Newsletter
June 2018
Welcome to our summer newsletter. As usual, it is packed with examples of fantastic student achievement opportunities and activities.
There are also useful information sections on new initiatives and important reminders.
I am particularly pleased to announce that along with many other responsible organisations, we are joining the world movement to dramatically reduce single-use plastic items in school. You can read more in our catering section below.
Currently, our Year 11 and Year 13 students are engaged in public examinations and shortly all other year groups will be sitting internal examinations. Your support in encouraging your son/daughter's active revision and conscientious approach to these examinations, will pay off for all. GCSE examinations have undergone wide changes, which you can read about in the examinations section.
We are excited to be working with our new cohort of Year 7 students for next year. Staff from UHS are currently enjoying visits to all of our feeder schools to meet the students and to introduce them to all we have to offer.
Finally, I would like to remind parents that we offer a leadership surgery every Monday, to which parents are invited if they have any queries or concerns to raise with a member of the leadership team.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The newsletter is only a snapshot of daily life at UHS and we would urge you to follow one or more of our Twitter accounts or our Instagram account, which are updated every day. Some of our accounts are linked below.
We also have a School News app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The app allows you to add school events to the calendar on your phone or tablet and sends notifications of important school news. Please visit our website for more information (also linked below).
UHS ON BBC BREAKFAST
You may have seen Uxbridge High School on BBC Breakfast recently.
BBC presenters, Naga , Jayne and Tim swapped the famous red sofa for the classroom to see what it is like to sit a maths GCSE in 2018. The purpose of the presenters being put through their paces is to demonstrate the challenges that young people are facing with the new more rigourous GCSE exams. Mr. Kochar was able to promote the school and the maths department on live television by presenting the outstanding work that the school has done to support Year 11 students in their preparation for the exams.
Look out for the follow up news report on BBC Breakfast on the GCSE results day in August.
UKMT MATHS CHALLENGE
Well done to the Year 7 and 8 students who took part in the UKMT Maths Challenge recently. A big congratulations to the following students who won certificates:
Year 7
Umaymah Ahmed (Silver Award)
Nazifa Baker (Silver Award)
Hajirah Alauddin (Silver Award)
Shoaib Ghori (Silver Award)
Marwan Abdi (Bronze Award)Charlie Partridge (Bronze Award)
Charan Baskaran (Bronze Award)
Zain Gill (Bronze Award)
Year 8
Daniel Abdullajah (Silver Award)
Lucy Addison (Silver Award)
Mohammed Bare (Silver Award)
Ricky Donald (Silver Award)
Ellie Zekaj (Silver Award)
Millie Loran (Bronze Award)
Shoikot Aminul (Bronze Award)
Paulo Pena (Bronze Award)
Mirwais Nazimi (Bronze Award)
Mujahid Uddin (Bronze Award)
Yuvraj Mair (Bronze Award)
YEAR 10 CAREERS DAY
On Friday the 25th May, Year 10 participated in a careers day. Business volunteers from Job Centre Plus, National Citizen Service and Push ran an assortment of career and study skills focused workshops. The students had an insight of the different career pathways and options open to them and how hard work and commitment can help them achieve their future goals.
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY LIVE
We were incredibly lucky to be invited to be part of the RSC's Live Lesson on Macbeth that was streamed into schools around the country in April 2018.
On Friday 20th April, ten Year 9 drama students went across London to Ravensbourne University, which has professional TV studios and galleries. Four students were situated up in the gallery, watching and helping with the live edits as it was broadcast. Six students were in front of the camera, answering questions and working with the actor who is currently playing Lady Macbeth in the RSC production. They were naturals in front of the camera and around 38,000 students were watching around the country. What an amazing experience!
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY - UPCOMING EVENTS
Summer Art and Music Show - Art exhibition of GCSE and A Level student's work, accompanied by a live music show by UHS musicians. 4pm - 6pm, Thursday 21st June 2018.
RSC Playmakers Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon - a cast of students from 8 schools are being brought together at UHS to rehearse Macbeth next half term. They will perform the shortened version of Macbeth, 'The Seeds of Change,' in The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon at 4pm, 6th July - tickets available from the RSC box office.
RSC AS Shakespeare Festival at UHS - 8 Schools will perform on our outdoor stage short performances inspired by Shakespeare's work. UHS Drama Club will be performing a short version of Othello, plus the cast from the RSC Playmaker's Festival will headline the event with their production of Macbeth. 4pm - onwards, Thursday 12th July.
RSC Next Generation: Act - Joshua (Year 10) will be performing in the first ever production by the RSC's Young Company. Sapho and Phao will be performed at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, Saturday 14th July, 12pm and 3pm - tickets available from the RSC box office.
