UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 17th March 2023
Dear all,
This week we have been celebrating British Science week (13th – 17th March).
The Great British Beak Off
Our Year 10 students have been participating in an exciting challenge based on Darwin’s finches. Each class has tested how well (or poorly!) different beak shapes handle different food types – linking to the evolutionary connection between the birds Darwin discovered in the Galapagos. Each lesson ended with a head-to-head challenge with the winners taking home a bag of Colin Caterpillars for their group.
Celebrating our sixth formers
Our sixth form Biology students (Yr12 & Yr13 A-Level Biologists and BTEC Applied Scientists) have been working on an ELP with Immunocore investigating bacterial transformation. The challenge explores the conditions which allow bacteria to take up DNA containing jellyfish genes for fluorescence. Immunocore work to develop and commercialise a new generation of transformative medicines to address unmet needs in cancer, infection and autoimmune disease.
The students are over halfway through their 6 week project, having transformed the bacteria and observed fluorescence under UV light. Several of the students involved are hoping to work in biomedicine in the future and this is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about microbiology and genetic engineering, two very important areas of biomedical research. For all the participants, this project will enhance their applications to university or apprenticeships.
British Science Week in the community
Our Science Technician Kat has also been out in the community encouraging a love of science from an early age.
Visiting the 2nd Didcot Brownies with a bubble challenge and Year 2 at Stephen Freeman with a fingerprint experiment, helping all students make copies of their fingerprints then linking it to real-world science with a mock-up suspect/forensic scientist demonstration. Dusting for fingerprints using official equipment and try to identify ‘whodunnit’. Great work Kat!
Kingsgrove Estate
Year 10 students were given an invitation to visit the Open doors event at St Modwen Kingsgrove Estate in Wantage to learn about the planning and construction of new communities. Students were given PPE and a safety briefing then went on a tour of the site. Students were given an insight into careers such as planning, civil engineering, quantity surveying, design, communities 'placemaking' and how those jobs interlink to create new communities taking into account socio-economic and sustainable impact, how earth, water, utilities are planned as well as structure of roads, lighting, signage, public spaces and care homes. Students are now more aware of different careers that are available to them and how they can develop and change careers as they get more experience.
World Sleep Day 17th March
Sleep is essential for Health — just like eating well and exercising, sleep is a behaviour that underpins our physical, mental, and social well-being.
Three elements of good quality sleep are:
- Duration: The length of sleep should be sufficient for the sleeper to be rested and alert the following day.
- Continuity: Sleep periods should be seamless without fragmentation.
- Depth: Sleep should be deep enough to be restorative
Sleep is essential to health. It is a critical aspect of health, like nutrition and physical activity.
Sleep helps:
- support memory and learning.
- clear waste from the brain and promote brain health.
- brain health, and brain health supports sleep.
- immune health, and immune health supports sleep.
- the immune system to clear bacteria and viruses.
- to recycle old cells and maintain our bodies and energy levels.
Poor sleep health can have multiple significant impacts on physical health. Want to know more along with some tips on how you can improve your sleep? Visit the Teen Sleep Hub or check out the information here.
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
Exploitation – Spot the Signs
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Mace - Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) Engineer – 2023 Apprenticeship – Oxford
Mace have recently launched an apprenticeship in the oxford area to start in September 2023. More information can be found here: https://macegroup.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/6481/0/384298/22130/2023-apprenticeship-mechanical-electrical-and-public-health-mep-engineer-oxford
There is just over a week left for candidates to apply for the apprenticeship vacancies for September 2023 start: RAL Vacancies
OAS Apprenticeship Open Evening - Tuesday 21 March 2023
Find out more about joining OAS and how to apply to their employer partners
Take a tour around their world class training centre
Hear from current apprentices on their experiences with OAS
Meet some of their employer partners and find out what they’re looking for in their next apprentices
You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions to our training team, employer partners and apprentices.
There will be two, 60-minute sessions at 5pm and 6pm. Spaces are limited to a total of 40 people per session. Find out more here: OAS Apprenticeship Open Evening
Careers Fest Parent/Carer Twilight Session 22nd March 2023, 3.30pm-6.30pm - Kassam Conference & Events Centre, Oxford
Careers Fest is an opportunity to meet a range of Oxfordshire employers, further education colleges, universities and training providers. More information can be found here: Careers Fest
Registration link: https://careersfest2023.eventbrite.co.uk
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.
RAF Logistics webinar, Wednesday 29th March between 3pm - 4pm
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
The Brilliant Club - Imperial Scholars Summer Schools
Are you a Year 12 student interested in studying Biology or Chemistry at university? We’ve got summer schools for you hosted by Imperial College London! Life Sciences 24 - 28 July Chemistry 31 July – 4 August More details here https://bit.ly/3ZmeITW
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.
Abingdon Eagles Basketball Club (AEBC)
Abingdon Eagles Basketball Club (AEBC) are preparing for another fantastic season of competitive basketball in the Junior National League (NL).
These Junior NL trials are open to male hoopers committed to their basketball journey and eager to develop their basketball skills and knowledge whilst competing at the highest level available with AEBC.
More information and details on girls team available on enquiry.
The U14, U16 & U18 boys trials will be held on Sunday 23 April, at Abingdon & Witney College (Abingdon Campus), OX14 1GG. Entry fee is £5 per person. Please register yours / your player's interest and intentions to attend by completing the form below.
https://forms.gle/Hj58x1FBfKKSvwau8
- U16 Boys, 11am-1pm - Open to players who in the next academic year, Sept 2023 will be in Yr10 & Yr11
- U18 Boys, 1pm - 3pm Open to players who in the next academic year, Sept 2023 will be in Yr12 & Yr13
- U14s Boys, 3pm - 5pm - Open to players who in the next academic year, Sept 2023 will be in Yr8 & Yr9
Oxford creators (based in Didcot) - Mentor opportunity
Do you happen to know anyone that is looking for a part time role? Oxford Creators are currently looking for a range of mentors that have different skills (sports, wellbeing, mental health) to work directly with our students in a small group (max 6 children) Initially it will be 4 hours a week, with a view to increase to 12 hours in September. https://oxfordcreators.co.uk/vacancies
Limited time offer – get FREE lifetime membership to FiveDinners.com!
FiveDinners.com is an online meal planning service co-founded by author and TV chef Theo Michaels. To help with the cost of living crisis so many families and individuals are facing Theo has decided to offer their meal planning service for FREE (usually £49.99 per year); every week they publish a new meal plan with an automatically generated shopping list; set to your serving size so you know exactly what you need for the week ahead. It saves time, money on food shopping and ultimately takes away the headache of deciding what to cook every night. You can even create and save your own meal plans choosing from hundreds of recipes.
Simply head to https://FiveDinners.com to join.
Elements Café
Dates for the diary
- Wednesday 22nd March – Year 13 Progress Consultation Evening
- Wednesday 29th March – Year 11 Progress Consultation Evening
- 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