UTC Swindon
Newsletter – 19th January 2023
Dear all,
We’ve had a great start to the term and have already had some trips and employer engagement activities. Our kit car is now taxed and on the road and our year 12s are working on a project to convert one of our Honda’s into a driving simulator!
It’s good to start the new year as we mean to go on, so please can you help ensure that your student is ready to learn. They will need to be dressed appropriately (please see our website for more information: https://www.utcswindon.co.uk/parents/uniform/) and be suitably equipped for lessons with pens, pencils, a note book, a calculator, a Chromebook, lab coats and PPE where appropriate.
Science Experiments Round 3
We wrapped up last term with our third round of Year 11 practical experiments in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, bringing the total to 9. Feedback from the students was really positive, well done all!
Cyber Horizons Day - 10th February – Change to School Day
Students had a briefing during a Cyber First Assembly at the end of last term, ahead of our Cyber Horizons say on 10th February.
On 10th February, UTC Swindon are hosting the Cyber First Day. Cyber first are an organisation that promotes cyber security and is made up of multiple companies and organisations. Whilst we understand not all students may want a career in cyber security, the modern work place needs to be more aware and better trained in this crucial aspect of the 21st century working environment.
This event is open to multiple students and schools in the Wiltshire area, so places are difficult to secure. However, we have secured enough places for all our year 10 and 11 students. Year 12 and 13 will be by application.
Arrangements for the day will be:
- All year 10 students 8.30am -11.30am only. Business dress. Notebook and pen.
- All tear 11 students 12pm -2.30pm only. Business dress. Notebook and pen.
- Year 12/13 – Optional Attendance 12pm-2.30pm – Applications to tutors by Thursday 12th January.
UTC will not be open for students outside of their timeslots
Industrial Action
As you may have seen and heard in the press there has been support for legitimate Industrial Action supporting education from some of the Unions. We recognise that this will have some impact on students education. We are working hard to ensure that the impact is minimal for our students but wanted to inform you of the proposed days for these. At this time we are working on plans to ensure minimal disruption and will communicate to you our plans in due course.
We anticipate strike days to affect us on Feb 1st, March 2nd, March 15th and March 16th.
Technology Story of the day
New data shows that 2022 was the fifth hottest year for Europe since records began.
But scientists are warning that 2023 could be even warmer, as a climate phenomenon called La Niña - which has been suppressing global temperatures - comes to an end. Find out more here: What are El Niño and La Niña, and how do they change the weather?
Congratulations
Congratulations to Nikita who was nominated last term as the new Chair of the Student Leadership Board!
Employer Engagement Events
We’ve already spent some time with Mercedes since we’ve been back this term. They brought in a range of cars, including a Hybrid, for students across all year groups to work with. A great opportunity for all!
We also welcome BMW in to school tomorrow (20th) for an assembly and careers stand.
Applications for September 2023
We have sent our first round of offers out to all of our year 10 applications and will shortly be arranging admissions meetings for our year 12 applicants so that we can discuss course choices in further detail before sending out personalised offers.
There is still time to apply for either year group, please visit our website to complete the form: https://www.utcswindon.co.uk/parents/admissions/
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
As we approach National apprenticeship week, some local firms are running open events:
Wed 25 Jan 2023 | 18:00-19:00
Virtual Insight Event with GSK
https://pathwayctm.com/event/virtual-insight-event-with-gsk/
Fri 27 Jan 2023 | 10:00-15:00
Deutsche Bank in Person Taster Day – Canary Wharf, London https://pathwayctm.com/event/deutsche-bank-taster-day/
Thurs 9 Feb 2023 | 17:30-20:15
‘Get into Apprenticeships’ and evening for students and parents to gather information about the apprenticeships available to school leavers.
https://mcusercontent.com/1cc6e1401c1fd3731e573806c/images/ea19ce4b-097a-e0bd-b894-b290cad15af8.png
The Smallpeice Trust Engineering Courses for Years 10-12
These engineering courses show young people which engineering careers are available to them and give a glimpse of life as an engineer, with hands-on projects and insights from industry experts and academics.