MUSIC TRIP TO THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
28 students from Years 9 and 10 experienced an epic concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, along with a rock band and ‘Capital Voices’ a 4 part vocal group, performed 20 fantastic rock songs that have topped the charts in recent years.
Students were also dazzled by a brilliant light show throughout the concert and were entertained by the host, Radio 2 DJ, Ken Bruce. Before the show, students enjoyed an afternoon stroll through Kensington Gardens and were able to see where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reside with their children.
Some of the musical highlights of the concert were ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen and the piece chosen as a favourite by many of the UHS pupils was ‘Skyfall’ by Adele. Tammi Emms, a Year 9 student says ‘It was really enjoyable to hear a classical version of one of my favourite songs ‘Thriller’.’ Other students commented ‘I am seriously impressed, The Royal Albert Hall is amazing!’ and ‘It sounds incredible, I just love the sound of the
orchestra!’.
YEAR 10 TRIP TO OXFORD UNIVERSITY
On 25th April, a group of students visited Oxford University as part of the University’s Pathways Programme. Ten Year 10 students were privileged to attend this prestigious workshop where they had a tour of Jesus College, Oxford and the city.
An experienced guide provided in-depth local knowledge and taught us the origins of many idioms. For instance, we never knew that ‘come down from your ivory tower’ referred to the towers at the university!
Students were given an insight into what it is like to live and study at the university. They were tutored by Oxford lecturers and had opportunities to question current students at the university to ask them about academic life, social life and transition to university. Students attended three workshops throughout the day: Classics, Earth Sciences and Epidemiology. We were also privileged enough to eat in one of the university’s esteemed dining halls for lunch.
Students asked informative questions and participated well. They represented the school extremely positively and were a credit to us as an institution
YEAR 10 HISTORY TRIP TO WHITECHAPEL
39 Year 10 GCSE history students enjoyed a day trip to Whitechapel in East London. The trip's location directly linked to the students' GCSE Crime and Punishment unit which has a specific case study about Victorian Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper.
The students took part in a two hour expert tour around locations in Whitechapel, specific to the Jack the Ripper case and more generally to Victorian Whitechapel. They had the opportunity to ask questions and to see primary evidence sources too. The students also got to see the outside of a Victorian slum house which had been kept in its original condition.
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Congratulations to Simran in Year 10, who has been selected (out of 30 Year 10 students nationwide!) to attend the Capital L summer School on 18th - 22nd June. The summer school is unique opportunity for students to experience language study at four different universities: King's College London, the University of Westminster, UCL and SOAS. Students will experience a multitude of different languages and cultures and get involved in different interactive activities that will encourage them to be creative.
Year 7 students wrote letters in Spanish to their pen-pals at a school in Bogota, Colombia. They described what it is like to live in England. The letters have been taken to Bogota by a teacher from the school (who came over to London for a teaching conference). We are excitedly waiting for their reply! iQué ilusión!
READATHON
We are proud to launch Readathon this summer. Year 7 and 8 students are very excited about raising money through reading. Students will read 4 – 5 books (these could be Accelerated Reader books) and ask parents and relatives for sponsorship to raise money for a charity. The charity will be chosen through Student Council and will be announced soon.
This is a brilliant way to do something for a good cause as well as encourage reading. The Readathon ends on Monday 18th June 2018 and all money should be paid through ParentPay. Top 10 fundraisers will get prizes!
Thank you for your support,
Miss. S. Hanif
EXAMINATIONS
2018 is the most significant year of GCSE reform, with 17 new GCSEs being awarded for the first time. This follows the introduction of the first awarding of 9-1 grades in the reformed English language, English literature and maths GCSEs in summer 2017.
ASCL have produced information papers containing likely FAQs to assist parents and pupils about this summer's results.
Click on the link below to download the FAQs and GCSE fact sheet.
SAVE OUR PLANET!
Did you know....as a school we go through about 21,000 bottles of water each year and 72,000 pieces of plastic cutlery!
Not only does this impact on the environment, but this also results in a lot of litter and more time spent in trying to keep the site tidy.
The catering team has been busy looking at ways to decrease the school’s carbon footprint. As a result a number of changes will apply from September:
- Anyone purchasing a meal from the canteen and eating in the main hall will be required to use metal cutlery.
- All plastic cutlery will be replaced with wooden recyclable cutlery. These will be available for purchase if lunches are brought from home.
- In the Panini Bar, any tea and coffee purchases will be discounted if a sixth former or member of staff has their own reusable cup. Reusable lidded cups will also be available to purchase at the Panini Bar.
In addition, we will be introducing additional water fountains on the school site, and we strongly encourage every student to bring in a reusable water bottle from home. From September a bottle of water will no longer be included within the meal deal.
