UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 16th December 2022
Dear all,
As we come to the end of Term 2, we have lots to celebrate. We have had some fantastic donations for the food bank here is the picture of our donation tree next to our Engineering Christmas tree:
Thanks go to Wendi and Gerrie and the group of students who delivered the goods to the food bank at Didcot Methodist Church this morning. The donations were gratefully received. This really shows the generosity and spirit of UTC Oxfordshire.
Senior Maths Challenge
UK Bebras Challenge 2022
The Bebras Challenge, run by Oxford University, is an international contest on informatics and computer fluency. We thank Chris and Dino for supporting our entry. We had 45 participation certificates, plus 4 distinctions and 5 merits in the Elite category for Year 12 & 13 with 21 distinctions and 21 merits in the senior category for Year 10 & 11. In addition, there were six gold awards to Dom B and Ryan M in the Elite category as well as Mike G, Sam H, Arthur M and Isaac M in the Senior category. 'Golds' are awarded to the top 10% in the UK, so very well done to those students who are now eligible to enter the next round of the challenge in January. Particular congratulations to Ryan M and Isaac M on attaining 'Best in School'.
Merry Christmas from our Year 13 Engineers
Two of our year 13 BTEC Engineering students have created a festive greeting during their Unit 6 Microcontrollers unit.
Saltwater Etching
Our Year 12 Chemists made Christmas ornaments by using saltwater and electrolysis to etch pieces of copper. The chlorine in saltwater can corrode many metals, leaving them pitted and rough. By passing a current through the saltwater, the natural process can be sped up – resulting in these etched designs.
Staff Changes
We say a fond farewell to Majid and Sally and wish them well on their next endeavours. In January we welcome Science teacher Namid, Head of Business Ambreem and Engineering Teachers Vili and Chris.
A full list of teaching staff can be found here and staff email addresses are in the format of first initial then surname for example: initialsurname@utcoxfordshire.org.uk
To facilitate new staff there will be some timetable changes in January 2023
12 Questions of Christmas (answers in January)
Another chance to have a go at this STEM-based quiz, answers will be shared in January.
- Add the atomic number of Chromium to the number of legs on half a dozen drosophila and divide by the number of volts in an AAA battery.
- Multiple the number of colours in a rainbow by the number of planets in the solar system. Add the square route of 144 and divide by a quarter.
- What small instrument are we looking for here: CEPS, CEPS, CEPS, CEPS?
- Starting with the degrees at southeast, multiply by the number of atoms in water and then subtract four cubed. Total the individual numbers to get to your answer.
- Take the number of seconds in a day and divide by the number of legs on ten arachnoids. Half this amount and divide by the degrees in a right angle.
- A snappy semiaquatic fastener (9,4) – what component am I?
- Take the sum of the internal angles of a triangle and divide by the voltage of a PP3 battery. Multiply by the roman numeral V and add the atomic number of the metal that Marie Curie discovered.
- Rearranged, this study covers a “big roomy coli” (12)
- A more sustainable way to have pure water. What am I: SISOMSO?
- Start with the year MCMLXXVI and deduct the number of sheets in a ream of paper. Divide by the sides of a dodecagon and subtract the number of pairs of chromosomes in the human body. What are you left with expressed back as a roman numeral?
- Small wave on an armoured vehicle (6,4) - What am I better known as?
- According to the song “The twelve days of Christmas” in total, how many individual presents had my truelove sent to me after the twelve days?
Crack the GCHQ Christmas card code
Attendance – week ending 9th December
Here are the attendance figures for each tutor group last week. We are seeing a high level of absence due to illness and whilst we appreciate that as we move towards winter there will be 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 too unwell to stay, we will contact you.
We also notice a high level of stomach upsets and sickness bugs – if your student is suffering from this frequently, please seek medical advice to rule out an underlying condition.
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
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Is your student interested in a career with the Ambulance Service?
If so, we are very excited to announce that South Central Ambulance Service are offering a series of virtual live chats in the new year:
- Wednesday 11th January at 6pm: Apprentice Emergency Care Assistant
- Wednesday 25th January at 6pm: How to become a Paramedic
- Wednesday 8th February at 6pm: A career in our call centres
- Wednesday 22nd February at 6pm: How to become a Paramedic
These live chats are a great way for participants to learn about key roles available across the Trust and to hear from the teams who are out there doing these roles day in, day out!
On the call they will offer hints and tips on starting a career with the SCAS and allow all attendees to ask any questions to the experts!
Please register for these sessions, further details can be found on their website: www.scasjobs.co.uk or on the following poster: South Central Ambulance Service Virtual Live Events
Mathematics Masterclass Series
These Royal Institution masterclasses are hands-on interactive extracurricular sessions for Year 12 students interested in studying Maths at university, led by top experts from academia and industry. The series runs over six Saturdays from 10:00-12:30, starting on 18th February. Find out more here
Summer Residential Courses by EDT
Insight into University residential courses are summer schools run over 4 or 5 days where students get a taster of university life and an insight into a specific STEM subject. Students will get the opportunity to experience university style lectures and work on activities and group projects with the support of academics and student mentors. Students will stay in halls of residence and will take part in social activities in the evenings. These courses provide a great way for students to try out university life, help them make an informed decision for their UCAS application and meet like-minded students from all around the UK. On completion of the course students will achieve an Industrial Cadets Silver Award.
These courses are available for Year 12/S5-6 students who attend a school or college in the UK. The application deadline for broad based engineering residential is 3rd January.
https://www.etrust.org.uk/residential-insight-into-university
Dates for the diary
- Winter break is 19 December 2022 to Wednesday 4 January 2023
- Monday 2 January is a Bank Holiday
- Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 January 2023 are INSET days
- Spring Term starts on Thursday 5 January 2023
- Half Term is 13 February – 17 February 2023
- Monday 8th May 2023 has been confirmed as a Bank Holiday in celebration of the coronation of King Charles
Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- 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
Further details can be found on our website: https://www.utcoxfordshire.org.uk/term-dates/
I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you all festive, seasons greetings and a Happy New Year. We hope you and your students enjoy the break and we look forward to welcoming them back on site in the New Year.
Stay safe
Best wishes
Emma