UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 28th April 2023
Dear all,
We’ve had a very successful week, feedback from the exam booster sessions has been positive and more are planned for next week. Students are really embracing the preparation for the exam season.
DNA Day – 25th April
This year saw the 70th anniversary of DNA. The special day is celebrated every year on April 25th to commemorate the first publication of the DNA structure in 1953, as well as the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003.
Parent Survey
As we did in the Autumn term, we would like to ask again for your feedback about your experiences at UTC Oxfordshire. Please can we request that you complete the survey by Friday 12th May. Your answers will help us to shape the future of UTC Oxfordshire and we appreciate you taking the time to complete this. Please note that only one survey needs to be completed per household.
REME Engineers cup
Today we welcomed WO2 (AQMS) Gary Hooson IEng MIET from Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) onto our site to listen to the presentations by our year 13 engineers for the Engineers cup. REME set the engineers a problem of how to store a Javelin onto a Jackal 2 so that it is ready for action within two minutes. In January our students got to visit MOD Lyneham to research the Project and to understand the requirements. The Teams of students are in a competition against other colleges within Activate Learning and the winning team will be decided in a few week's time. Our students impressed Gary with their professionalism and creative solutions, CAD models, teamwork and presentation.
Engineering Development Trust Industrial Cadets Gold Award with Reaction Engines
Over the course of this year our team of year 12 Engineering Development Trust students have been working on a project for the Gold award sponsored by Reaction Engines. Today our team had to present their project over a video call to industry experts. Mentor Ben, from Reaction Engines, said "all the elements that you presented showed exactly what is seen in the world of Reaction Engines: Successes, challenges and dead ends. (It’s how you accept them and move on that counts) Whatever the outcome, without a shadow of a doubt, take away the fact that you all came together to produce a real solution to a problem that’s on a global scale. Well Done!"
The team have been working so hard on this with some huge challenges to overcome including manufacturing a heat exchanger using NanoTubes, operating CNC milling equipment, finding and using the correct adhesives to cope with the required temperatures, pressures and to make a watertight system.
The team will be attending the award and celebration ceremony in June at the University of Bath where they will be to present their project along with the other schools taking part.
F1 in Schools Taster Day
Earlier this week a group of year 12 engineers visited Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA) to find out about the F1 in schools' program. Students got to test prototype cars on the racetrack, test their reaction speeds and find out lots of useful advice on how to enter the competition, build a team, understand the rules & regulations and get inspiration on car design.
We were given a tour of Aston University's Engineering Department where they offer courses in Mechanical Engineering, Design Engineering, Product Design and technology, Product Design and Management and design enterprise and innovation. Students also have the opportunity to take part in Formula student, building and racing single seater race cars.
We were given a talk on Fusion 360 - our CAD software that we use at UTC Oxfordshire- and how it supports the F1 in Schools program and got an insight with hints and tips on how to understand the competition rules, secure sponsorship, and develop the branding of the team.
The organiser, Tom, complemented our students saying " I must say your teams asked some excellent questions and came across very well indeed".
Watch this space for details of how to get involved in this competition and to see how our teams get on next year.
Thank you to AUEA for hosting us, Amy Sutcliffe from Baker Dearing Trust for organising, Tom Milner from F1 in Schools, Jay Sahnan from Fabio designs and Reece Lillie from Aston University for presenting to us.
Student ParentPay accounts and use of the café
As you are aware, our café is cashless, and students wishing to purchase snacks, drinks and lunch must have credit on their ParentPay account. We issue permission slips to enable students to get food when they have either not got their ID card with them, have insufficient funds on their account or have not brought their lunch with them. If you would prefer us not to do this for your student, please let us know by emailing admin@utcoxfordshire.org.uk. Thank you.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Jonathan who has accepted a higher apprenticeship in cybernetics at UKAEA, they were impressed by Jonathan's enthusiasm about electronics and computing as shown by his Arduino projects on the BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering.
Industrial action
Further Industrial Action is planned after the bank holiday on Tuesday 2nd May. Arrangements will be as per this week, please see the email correspondence for specific details.
Year 11 and Year 13 will be expected in school, and we will be running a series of revision sessions. Year 13 will be involved in BTEC booster sessions. When these are not taking place, students are expected to attend lessons as normal. If a staff member is striking and therefore not in school, students will be directed towards independent study that will be completed in the LRC.
