UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 23rd June 2023
Dear all,
This week sees an end to the public exams for year 11 and year 13, we would like to take this opportunity to wish them all well on their next adventures and enjoyed seeing some of them for the Year 11 prom last night.
Industrial Action
Further dates for Industrial Action to be taken by teachers have been announced by the Government and members of the NEU to take place on July 5th and July 7th 2023. Whilst we support the right to strike and the need for more funding in schools, UTC Oxfordshire will remain fully open for these two days.
International Women in Engineering Day – Friday 23rd June
International Women in Engineering Day will take place on 23rd June. This year's theme of 'make safety seen' will see a celebration of amazing work that women engineers around the world who are working to support lives and livelihoods every day.
The science of engineering has been responsible for a huge amount of development in the way that we live today. Leaps and bounds in the engineering field have given us the benefit of living easier lives, living in better homes, and using better means of transport – and that’s just to name a few developments.
Although even today, some may see engineering as being a male-dominated sector, International Women in Engineering Day reminds us that, it’s far from it. In fact, this is a sector in which women are making some huge waves. So today is all about the ladies taking part in some incredible achievements against all odds, and showing just what they can do.
INWED webinar
www.inwed.org.uk/inwed2023-webinar
This webinar on 23rd June from 12:00 will profile women in engineering who are doing amazing work in safety and security, either by making working environments safer, or protecting their colleagues, peers and wider society.
INWED events
www.inwed.org.uk/events
Browse a range of events for students to take part in that are being submitted by businesses and organisations such as McLaren, Stemettes and the RAF.
UKAEA Women in Engineering
UKAEA are holding a women in engineering experience day for 6th form students and their parents/carers on Saturday 1st July from 10:00-17:00. Participants will create, design and build a solution to tackle one of fusion energy's challenges. There are 20 spaces available. book your place here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-engineering-experience-day-tickets-648744962647
REME Engineering Cup
The winners of this years REME Engineering Cup are: Theo, Josh, Oryan, James, Dylan from UTC Oxfordshire. This year the students were challenged to investigate an engineering solution that allowed the Javelin launcher and N-LAW to be stowed safely on a Jackal. Their winning design met all the requirements and it also provided great versatility allowing it to be used on a number of different vehicle platforms and weapon systems. This foresight earnt them first place in a strong field of competitive engineers. Congratulations!
EDT - Engineering Development Trust
On Tuesday we took our team of Year 12 students to Bath University for the celebration of the EDT Industrial Cadet's event. The team have worked so hard on this project, supported by Reaction Engines, over the year and were given the opportunity to celebrate their achievements with other schools who have taken part in the project. We are so proud of what they have achieved and the development of employability skills they have also demonstrated.
Students displayed and presented their project to industry professionals and other students as well as having the opportunity to network, visit other teams’ projects, take part in STEM activities and enjoy the celebration event for the Industry Cadets gold award.
These photos show the team demonstrating their waste heat energy recovery system.
Work Experience Success
Following a week's work experience at Zircotec, year 12 student David has been offered a degree apprenticeship (dependent on final grades) starting September 2024. They were impressed with how he got involved in tasks no matter the challenge and said his engineering and employability skills stood out.
Their offer is in their heat shielding department which David had shown an interest in and said that they would like to be able to support his career within automotive motorsport engineering. Well done David!
Reading Scholars
Our final Reading Scholars trip of the year was this week and we are delighted to announce that Ash in year 10 was awarded second place in the poster project competition out of about 130 students from 10 schools. Great work Ash!
Can you help?
Do you have any old desk lamps that you don't want anymore? Our year 10 engineers have a project for their Cambridge Nationals that requires them to disassemble the lamps. Any donations would be very welcome.
Year 13 Prom
A reminder that tickets are still available for the Year 13 Prom at Boundary Park Pavilion, Great Western on Thursday 6th of July 2023. If your student would like to attend, please purchase a ticket via Parent Pay. The cost is £12.50 per ticket and each student is permitted to purchase up to 2 tickets, should they wish to bring a guest. The ticket price includes food.
Year 11 Leavers assembly
Last week we held a leavers celebration for our year 11s, we composed a video of photos over the last two years which you can see here:
Attendance
Below are the figures for attendance at the end of last week. Sadly attendance in year 10 and 12 is still well below where we would hope. Some parents in Year 10 will have received a letter at the end of last term highlighting their students’ declining attendance and encouraging improvement over the course of this term. As ever, please share any relevant information regarding barriers to your student attending regularly, so we can offer support and signpost to any additional services. We don’t expect students to attend if they have a high temperature and are feeling very unwell, or have an upset stomach, however, we do encourage students to attend if they are feeling under the weather. We would rather a student came in a little later in the day than not at all in these circumstances. Please report any absences or expected lateness to attendance@utcoxfordshire.org.uk or by calling 01235 391587 and using option 1 to leave a voicemail.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Soaring To Success
Soaring to Success® is a careers enrichment programme that bridges the gap between education and industry. It aims to inspire, enable, and support the next generation to consider a career within aviation and aerospace. They offer virtual careers conferences, in-depth understanding and further insight into the roles and pathways available and finishing with Air Experience Days. Further details can be found here https://airleague.co.uk/our-programmes/soaring-to-success Airleague soaring-to-success
Free Virtual Work Experience
MEDICAL WORK EXPERIENCE - Geriatric Care
Aspiring doctors will learn about the unique qualities and skills required to look after frail, older people who can present with atypical symptoms, such as confusion, and often have multiple comorbidities.
Students will join a medical team assessing a patient with new onset limb weakness and speech disturbance and observe the essential role of the multidisciplinary team in managing these complex health issues. They will also hear from geriatric care experts to understand how we can improve healthcare when people near the end of their lives.