CATERING
In an effort to continue encouraging free school meal students to take a main meal at lunch time, rather than purchasing several smaller and less substantive items, we have taken the decision to restrict the use of free school meals to lunch time only. If students on free school meals wish to make any other purchases at any other time other than at lunch time, parents will need to top-up their catering accounts to enable these purchases.
We are currently exploring several options with our suppliers to be able to provide free or significantly reduced items at breakfast time to all students.
MUSIC
As explained last year, the school has subsidised the cost of music lessons undertaken at the school through the Hillingdon Music Service for some time. With tighter budgets this is no longer possible to be sustained. In addition to this there is a lot of administration work undertaken which is a duplication of work undertaken by the Music Service. Therefore from September the Hillingdon Music Service will undertake the administration of music tuition taken at Uxbridge High School. Instead of being charged for music lessons through ParentPay by the school, you will receive a termly invoice from the Hillingdon Music Service, unless your child is on a music scholarship at the school.
The Music Service currently charges £68.90 per term and students whose families receive income support, child tax credit without working tax credit or income based job seekers allowance, the cost is £15.50 per term. You may also be aware that the charges from the Music Service are in themselves heavily subsidised and represent excellent value for money in comparison to the cost of lessons elsewhere.
This change is an administrative alteration only – all other aspects of lessons remain the same. Music lessons will continue to take place in the Orsino Building starting around lunchtime. Timetables will continue to be displayed outside the recording studio in the Orsino Building at the start of each term and will be regularly updated if any changes are needed, of which you will be informed. Your child will need to continue to check carefully to see the time of their lesson, as these are on a rota and will change each week.
We sincerely hope that your child will continue music lessons here at Uxbridge High School.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mr Dawson, if you have any music-specific questions.
UNIFORM
Please be reminded of our uniform and equipment policy, detailed below. Uniform and equipment checks will be made by either your child’s form tutor, house guidance leader or head of house. Failure to send your child in correct uniform, with correct equipment following this notification may result in your child being isolated in seclusion or sent home to change in to the appropriate uniform for school.
MAIN SCHOOL UNIFORM
Black blazer with school crest (compulsory for all)
Black jumper with school crest (optional)
Plain black trousers (no leggings / jeans or tight fitting trousers)
Plain black knee length skirt
School House tie (compulsory for all)
Apron for Technology/Art
PE KIT
Rugby shirt (compulsory for boys)
PE fleece (compulsory for girls)
Black polo shirt with school crest (compulsory for all)
Black shorts (compulsory for all)
Black track pants (compulsory for all)
Black sports socks (compulsory for all)
All of the above items of uniform can be purchased directly from our uniform supplier, Sportswear International, to be delivered direct to your home or to school. Please note that our uniform is not sold by any shops in the local area and if purchased elsewhere, you may find this is of poor quality and not the correct uniform.
- Smart outdoor coat – dark in colour (leather/leather look/denim/ hoodies/sweatshirts are not permitted and no large logos or writing allowed)
- Shoes – plain black
- Headscarves – plain black or navy blue
- Sports footwear for PE only – sports trainers, white soled trainers, football boots (see information below)
It is important to note that both girls and boys will require football boots. However, these must have moulded rubber or plastic studs (either firm or soft ground versions). Metal studs/blades or AstroTurf trainers are not permitted. This is in order for students to be able to play on our indoor 3G Astro Turf pitch.
Equipment:
All students should be equipped with a school bag large enough to carry A4 sized folders and books. It should be strong and able to protect books in wet weather. All students should have a pencil case with the following equipment inside:
· Student planner (provided by the school)
· Coloured pencils
· 2 black pens
· 1 green pen
· 2 sharpened pencils (with eraser if possible)
· 1 eraser/rubber (if pencil doesn’t have an eraser)
· 1 pencil sharpener
· 1 highlighter pen
· 1 30cm ruler
· 1 glue stick
· 1 geometry set
· 1 scientific calculator
· 1 clear pencil case
Students can purchase a pencil case from student services which contains most of the essential stationary items.
Tippex or other correction fluids are not allowed in school.
SPORTS DAY
Year 7, 8 & 9 competed in this year's sports day on Friday 25th May at Hillingdon Athletics Track. Students ran, jumped and threw in a range of athletics events, with all competitors getting points for their houses. Students also took part in additional fitness activities outside of the traditional sports day events in order to pick up extra points for their house!
After Stuart House won in 2016-2017, the question was would they be able to go back-to-back, or would we have a new champion sports house for 2017-2018?
Year 7 and 8 saw Tudor come away champions of their year. However it was York that came out on top for the year 9 in their last UHS sports day. Despite this, it came right down to the wire with equal points between two houses. It was the success of the relay that separated the two teams and it was once again Stuart who turned out champions of the UHS sports day 2018!
