will be transformed into a magical Wonderland. More details here: https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/event/alices-day
SSNAP Summer Challenge
SSNAP support premature and sick newborn babies, their parents and the amazing NHS staff that care for them. For over 40 years, they have operated from the John Radcliffe Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit, the dependency units and the supporting maternity wards. Current figures for the Oxfordshire area show that 9.1% of newborn babies and their families depend on support from the neonatal intensive care unit and the high dependency units. This means that almost 1 in 10 children have depended on them.
What will your SSNAP Summer Challenge be?!!
- Struggling for ideas to entertain the kids for the whole of the summer holidays?
- Want something to do as a family?
- Want to organise something with friends?
The SSNAP summer challenge, gives you a fantastic opportunity to spend time together, have fun and make memories whilst making a huge difference for our little Superheroes on the neonatal unit of the John Radcliffe Hospital at the same time!
Set up your Summer Challenge page on JustGiving or you can even set up a Facebook Fundraiser for us!
Here's some ideas to get you started;
- Cycle laps of your local park
- How many sand castles can you build, either at the beach or in the sandpit at home?!
- You could run, walk, jog or skip each day for a duration of the summer holidays?
- Bake cupcakes and sell them to friends and family
- Ask your Kids to wash cars on your street for donations!
- Having a Birthday over the summer? Why not ask for donations to SSNAP instead of presents?!
However normal, crazy or wacky you choose, make sure you have fun as a family or with friends!
REGISTER BELOW to receive a FREE SSNAP t-shirt, fundraising pack and medal for taking part, all that we ask is that you try to raise a minimum of £41.
Don't forget to share with friends and family and spread the word!
Dates for the diary
- Monday 15th May up to and including Wednesday 28th June 2023 - Year 11 and Year 13 Exam Period
- Y10 and 12 PPEs start on Thursday the 29th of June and finish on Friday the 7th of July
- Thursday 17th August – A level results
- Thursday 24th August - GCSE results
Remaining Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Summer Term 2: Monday 5 June 2023 – Friday 21 July 2023
Term Dates 2023/2024
- Autumn Term 1: Tuesday 5 September 2023 – Wednesday 18 October 2023
- Autumn Term 2: Monday 30 October 2023 – Wednesday 20 December 2023
- Spring Term 1: Wednesday 10 January 2024 – Friday 9 February 2024
- Spring Term 2: Monday 19 February 2024 – Thursday 28 March 2024
- Summer Term 1: Tuesday 16 April 2024 – Friday 24 May 2024
- Summer Term 2: Monday 3 June 2024 – Wednesday 24 July 2024
Further details can be found on our website: https://www.utcoxfordshire.org.uk/term-dates/
Have a great weekend.
Stay safe
Best wishes
Emma