Year 10 and 12 students will be receiving their lessons online- students will be informed in the morning if their teacher is striking or not. If a staff member is striking and therefore not delivering lessons, students will be directed towards independent study that should be completed at home.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
STEM Insight Weeks
Science Oxford STEM Insight Weeks aim to inspire year 10 students to pursue further education and STEM careers.
Run during half terms, they are aimed at providing the skills needed during higher education and the broader world of work, whether this is writing an up-to-date and engaging CV, how to find out about particular jobs and methods of work to suit individual students, or even mindfulness and stress management.
The next Insight week will run from 30th May to 2 June 2023. You can find out more here: May half-term STEM Insight Week
Virtual Insight Event with RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Thursday 25th May, 18:00 – 19:00
Students can find out more about what this career could look like, what it involves and how to take the next steps. RTPI are running another Work Experience programme in the summer too which they will be talking about including, how to apply and tips on applications for students. Find out more here: Virtual Insight Event with RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute)
Oxford Physics events: May 2023
Astronomy for All Lecture: Black holes in the Universe (online)
Date and time: Wed 10 May 2023, 6-7pm
Venue: Online
Audience: No background knowledge required
Details: Prof Rob Fender, Head of Astrophysics at Oxford, will present what we currently understand about black holes, and discuss what lies ahead in the coming decades and centuries.
More information and booking: Free, booking required. Please see the Green Templeton website for more information and booking.
25th Hintze Lecture: Professor Matthew Colless presents "What we do and don’t know about the Universe (and how we know it)” (in person and online)
Date and time: Wed 17 May, 5pm – 6pm
Venue: Martin Wood Lecture Theatre, Department of Physics and online
Audience: Some background knowledge of physics required, age 14+ years only.
Description: This talk will give an overview of the key facts we now know about the Universe - its size, age, constituents, origin, history and future - and explain how we have come to know these things through observations mapping the cosmic microwave background radiation from the Big Bang and the evolving 'cosmic web' of galaxy positions and velocities. More information and booking: Free event, booking required for online participation. Please see our events page for more information and booking.
62 CHERWELL-SIMON MEMORIAL LECTURE: THE MAGIC OF MOIRÉ QUANTUM MATTER (in person)
Date and time: Fri 19 May 2023, 4:30pm
Venue: Martin Wood Lecture Theatre, Department of Physics
Audience: Some background knowledge of physics required, age 14+ years only.
Details: Prof Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will review some of the recent advances in the field of understanding of strongly-interacting quantum matter, focusing on the newest generation of moiré quantum systems, where correlated physics, superconductivity, and other fascinating phases can be studied with unprecedented tunability.
More information and booking: Free, booking required. Please see our events page for more information and booking
UK Summer School Vacancies at Oxford Royale
Oxford Royale have some vacancies for paid Counsellors for Oxford Royale's summer school courses. Please see more information here: UK Summer School Vacancies
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
Oxfordshire Teacher Training SCITT 'Get into Teaching' Information Event
Thursday 4 May, 6-7pm
The Swan School, Marston Ferry Road, Oxford OX2 7WP
Have you considered a career working with young people? Come and join us at our free Get into Teaching Information Event next week to find out more about who we are, what we offer and how to apply for our full and part-time teacher training programmes.
More details can be found HERE
Family fun day out at Oxford Eid Extravaganza
There will be Family fun day open to all on Sunday 30th April at Cheney School from 12pm - 7pm. Previous years events were attended by nearly 15000 people, and they’re hoping the same this year too! There will be rides including bumper cars, climbing wall, high ropes, laser tag, bouncy castles and more to keep your whole family entertained. More information can be found here https://eidextravaganza.org/
Dates for the diary
- Monday 1st May – Bank Holiday
- Tuesday 2nd May – Industrial Action
- 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
- Thursday 17th August – A level results
- Thursday 24th August - GCSE results
Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Summer Term 1: Wednesday 19 April 2023 – Friday 26 May 2023
- Summer Term 2: Monday 5 June 2023 – Friday 21 July 2023
Have a good weekend
Stay safe
Best wishes
Emma