UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter - 1st April 2022
We can't believe that we are in the penultimate week of term! We have had a fully packed week with all year groups back in school and successful interviews for teaching posts from September taking place across two days. Students have been focused and candidates have commented on how calm and business like the UTC has been. Our thanks go to all students involved directly in the recruitment process including the student panel and the tour guides.
April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day on April 1st has long been a day when practical jokes and tricks are played on the unaware. Classic April Fools’ jokes include caramel covered onions or apple pie beds! Businesses launch impractical or unbelievable products for the fun of the day and newspapers print incredible headlines catching readers off guard. Famously, on April 1st in 1957, the BBC ran an episode of Panorama on the Swiss spaghetti harvest:
Of course, the trick to a good April Fools’ prank is planning. You also need to be the first to pull it off. There’s no point in pursuing your prank if someone else beats you to it! Once the foolery has been triggered, everyone else will be on high alert and
Eco Schools
Students in eco school this week have looked at the wildlife in the school grounds. One group spent time clearing the pond and found frogs. They are hoping to plant wildflowers to encourage a more varied habitat for different species.
Another student collected samples of the different plants that can be found on the school site. They found a wider variety than expected. They have researched plants that are hardy and would be suitable for the school grounds that would survive school wear and tear.
Covid update
On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.
Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available only for eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1 April.
Updated guidance:
Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days.
The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk.
For education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April:
Regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting. Therefore, settings will no longer be able to order test kits. Most of the specific COVID-19 guidance for education and childcare settings will be withdrawn from GOV.UK on Friday 1 April. The operational guidance on the testing in education settings document sharing platform will also be removed on the same day.
Students should not come to school if they are unwell. Please inform attendance of absence in the normal way by email to attendance@utcoxfordshire.org.uk
Opportunities
European Space Camp
You need to be 17-25 and have a strong interest in space. There are scholarships to help with the cost and the application requires effort. https://spacecamp.no/about/
Apprenticeships and Work Experience
The Opportunities section of our website has also been updated with apprenticeship opportunities from Sky, EKFB and the University of Oxford to select just a few. As well as some work experience opportunities. Please do have a look: https://www.utcoxfordshire.org.uk/opportunities/.
The password is UTCOpps2022.
Year 11 Product Design Exhibition
We are working hard behind the scenes on a Year 11 Product Design Exhibition. Further details to follow but it will be a great opportunity to see the students work on display.
Events
Easter Break Boxing Club – Brennan Boxing are offering a free half term activity week during the Easter Half Term (dates 11th - 15th April inc) for children aged 14-16 years old in Vale. The aim of the week is to provide physical activity (boxing) and fun for young people whilst educating them about eating a balanced diet, planning meals and budgeting to maximise the amount of nutritious food they can enjoy even with limited funds. Some focus will be on minimising food wastage, again to make more out of their budget. Further details can be found here or via their website: www.brennanboxing.com
As well as being a great family event, the money raised by the Fun Run is divided between Cancer Research, and the Village Fund which supports local deserving causes and projects. Entry is only £1 for children. For adult runners entry is £7 online (£8 on the day) and £5 adult walkers. Online entries are open now at www.evententry.co.uk/hagbourne-fun-run-walk
Chetham's School of Music is running their first ever summer school, taking place this August 2022, open to young musicians across the UK aged 11-17, grade 4+. Further information can be found here. Registration is open now via https://chethamsschoolofmusic.com/whats-on/chethams-summer-music-course/
Elements Café
Dates for the diary
- Year 13 Progress consultation Evening Wednesday 6th April, school will finish at 15.00
- English trip to Macbeth year 11 Wednesday 6th April
- Friday 8th April End of term - 13.20 - 14:00 - students may leave school site or the canteen will be open for those who would like to stay. Lockers need to be emptied. Minibuses will leave at 14.00
- Year 11 Progress consultation Evening Wednesday 27th April, school will finish at 15.00
- 16th May to 28th June – GCSE/A level/Level 3 exam period - please note that BTEC Level 3 coursework may still be required after this end date. Please note students will not be able to finish school until after 28th June
- The Year 13 Leavers Celebration is on 27th June at The Garden House Venue. Tickets can be purchased via ParentPay by 31st March.
- The Year 11 prom is on June 30th, 2022, at Milton Mill House. Dinner and disco included! More details to follow soon.
- New York Science, Engineering and Business Trip Monday 11th July 2022 to Friday 15th July
- Thursday 18th August – A level results day
- Thursday 25th August - GCSE results day.
Remaining Term dates for 2022
- 25th and 26th April INSET, no school for students
- Wednesday 27th April - start of Term 5
- Monday 2nd May is a Bank Holiday
- Half term is 30th May to 3rd June 2022
- Monday 6th June - start of Term 6
- The last day of term is Wednesday 20th July 2022. Lunch time finish
Have a good weekend,
Stay safe
With good wishes
Sam