Free registration link: https://wexlibrary.yourmedicfamily.org/courses/medic-mentor-work-experience-palliative-care/
DENTAL WORK EXPERIENCE - New Patients
Aspiring dentists will be introduced to the team at Dental Mentor Smiles and observe a range of both child and adult patient consultations. This includes a possible oral cancer diagnosis, aesthetic solutions and child safeguarding concerns. There will be debriefing sessions for each of the cases.
Free registration link: https://wexlibrary.yourmedicfamily.org/courses/dental-mentor-work-experience/
Aspiring vets are welcomed into the world of small animal surgery! Chief Vet mentors will demonstrate how vets prepare owners for their pet’s surgery and administer anaesthesia and routine surgery.
Free registration link: https://wexlibrary.yourmedicfamily.org/courses/vet-mentor-virtual-work-experience-surgery/
Engineering Apprenticeships
The Engineering Trust - are currently advertising a wide range of engineering apprenticeships in Oxfordshire with companies like FMB Oxford, Viridor, Oxford Instruments, Chiltern Railways, Zircotec, ICE Oxford, Paintbox Banbury, SI Pumps and Barrus. https://apply.theengineeringtrust.org/#/vacancies
Science and Technology Facilities Council – have readvertised their Advanced Engineering Machinist Apprentice. More details can be found here: Advanced Engineering Machinist Apprentice - Careers Portal Careers
University of Oxford Apprenticeships
Becoming an apprentice at the University of Oxford is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience, training and qualifications. They have a variety op opportunities available: University of Oxford Apprenticeships
Year 12 Future Cities (Virtual) - 24 July to 26 July 2023
Future Cities is a virtual course, run in collaboration with experts from the University of Southampton and generously sponsored by the Ove Arup Foundation who are committed to promoting education and knowledge in the built environment through the interdisciplinary nature of design.
Students will get to explore how Civil Engineers design and develop these amazing structures, making our cities clean, safe and energy efficient. From skyscrapers and bridges to water and waste services, civil engineering is all around us.
This three-day virtual course will explore how Civil Engineers work on environmentally friendly infrastructure, but also manage existing public services and work to improve future sustainability.
Students will learn the social value of a career in Civil Engineering from leading academics and improve their CVs and UCAS applications.
Cost: £99
More information here: Small Peice Trust - Future Cities
Year 10 Human Habitat on Mars (virtual) - 29 August to 31 August 2023
Human Habitat on Mars will involve students in space exploration, how to get to Mars, how the journey would impact the human body, and look at Quantum Computing.
This course – which starts August 29 - is for Year 10 students and is run with the support and input from experts in their field from City, University of London.
Cost: £99 All kit included
More information here: Small Peice Trust - Human Habitat on Mars
STEM Summer Experience for Years 11, 12 & 13
The 2023 STEM Summer Experience provides an incredible opportunity for students to gain skills, experience and expertise over two weeks in the summer holidays, all while having fun. It's free to attend, but places are limited, so encourage your students to apply now! Applications close on 30th June.
Apply here: https://scienceoxford.com/schools/secondary-schools/stem-summer-experience/
With this year's theme focusing on coding and robotics, students will build and code their own robots and put them to the test (no previous experience necessary). They'll also meet inspiring people with visits to and from local STEM companies and gain various skills important in the world of work.
When: 24th July – 4th August 2023; 9am to 4pm (daily Monday to Friday over the two weeks)
Where: Science Oxford Centre in Headington, with visits to and from local STEM companies
Cost: It’s FREE
Who should apply: Students in Years 11, 12 and 13, interested in careers in STEM.
Elements Café
Alice's Day at Oxford Botanic Garden
Saturday July 1st at Oxford Botanic Garden is Alice's Day when their Walled Garden will be transformed into a magical Wonderland. More details here: https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/event/alices-day
STA Swimming Teacher Level 2 Award course - 25th-31st July 2023
Park Club are running an STA Swimming Teacher Level 2 Award course at The Park Club (Milton Park) 25th-31st July 2023. This 5 day course will run daily 9am-6/7pm (excluding Saturday and Sunday). You will learn through a combination of online and face-to-face learning, with practical teaching experience every day. The course is open to candidates aged 16 years+ and costs £390. They do have teaching hours available at Park Club if that is of interest to you on completion of the course. For more information, please contact Katie at kmulford@parkclub.co.uk
Dates for the diary
- Monday 15th May up to and including Wednesday 28th June 2023 - Year 11 and Year 13 Exam Period
- Y10 and 12 PPEs start on Thursday the 29th of June and finish on Friday the 7th of July
- Thursday 17th August – A level results day - Students will be able to pick up results from 10:00hrs to 12:00 hrs
- Thursday 24th August - GCSE results day - Students will be able to pick up their results from 10:00hrs to 12:00 hrs and enrol into the sixth form. Further communication about enrolment will be sent in due course
Remaining Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Summer Term 2: Monday 5 June 2023 – Friday 21 July 2023
Term Dates 2023/2024
- Autumn Term 1: Tuesday 5 September 2023 – Wednesday 18 October 2023
- Autumn Term 2: Monday 30 October 2023 – Wednesday 20 December 2023
- Spring Term 1: Wednesday 10 January 2024 – Friday 9 February 2024
- Spring Term 2: Monday 19 February 2024 – Thursday 28 March 2024
- Summer Term 1: Tuesday 16 April 2024 – Friday 24 May 2024
- Summer Term 2: Monday 3 June 2024 – Wednesday 24 July 2024
Further details can be found on our website: https://www.utcoxfordshire.org.uk/term-dates/
Have a great weekend.
Stay safe
Best wishes
Emma