UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 24th March 2023
Dear all,
This week we have been celebrating careers week. We’ve had a full programme of events for the students to get involved in, including assemblies, workshops including Apprenticeships, CV writing support, mock Interviews, subject specific careers activities and staff Careers talks. We’ve also welcomed some outside speakers to share their knowledge. Some students even had the opportunity to visit Careers Fest at the Kassam Stadium.
It's been a hugely successful week as you can see from the student feedback:
Careers Week:
‘Careers week at UTC Oxfordshire has been a different, but fun week. We've been shown videos like Pilot Training and Quantum Computing during our tutor times. Lots of our teachers have also volunteered to speak during break and lunches about their past careers.‘
Careers Fest:
‘I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to go to the Kassam Stadium and attend the Careers Fest on Wednesday. We were able to speak to a wide range of companies including STFC Harwell, South Central Ambulance Service, Oxford University Hospitals, The Royal Airforce and many more. I also found it interesting to speak with Abingdon and Witney College and The Oxford University. This gave me the opportunity to get a deeper insight as to what each industry does and what I may want to do in the future. I was able to ask many questions and take home useful contact details. We were also given the opportunity by several companies to be added to their upcoming events list so they can contact us to let us know when they have open evenings or careers days. I would highly recommend going to the Careers Fest to every student as I came away feeling more positive of what I want to do in the future and the path I would need to take.’
Staff Careers Talk:
‘On Thursday, Dino spoke to a group of students about his career. He showed us his CV and how to make it as effective as possible. This gave us an understanding of how to layout a CV as well as what information we should include. We got to find out his past jobs and how he got to where he is now. I found it very interesting how he got into teaching and the steps he took to get there. I feel that the teachers sharing their experiences with students is a positive way of helping us to understand how to reach our next steps after finishing school.’
Last day of term
Next Friday is the last day of term and school will finish at 13.00hrs. It will also be a dress down day, please can students bring in a donation (minimum of £1) which will go to Comic Relief and the sailing trip.
World Oral Health Day - 20th March
World Oral Health Day aims to empower people with the knowledge, tools and confidence to secure good oral health. Please share these simple steps with your students:
Sailing trip – please show your support
Students from three of our UTCs, in Reading, Swindon and Oxfordshire, are taking on the challenge of a lifetime as they live aboard 44ft yachts for a week, learning to tack, gybe and work as a team. They'll be working towards their RYA Competent Crew certificate and will even compete on Friday in a regatta for the inaugural ALET cup.
We need your help to get them there: anything you can give would be gratefully received and add to the personal fundraising efforts of the team: ALET Sailing Team - Just Giving
Degree Apprenticeship Success
Congratulations to Year 13 student, Henry, who is the third UTC student this year to be offered a degree apprenticeship. Henry has been offered his fully funded degree apprenticeship in mechanical engineering by Geometric Manufacturing in Tewksbury.
Attendance
We are still seeing a high level of absence due to illness and whilst we appreciate that this may be as a result of more seasonal infections, we would like your support to enable students to manage their symptoms by using paracetamol (which can be carried in their bag) and other over the counter medicines. It is well known that symptoms are worse first thing in the morning and in the evening, so please encourage your student to attend if they are well enough.
If students are suffering from a fever or are acutely unwell then they should remain at home but please do send them in once they are in the recovery phase.
Your student’s Head of Year, tutor or I will be in touch with you about frequent absence due to illness. A referral to the School Health Nurse may be considered. Thank you for your support - Paula Ramsbottom, Attendance Officer
Feeling unwell at school
Just a reminder for parents and students that if a student feels unwell during the school day, the student should make their teacher aware and then go to reception. We will make contact with parents/carers if we feel the student needs to come home. If your student contacts you directly, please ask them to go to reception.
Is your student scared of needles?
The University of Oxford are looking for young people to help us create a virtual reality treatment for needle fears. This would involve giving advice and feedback to researchers based on your own fears about needles. Expenses will be reimbursed and you will be given vouchers to thank you for your time.
