UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 21st April 2023
Dear all,
Welcome to Term 5. We have started the term with a positive vibe leading up to the external exams for students in Year 11 and Year 13. Students and staff are working hard preparing for those final qualifications and we have a series of booster lessons, revision sessions and interventions planned and being delivered to ensure the best outcomes for our students.
Our school health nurse has shared the below graphic to support students ahead of their exams.
April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Every April marks testicular cancer awareness month to highlight the challenges and threats that testicular cancer poses, and to celebrate progress toward prevention, diagnosis and breakthroughs in treatment.
Testicular cancer can affect anyone who has testicles, including men, transgender (trans) women and people assigned male at birth.
Employer Led Project - Immunocore
Last term we welcomed Immunocore in school to run an ELP session with some of our 6th formers. The project was to investigate the factors affecting the transformation of E.coli bacteria with the pGLO gene. At the end of the project, students were asked to create a poster summarising of all the work performed and the data obtained during the practical’s.
All 6 groups presented their posters to scientists from Immunocore, their peers and staff at UTC. Immunocore chose two winning groups who will be invited to tour the laboratories at Immunocore this term. As an additional surprise prize, Immunocore were so impressed with the quality of the posters produced that they are going to organise the printing of all the posters to A1 size so that we can display them in school.
Well done to:
Group 2 – Ellie, Keigan, Katie
Group 3 – Adam, Meghav, Dylan
More degree apprenticeship news
Three more year 13 students have been offered degree apprenticeships! Congratulations to James and Colin who have both been offered degree apprenticeships in civil engineering with Stantec in Reading, studying part time at Warwick University. Congratulations too to Tom who has been offered a degree apprenticeship in civil engineering with Milestone Infrastructure, studying at Coventry University. Tom will be working with the design team in Oxford.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
Former UTC Oxfordshire students, Oliver and Silas, were presented with outstanding achievement in technical education awards at the House of Lords last term. Oliver and Silas previously achieved gold in the Baker Award and were selected to receive the outstanding achievement award in person from Lord Baker because of their employability skills, developed through several employer led projects, work experience and supporting the teaching of maths to younger students. Oliver and Silas also met David Johnston, MP for Didcot and Wantage, while having tea on a terrace overlooking the Thames.
The Baker Award (gold or silver) is open to year 13 students who are taking STEM subjects, have completed at least two STEM projects, have carried out relevant work experience and undergone an internal and external interview.
Industrial action
As you will have seen from the news, unions are planning to take industrial action again on Thursday 27th April and Tuesday 2nd May. We appreciate this is disruptive to you all but a reminder it is not a school decision.
Year 11 and Year 13 will be expected in school, and we will be running a series of revision sessions including a ‘walking, talking’ science mock for our year 11 students. 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
Spotlight: Illuminating Engineering, Wednesday 26 April 2023 @ 7pm
Revealing the ground-breaking research that is helping to improve our lives and expand our horizons
If you think engineering is all about building bridges and skyscrapers, this show is for you! If you want to know how engineers are helping to tackle climate change and anti-microbial resistance, this show is for you! If you want to learn how engineering can help us reach Mars… you get the picture!
Hear from some of Oxford’s most innovative and enthusiastic engineers how advances are being made in diagnosing and treating diseases and infections…. how combustion engines could actually contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases… how thermodynamics are making the dream of reaching Mars more of a reality…. and how understanding ketchup splatters could help us predict volcanic eruptions!
After seven short illuminating TEDx style talks, you’ll be ready to astound your friends and family with the answers to these fascinating conundrums:
- Why does ketchup splatter, and why is it important?
- Can we use sound to eliminate infections?
- Could the humble bubble provide a cure for respiratory diseases?
- How can we save spacecraft travelling at hypersonic speeds from a fiery end?
- Can AI help diagnose infectious diseases with a cheap wearable monitor?
- How can the internal combustion engine actually HELP to achieve Net Zero?
- Can robots help us harness the power of microbes to produce recyclable plastic?
Duration: 2 hours, with an interval
Age: 14+
Booking link: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/whats-on/spotlight-illuminating-engineering/Virtual Work Experience with the British Antarctic survey
Please see the link for a week's virtual work experience with the British Antarctic survey. https://www.bas.ac.uk/jobs/work-experience-opportunities/
Apprenticeship - Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) Engineer – Oxford
Mace have recently launched an apprenticeship in the Oxford area for September 2023: https://macegroup.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/6481/0/384298/22130/2023-apprenticeship-mechanical-electrical-and-public-health-mep-engineer-oxford
Year 12 Academic Taster Day - Women+ in STEM, St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, 1st June 2023
Academic Taster Days are a great opportunity for students in Y12 to spend a day at St Catherine's College, attend academic taster sessions, meet with some current students, enjoy lunch in the hall and have a taste of life as a university student. Academic Taster Days - St Catherine's College (ox.ac.uk)
- Thursday 1st June, 10:30am – 4:15pm, including a session with Professor Susannah Speller (Professor of Materials Science) and an opportunity to try a range of STEM based courses. Students will be able to choose from sessions relating to courses including Human Sciences, Computer Science, Biochemistry, and Earth Sciences. More courses to be added shortly!
NIHR Oxford and Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre Joint Open Day 10th May 2023
Exploring healthcare research
On Wednesday 10 May, from 10am to 3:30pm, the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), which is hosted by Oxford University Hospitals, and the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are hosting a joint Open Day at Leiden Square, Westgate Centre, Oxford showcasing much of the varied and ground-breaking research that takes place in Oxford for the benefit of NHS patients and the public.
NIHR Oxford and Oxford Health BRCs Joint Open Day - NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
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
Dates for the diary
- 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