All results and photos can be found on the school website and Twitter (@UHSPE).
Well done to everyone involved!
UHS RUGBY TOUR - PARIS 2018
The Easter holidays saw Uxbridge High School's first ever rugby tour take place. 21 students from years 8-10, plus Mr Emery, Mr Humpleby and Mr Wolf set off very early on the last day of the spring term with a coach trip to Paris ahead of them. Having all made the 6am departure, with passports in hand, the coach set off for Dover, crossing the Channel before heading for Paris. Arriving in northern Paris, the first afternoon was spent getting to know our hostel and surroundings. The boys then spent their evening relaxing in the hostel common room.
Saturday morning brought about the start of a very busy day. Up early, we started with breakfast at the hostel before heading to world renowned Top 14 French rugby club Racing 92 for a training session with their academy coaches. Their academy coaches put the boys through their paces with a number of passing, tackling and games based drills, with their English thankfully slightly better than our French. After an hours worth of training we headed into the clubrooms, getting to see their fitness suite, trophy wall, player photos and many signed shirts - if only we could have got ourselves one of those! Next stop was the Eiffel Tower, with a short wait in the queues followed by a long climb up to the first level. It was by this time that many of the boys were starting to tire. Still, many of us managed to climb further up to the second level, getting some amazing views over Paris. Leaving the Eiffel Tower we headed to the River Seine for a trip on the Batobus river boats. Stopping off at the Louvre and passing by many other historic sights, a great experience was had by all. The day finished with a short walk through Paris before getting the coach back to our hostel.
Sunday was game day. First up though was a tour of France's national stadium, the 80,000 capacity Stade De France. We started with a look through the museum and the many famous rugby and football teams and player shirts on display. Our tour guide then took us high up for a view over the pitch, before going deep into the bowels of the stadium, through the players changerooms, media centre and players tunnel, with a seat in the President's suite to finish. A quick stop back at the hostel to get playing kit and we were off again to Rugby Club Senlis, based just to the north of Paris. We were warmly welcomed to this great local club.
A warm-up on the pitch was followed by an inspiring team talk back in the changerooms by Mr Emery. All pumped up and ready to go, the match got underway in warm sunshine. RC Senlis made a strong start, scoring the first three tries before a strong break by Archie B gave us our first try. The game was full of tough tackling, but it was RC Senlis' talented back row who made the difference, with their soon to be Stade Francais player making numerous line breaks to score five tries. The game ended RC Senlis 49 (7 tries, 7 conversions) to Uxbridge 28 (4 tries, 4 conversions). The game was an amazing experience for everyone involved and was finished off in style, with RC Senlis putting on food and drink for all of the players and staff. On leaving the club on Sunday evening we couldn't thank them enough and promised to return in the near future for another game.
Monday morning brought the end of our tour, with a lie-in helping to rejuvenate the boys before our long trip back to Uxbridge. On the coach on the way back many a discussion was had about the great time had by all - a trip that will last long in the memory for sure.
SAFETY AT UHS
As a school, we welcome the support of our local police through our dedicated safer schools officers and we are working with them to emphasise the importance of personal safety. In support of this, there will be a ‘security arch’ and a security dog on the school site, for one day this term.
Keeping Uxbridge High School a safe environment for all who work, and or study here is our top priority and any situation where a person's safety at Uxbridge High School is compromised will be addressed with severity.
GDPR
You may be aware that from May, the rules around data protection are changing. The 'General Data Protection Regulation' (GDPR) will change how we can use your personal data and keep it safe, and will also strengthen your rights over your own data. The video in the link below will give you a quick summary of the GDPR.
Whilst the GDPR is similar to the current Data Protection Act, there are a few differences, so we need to make a few changes at the school in order to ensure we remain compliant.
One of these changes is that we have updated our privacy notices. You will find it here: https://www.uhs.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=1582&type=pdf . Please take the time to review these.
As part of our work to comply with the GDPR, we will be seeking consent for the use of photographs or videos of your child on the school website, on internal displays or other school materials, and in promoting the school on social media. However, under the GDPR we will have to obtain this consent directly from students when they reach the age of 12. Therefore at the beginning of the new academic year we will explain to all students in Year 8 and above, through assemblies and lessons in form tutor time, what data we hold about them and how this data is used, and in order to obtain the necessary consent for photographs and videos. In future years, we will continue to obtain consent from parents on entry to the school, and then at the beginning of Year 8 we will obtain consent directly from the student that will last for the remainder of their time at Uxbridge High School.
If you have any questions about how the GDPR affects you, or how our school is preparing, you can contact the school’s Data Protection Officer via email on dpo@uhs.org.uk .