To find out more: Contact Eve Twivy (Clinical Psychologist) via email (eve.twivy@psy.ox.ac.uk) or phone (01865 618261)
To apply: https://tinyurl.com/VRypag
Inside our Autistic minds
Thinking differently. Chris Packham helps autistic people illustrate how their minds work, helping them connect with their friends and family in a new, more authentic way. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bbnh47
Oxfordshire County Council Early help guide for families
All agencies that work with children, young people and families are responsible for listening to your concerns and worries and working closely with you to make sure you and your family get the right support at the right time.
At times children and families need a bit of extra support – and when that happens, it’s ok to ask for help. Early help is there to make sure worries don’t become bigger and you get the support you need at the right time.
You can find our more here: Early help guide
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Inside Diamond Days: Saturday 25 March 2023, Saturday 10 June 2023, Saturday 19 August 2023, Saturday 28 October 2023
- An Inside Diamond visit consists of an introductory talk, a tour of the amazing particle accelerator and a chance to talk to the people who work at Diamond and make the fascinating work done there possible. A visit lasts 2/2.5 hours.
- You can now register your interest to attend the next Inside Diamond Day by visiting their website: https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Public/VisitUs.html - spaces are allocated by a random ballot to ensure a fair allocation of places.
Join apprentices & colleagues from the RAF Logistics team on to find out more about the different roles available, how to apply and what it's like to be an apprentice with the RAF. Register here: Webinar Registration or visit their website: Logistics apprenticeships within the RAF
Virtual Engineering Taster Day – 13th April 10.00 – 15.00
Spend the day learning about engineering!
Join Dyson Institute & other brands to learn all about routes, opportunities, and roles within engineering. You will gain valuable industry experience and have the opportunity to hear from current apprentices.
https://pathwayctm.com/event/virtual-engineering-taster-day/
Taster days
Abingdon and Witney college are offering taster days for some of their courses. More details can be found here Taster Events - A&W College. Please be aware that any absence will need to be authorised in advance.
Work Experience
Deloitte Year 12
Aspire Work Experience Programme
Virtual: 26th-28th June 2023
Birmingham: 3rd-5th July 2023
Apply: https://pathwayctm.com/opportunity/aspire-programme-deloitte/
Deadline 31st March
University of Surrey Summer School Programmes
June – July
The summer schools are a chance for Year 12 students to experience University life:
Virtual Summer School: https://pathwayctm.com/opportunity/university-of-surrey-year-12-summer-school-programme/
Residential Summer School (Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences): https://pathwayctm.com/opportunity/university-of-surrey-year-12-residential-summer-school-faculty-of-arts-social-sciences/
Residential Summer School (Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences): https://pathwayctm.com/opportunity/77757/
Residential Summer School (Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences):https://pathwayctm.com/opportunity/university-of-surrey-year-12-residential-summer-school-faculty-of-health-medical-sciences/
Deadline 2nd April
University of Bath
July – August
The summer school is a chance for Year 12 students to experience University life:
Discover Bath Residential Summer School
Apply: https://pathwayctm.com/opportunity/year-12-discover-bath-programme/
Deadline 17th April
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
Swim School opportunities
Please find information below from www.parkclub.co.uk. The first is a swimming teacher qualification course on 17th-21st April and is open to anyone over the age of 16 years. The second is a poster for our Rookie Lifesavers Club which is suitable for children aged 8+ who can competently swim 100m. In Rookies they learn vital water safety skills, safe rescue techniques and basic first aid including CPR.
Rookie LifesaversDates for the diary
- Wednesday 29th March – Year 11 Progress Consultation Evening – school will finish at 15.00hrs
- Friday 31st March – Last day of term – school will finish at 13.00hrs
- Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th April are INSET days. Students return to school on Wednesday 19th April.
- Monday 8th May 2023 has been confirmed as a Bank Holiday in celebration of the coronation of King Charles
- Monday 15th May up to and including Wednesday 28th June 2023 - Year 11 and Year 13 Exam Period
Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Spring Term 2: Monday 20 February 2023 – Friday 31 March 2023
- Summer Term 1: Wednesday 19 April 2023 – Friday 26 May 2023
- Summer Term 2: Monday 5 June 2023 – Friday 21 July 2023
Further details can be found on our website: https://www.utcoxfordshire.org.uk/term-dates/
Have a good weekend
Stay safe
Best wishes
Emma