UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter - 11th March 2022
Welcome to this week's newsletter. This week Sixth Form admission meetings have been taking place with students coming to join us in September. It has been fabulous for our Senior Team to meet with potential students. The enthusiasm and passion for Science and Engineering has really been apparent from these applicants.
The students in year 11 were given a tour of the site by ST Modwen Planner Dinny Shaw and we were joined by Mike from Taylor Wimpy, Cat Armstrong from OxLEP Skills and Karen Tolley from South and Vale District councils. We were able to see behind the scenes at the building site at how the materials are stored, how the homes were built including the different types of foundations and types of housing and we got to look around a few nearly completed homes. We had discussion on how the building companies are responsible for creating communities and lifestyles for their customers and the careers that are involved in creating public spaces and buildings that meet the needs of those who move to the area and why that site is a particularly desirable space for jobs, amenities, and sustainable living. The logistics of the transport links, cycle lanes and having access to safe outdoor spaces for exercise are all key areas that need to be planned and implemented in a new housing estate. The number of roles that are available in the construction industry is vast and this visit certainly showed that this is an industry that should have no gender bias and provides opportunities for all those with good employability skills.
Photo credit: Kimberley Wooloff Photography
Employer Engagement Update
Staff from Diamond Light Source gave a talk to students about apprenticeship opportunities. Please see the click this link for a report written by our student newspaper group: Diamond Light Source
Engineering updates
Michelle Dolan MP on National Careers week
To coincide with National Careers Week 2022, Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, is writing to students and parents about the education, training and work choices available to young people after they finish their GCSEs and once they turn 18.
Dates for the Diary
Smile Inside
Our Young Enterprise Group are running a trade stand this Saturday at Cowley shopping centre. Please see the flyer below, we hope you would be able to support.
Save the date - Year 11 Prom
The year 11 prom is on June 30th 2022 at Milton Mill House. Dinner and disco included! More details to follow soon…
PPE's year 11 and year 13
PPEs start on Monday 14th March. Students are only required on site for their exams. The LRC is available for students who are unable to travel home between exams running on the same day.
All students have received their PPE timetables. Please take a moment to read through the regulations for candidates and go through this with your student. Click on the link below: -
IFC-Written_Examinations_2021_v5.pdf (jcq.org.uk)
For these exams we will be trialling a new system to ensure we are following JCQ regulations. Every student will be scanned with a handheld scanner on entry to the exam room to ensure they are not carrying phones or watches. Students should store all their personal possessions (apart from those needed for exams) in their lockers.
Virtual TEM Session: Looking inside cells using electrons - Wednesday 16 March 2022
This FREE virtual event is relevant for GCSE and A level biology students. Have you ever wondered how scientists take pictures of the internal cell structures such as mitochondria or the nucleus? Or how scientists look at small particles like ribosomes and viruses?
More details here: Science Bazaar Beyond Virtual TEM
Progress Consultation Evenings
The second round of Progress Consultations Evenings are running this term (and into next term) on the following dates:
- Wednesday 23rd March Year 10
- Wednesday 6th April Year 13
- Wednesday 27th April Year 11
Each consultation evening is virtual and appointment windows open at 16:15hrs to no later than 19:30hrs. School will finish at 15:00hrs for each of these. Minibuses will run at 15:00hrs.
Vertex will continue to run their ELP on these dates for year 12 until 16:00hrs and it would be beneficial for those students to remain onsite where possible to continue to work with Vertex.
Should any student wish to remain on site the LRC will be available for quiet study
UTC Sport
On Wednesday, the sixth form football team hosted our first ever sports fixture against Didcot Sixth From. It started swiftly with an impressive goal scored by Henry in the first 4 minutes, although this followed by a goal from our opponents. Koppany and Alex secured us two more goals putting us in the lead and with an unfortunate home goal the half time whistle was blown at 3-2 to UTC. We came back even stronger on the second half scoring another 4 goals from Henry, James, and Archie x2, with Didcot Sixth Form only scoring one, UTC were declared champions with a 7-3 win. Our Sixth Form team have set the bar high for future games, their gamesmanship, teamwork, and motivation has been outstanding. Well done to all the team, James (C), Archie, Koppany, Henry (player of the match), Colin, Callum, Cameron, Sam, and Alex.
Chemistry Olympiad Award Winners
Designed to challenge and inspire, the UK Chemistry Olympiad is a unique opportunity for students to push themselves further and excel in the chemistry field. This year’s competition took place on 20 January, with 8668 students from 750 schools sitting the paper. The 2022 paper was particularly challenging and this is reflected in the grade boundaries. There were bronze, silver and gold awards up for grabs and 64% of the students who took part received awards.
Elements Café
Dates for the Diary
- Thursday 17th March 6-7.30pm - CAMHS Training - Supporting your Child with Low Mood. This presentation explores what depression is, how it may present in young people, and how it may differ from “normal” adolescent mood difficulties. The session explores some useful techniques for young people to use and will last about an hour, with time for questions afterwards. A link will be sent out after half term.
- Friday 18th March is Red Nose Day - Let the countdown begin: Leaked Audition Tapes | Red Nose Day 2022 - YouTube
Wednesday 23rd March year 10, Wednesday 6th April year 13, Wednesday 27th April year 11 Progress Consultation Evenings, 16.15 - 19.30. School will finish at 15.00
- 16th May to 28th June – A level/Level 3 exam period - please note that BTEC Level 3 coursework may still be required after this end date
- 16th May to 28th June – GCSE exam period. Please note students will not be able to finish school until after 28th June
- 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
Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Autumn Term 1: Friday 2 September 2022 (years 10 and 12 only) to Wednesday 19 October 2022. Whole school in attendance from Monday 5 September 2022
- Autumn Term 2: Monday 31 October 2022 – Friday 16 December 2022
- Spring Term 1: Thursday 5 January 2023 – Friday 10 February 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.
Have a great weekend
Stay Safe
With good wishes
Sam