Weekly Newsletters

With the main examination series upon us, we wish to stress how important each lesson will be as teachers prepare to close the gap and ensure any shortfalls in understanding are secured.

Equally, we ask all the students to sustain their momentum in not taking their foot off the pedal and, particularly, not allowing anything other than their highest standards whilst keeping their courage high as the final completion comes to fruition.

Please click here for a video of a few inspirational quotes for our students undertaking their exams over the coming months. 

Post16 Progress Evening

• We strongly encourage you to attend the Post 16 subject evening on Tuesday 24 April at 4-7pm, where a review of progress so far and strategies to close the gap will be shared by your son/daughter’s teachers.  To make a booking please click here.

Year 7 Progress Evening

• On Tuesday 22 May 4-7pm, we are hosting our Year 7 subject evening, where a review of progress so far and strategies to close the gap will be shared by your son/daughter’s teachers.  To make a booking please click here

As part of our attempts to raise the profile of tolerance, integration and awareness of other cultures, we are pleased to host a number of students and staff from a school in Mexico.  I was delighted to meet and welcome them and I hope that the opportunity for them to experience daily life in an English school broadens not only their minds, but also the experience of the twenty buddies who have kindly given their time to make them feel welcome in our school.

Best wishes

Bryan Erwin
Principal

English revision 'drop-in' sessions will be running on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 24 April 8:00 - 8:30am in 1U12.  All welcome.

Mrs Willoughby
Head of Faculty: English

We are keen to inform our students of the services that are also available to students outside of school and this week we were delighted to welcome Tim Coombe from Kooth.  He delivered assemblies to all year groups talking about the services that Kooth has to offer our young people.

Kooth is an online support service that offers:

• Safe, confidential, anonymous advice
• Free at the point of need 
• Available through a smart phone, tablet or computer Kooth helps to reduce wait times for young people seeking help and removes stigma around mental health.

A link to the website is included: https://kooth.com/

Mrs Patman
Pupil Premium Administrator

The results were gathered over the break and classes were rearranged according to the test scores from the year as well as the final exam grades. We had some very positive outcomes that resulted in students moving up a set. Unfortunately this meant that some students had to move down a set, but they should find that the new grouping will be more appropriate for meeting their learning styles and needs. In most cases this didn't represent a lack of effort or show a sign of a problem; they just didn't achieve quite as highly as others. However, some students didn't apply themselves over the year or for the exams and have found themselves moving down a set or two. These students should be reflecting on why they were moved and deciding how to improve their performance. A conversation with a parent or carer would be useful, before they approach their new teacher to see how they could improve for next year. 

Year 11 have been undertaking walking-talking mocks during lessons this week, in an effort to improve their exam technique. It has been a very positive week where the majority of students have had a mature attitude and have taken the information on-board. Revision lessons are still running, and teachers are available if students feel they need support in a particular area. Please keep working hard and using the resources you have been given. The first exam is only 14 school days away!

STEM article

Here is the next instalment of the articles written by the AS Biology students on a subject they have found interesting.

Guide/helping dogs

Dogs really are “Man’s best friend” as they can be trained to perform many helpful tasks. The most commonly used breed is the Labrador as they are quick to learn and are keen to help. Golden Retrievers and German Shepherd dogs are also popular choices.

Puppies are vaccinated and meet their volunteer walker at 6-8 weeks of age. The volunteer walker introduces them to sights, smells and sounds - such as busy roads and public transport. This familiarises the puppy to everyday experiences and is part of their socialisation.

They are taught to walk ahead on the lead and obey simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The puppy walker also takes the puppy to classes to learn to behave properly around other people and dogs. At 1 year old they say goodbye to their volunteer puppy walker and go to school.

At school they wear a brown training harness. They have lessons in:

• walking in a straight line unless there’s an obstacle.
• not turning corners unless they are told to do so.
• stopping at kerbs, waiting for the command to cross or turn left or right.
• judging height and width so that an owner does not bump their head or shoulder.
• dealing with traffic.

It takes between 18 months to 2 years to fully train a guide dog. They are then ready to be matched with the correct owner. To do this they have to consider the length of owner's stride, their height and their lifestyle. The owner and guide dog train together for 4 weeks.

