CTS Snapshot
22.03.2024
Welcome to our CTS Snapshot - a weekly celebration update. We are delighted to share with parents and carers alike student triumphs at Corby Technical School. We are proud of every student and every success they have - please feel free to share with us any achievements they might have.
Top Lesson Stars:
Year 7:
Lily 7CA, David 7CO, Beth 7CA, Lucas 7CA, Julia 7CA, Nojus 7CA, Riley 7SW and Kaiden 7CA.
Year 8:
Sebi 8SW, Cameron 8CA, Brendan 8TE and Jessica 8ST.
Year 9:
Mirren 9TU, Natalia 9TE and Scarlett 9SI.
Year 10:
Sophie 10SI, Maja B 10TA, Ryan 10TA, Alexis 10TE and Evie 10ST.
Year 11:
Blessing 11TA and Paula 11CO.
Minecraft Workshop:
This week a selection of our Year 7 and 8 students had an amazing opportunity to trial a brand new version of Minecraft Education, designed by the RAF and delivered by Skewb.
Students were very engaged. They learned how the RAF would react in the event of a natural disaster, how to create sustainable power sources and build a bridge that would be wide enough and strong enough for a convoy delivering aid.
Students gave presentations on their work. This activity encouraged teamwork, leadership and communication skills and all students who took part really impressed.
Subject Highlights:
Each week will focus on a department within the school and share their nominations with you. This week our Science team will be sharing their nominations with you.
Mr Godfrey has made the following nominations this week:
Year 10 Combined Science students Reva, Blanka, Kinga, Ciara, Mia, Sophie Lewis, Billie and Emily I for great work in the investigating acceleration practical. Ryan B and Logan B for their innovative approach to safety in the experiment. Mr Godfrey will be taking their ideas forward in his own teaching!
Also nominated are Year 11 students Maya A, Harry W, Isabella, Freddie, Lexie M and Jake for their impressive progress in the recent Physics mock exams.
Miss Kritzinger has nominated the following:
Well done to 7CA for completing the sound topic this week with so much enthusiasm and dedication. Also nominated are 8AZ students Uros, Nathan, Malgorzata, Weronika, Tarak, Dexter, Sophie, Ethan and Fraser who have worked consistently hard in their recent Science lessons.
Year 11A Bio have worked exceptionally hard in their lessons completing all tasks set and finally well done to Keelie-Anne and Brook-Amy (11AC2) for working hard and staying motivated
Miss Rasmussen has nominated Leighton and Rares in 10BC2 for their amazing work quality. Also nominated are Naythen (11AB) for a fantastic attitude in lesson and his progress in recent assessments and Daniel D for a great start and attitude in Science.
Mr Abnett would like to say well done to Year 11 student Ryan for his engagement and attitude during reteach lessons. Also nominated are Year 13 Chemists who has shown amazing effort in the PAGs they have been working through for the last few weeks.
Mr Anglim has nominated 10B3 Physics for their independent research into neutron stars and black holes and fantastic engagement class discussion on this topic, in particular Patryk S, Klaudia and Bartosz.
Degree Level Apprenticeships:
Degree Level Apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular and here is why:
- Students can earn whilst they learn
- Great for personal and professional development
- Grows professional network from an earlier age
- Experience both employment and university without racking up student debt
Many of our Year 13 students are currently applying for some fantastic Degree Level Apprenticeships from Marketing to Motorsport Engineering and Animal Grooming to Aerospace Engineering.
We can't wait to start sharing the successes that come from these applications!
Curriculum Focus:
Each week we will share with you what our students are learning in our focus departments this term, below you will find the topics for Computer Science:
Year 7 - Software:
In the unit on Software, Year 7 students explore the basics of both system and application software. They learn about the role of system software in managing computer hardware and delve into various types of application software such as word processors and spreadsheets.
Questions:
1. What are the key differences between system software and application software?
2. How can word processing and spreadsheet software be effectively utilised to complete various tasks, such as creating documents, performing calculations, and organising data?
Year 8 - Digital Graphics:
In their unit on Digital Graphics, Year 8 students delve into the core concepts of vector and raster graphics, understanding their distinct characteristics and applications in digital imagery. They explore how graphics convey meaning and learn about the importance of utilising layers for organising and editing complex visual compositions. Additionally, they acquire practical skills in using basic editing tools to manipulate digital graphics effectively, laying a foundation for further exploration in graphic design and digital media creation.
Questions:
1. How do vector and raster graphics differ, and how does this impact their use in digital design?
2. Why are layers important in digital graphics, and how do they enhance editing capabilities?
3. What are the main functions of basic editing tools in digital graphics software, and how are they applied in practical design tasks?
Year 9 - Data Representation:
In the unit on Data Representation tailored for Year 9 students, pupils study the foundational concepts of binary numbers, understanding their significance in digital computing and communication. They explore how binary is used to represent characters, images, and sound, gaining insight into the encoding and decoding processes involved in digital data representation. Through practical exercises and examples, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of how various forms of data are converted into binary format for processing and transmission in modern computing systems.
Questions:
1. Why do computers use binary?
2. How can we convert between binary and denary number systems?
3. How are images and sound encoded using only 1’s and 0’s?
Year 10 - Python:
In the unit on Python programming, Year 10 students delve into essential concepts such as lists, procedures, and functions. They learn how to utilise lists to store and manipulate collections of data efficiently. Additionally, they grasp the fundamentals of procedures and functions, understanding their role in organising code into reusable blocks and facilitating modular programming.
Questions:
1. How are lists utilised in Python for storing and manipulating data, and what are some common list operations?
2. What is the difference between procedures and functions in Python, and how do they organise code effectively?
3. How do procedures and functions contribute to code readability and reusability?
Year 11 - Computational Thinking and Key Algorithms:
In the unit on Computational Thinking and Key Algorithms, Year 11 students explore fundamental concepts such as abstraction, decomposition, and flow charts as tools for problem-solving and algorithm development. They learn how abstraction simplified complex problems by focusing on essential details and ignored unnecessary ones. Through decomposition, they master breaking down large problems into smaller, manageable parts. Additionally, they study key algorithms used for searching and sorting data, understanding their principles and applications in various computational tasks.
Questions:
1. How does abstraction simplify problem-solving in computational tasks, and what are its advantages?
2. What role does decomposition play in breaking down complex problems, and how does it aid in algorithm design?
3. What are the primary algorithms for searching and sorting data, and how are they applied in practical computing scenarios?
Reminders:
Parent/Carer Consultation Evenings/School Events:
- ·Tuesday 26th March – Year 7 Parent/Carer Consultation Evening (online)
- Tuesday 23rd April - Year 8 Parent/Carer Consultation Evening (online)
- Thursday 25th April - Year 7 Learning Insight Evening - 5.00pm to 6.30pm (in school)
School will close on Thursday 28th March for the Easter break and will reopen on Monday 15th April.
Bank Holidays:
Friday 29th March 2024 – Good Friday
Monday 6th May 2023 – Early May Bank Holiday
Corby Technical School
Email: enquiries@corbytechnicalschool.org
Website: www.corbytechnicalschool.org
Location: Cottingham Road, Corby, United Kingdom
Phone: 01536 213100
Twitter: @CTSCorby