If the matching process is successful, the owner makes a donation and the guide dog is awarded with a white harness and their working partnership begins. This is a life changing moment for both the dog and the owner.

But the question is, why are dogs easy to train and why do they want to help us?

James Serpell wrote about this in  The Domestic Dog: Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People: “The tremendous success of the domestic dog is based on its ability to get people to raise its pups….The evolution of the dog is probably identical to other domestic species that first began as village scavengers, became useful as food and fibre, and then, as they became tamable and trainable, were used for work.”

A Russian scientist, Dmitri Belyaev tried to find a gene for domesticity by breeding foxes, but he found unexpected results. Selecting only for tame behaviour, he bred from a pool of more than 10,000 foxes. Belyaev discovered that other, unselected traits were seen, such as droopy ears and adifferent tail position and a closer physical look to the domesticated dog.These traits do not exist in wolves, and would have been very difficult for the original dog breeders to create. It would appear that there isn't a gene for domestication, but many small changes and many genes working together.

Is it down to genes alone? Every species has inborn behaviour patterns and dogs are no different. Dogs are social animals and obey the rule of the pack Alpha. For domesticated dogs this is the human that is with them the most and provides for them. Canines are biologically programmed to please the Alpha because working as a pack is essential for successful hunting and survival. This social hierarchy combined with their intelligence makes for a very trainable animal. Also, humans are resourceful and good atexploiting talents, so our inborn behaviour has also driven domestication.

There are many other amazing uses for dogs. Their senses are different to ours and they have different skills. Our sight and sense of taste is better, but dogs have far superior hearing and smell so they can sense problems that we can't. With the help of allergy alert dogs people with life threatening allergies can be alerted to the presence of substances that may be harmful to them. Assistant dogs can be trained to help people with disabilities. Dogs are able to open doors, pick up items that have been dropped or even take the laundry out of the washing machine. They can be used for therapy since stroking a dog reduces stress. Dogs are amazing.

Mrs Young
Teacher of Science

The first and most important item needed is water, and we would like to see all students bringing a water bottle to PE lessons, especially if we are out on the field for the duration of the lesson. Having this simple piece of equipment means that it can be refilled throughout the day, to keep the body hydrated and prevent headaches.

During the summer term, we allow students in Excellence House to bring a different coloured top, as opposed to their yellow house t-shirt. This is a measure in place to reduce the contact of annoying bugs which naturally are attracted to bright colours.

It is also important that students who currently have an asthma inhaler ensure that it is readily available by handing it to the teacher during PE lessons, once again especially if we are out on the field and away from close proximity to the changing rooms.

Thank you for taking the time to read the pieces of information regarding to safety.

Mr Hughes
Head of Faculty: PE

I am extremely fortunate to have been chosen to be one of those participants. I am running on behalf of Sports Leaders UK who actively promotes sport within the younger generation.

At 10 am, I will be given the instruction to go and complete the 26.2 miles. This is indeed a massive challenge and something requiring hard work. Physically I believe I can do it, however the biggest challenge is keeping the positive mindset throughout the duration of the race. Many people have experienced a "wall" effect, where the body tells their owner that they cannot go on, they cannot do it, but by keeping positive and controlling your mind you have the power to break through the wall.

This can be mirrored to the current Year 11s who are preparing for their exams. If you believe you cannot do it, then unfortunately you wont, however by changing your mindset, I cannot do it just yet, not yet there, by changing a few words suggests that you know that you are going to get there. The hard work that you've put into revision will be rewarded, just keep going. Just like the London marathon, it doesn't matter if you run, walk, jog, sprint, as long as you keep going, and you will reach the end if you believe you can. For some, the challenge will be easier, but for others they will have to work harder, and often feel like giving up, but if you keep moving in the same direction you will get there.

My sole intentions are to complete the race and enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity. It wont be easy, but life is designed to challenge you, and ultimately give you a better experience. With all good fortune, I will be able to come into work and proudly show my medal.

Mr Hughes
Head of Faculty: PE

Aspire are still in first place this week, Lets try to make sure this week is a good one and then come back after Easter ready to go. Good luck to Year 11 and Post 16 for their revision for the important exams which are not far away.

Mrs S Blackledge
Attendance Officer