With a mixture of residential, in-person and online courses. Each course includes hands-on activities and gets young people working in teams with like-minded students their own age to understand the real-life impact engineers make.
More information on the courses available can be found here: https://mailchi.mp/smallpeicetrust/sponsored-places-spt-823096-my5kfgnj2o?e=7137c4b093
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
Maths interventions - Year 11
Based on PPE results, the maths department have developed some intervention sessions to support our year 11 students. The sessions will focus on exam techniques, how to approach exam questions to minimise misconceptions, and further enhance students' problem-solving thinking.
The maths interventions are after school from 15:40 - 16:10. If you would like your student to have this opportunity, please follow the link to give your parental consent: Maths Intervention Consent form.
Enrichment clubs
The Student Leadership Board is providing a variety of enrichment activities to those in the
school community so that students can socially engage in non-curricular activities and have some fun. The timetable for the clubs is as follows:
Each club has a designated leader and room. Equipment is not provided for some of the clubs, such as music and DnD, so participants need to make sure they bring their own items when needed.
Please ask your student to contact any of the Student Board Leaders or Dani for more information
If your student intends to join the DND club, please can you give consent for them to stay after school hours: Parental Consent
Answers to the 12 Questions of Christmas
Following our Christmas STEM-based quiz, the answers are below:
- 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. Cr=24, 6 legs x 6 = 36, AAA = 1.5 V; 24+36 = 60, 60 / 1.5 = 40
- 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. 7 x 8 = 56, 56 + 12 = 68, 68 / 0.25 = 272
- What small instrument are we looking for here: CEPS, CEPS, CEPS, CEPS? forceps
- 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. 135 x 3 = 405, 405 – 64 = 341, 3+4+1= 8
- 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. 86400 / 80 = 1080, 1080 / 2 = 540, 540 / 90 = 6
- A snappy semiaquatic fastener (9,4) – what component am I? Crocodile Clip
- 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. 180 / 9 = 20, 20 x 5 = 100, Radium is 88 (discount polonium as metalloid, rather than metal). 100 + 88 = 188
- Rearranged, this study covers a “big roomy coli” (12) Microbiology
- A more sustainable way to have pure water. What am I: SISOMSO? Osmosis
- 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? 1976 – 500 = 1474, 1476 / 12 = 123, 123 – 23 = 100, C
- Small wave on an armoured vehicle (6,4) - What am I better known as? Ripple tank
- 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? 1 partridge x 12 = 12, 2 turtle doves x 11 = 22, 3 French hens x 10 = 30, 4 calling birds x 9 = 36, 5 gold rings x 8 = 40, 6 geese x 7 = 42, 7 swans x 6 = 42, 8 maids x 5 = 40, 9 ladies x 4 = 36, 10 lords x 3 = 30, 11 pipers x 2 = 11, 12 drummers x 1 = 12. 12+22+30+36+40+42 = 182, 182 x 2 = 364, 364 unwanted gifts
Social Media
Please do join our Parent Facebook Group, this is a community page, giving you the opportunity to meet, help each other and discuss anything related to UTC Swindon. Please be aware that this should not be used to liaise directly with the school. You can join the group here: UTC Swindon Parents Group
Please also remember to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as this helps with our marketing and publicity.
Café Menu
Dates for the diary
- Friday 27th January - UTC Swindon employability day, all year groups off timetable
- Tuesday 31st January - Year 10 Progress Consultation Evening
- Friday 10th February - Cyber horizons day
- 13 February – 17 February 2023 - Half Term
- Wednesday 1st March - Bristol UK University & Apprenticeship Fair at Ashton Gate Stadium.
- Monday 8th May 2023 has been confirmed as a Bank Holiday in celebration of the coronation of King Charles
- Monday 15th May up to and including Wednesday 28th June 2023 - Year 11 and Year 13 Exam Period
Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Spring Term 1: Thursday 5th January 2023 – Friday 10th February 2023
- Spring Term 2: Monday 20th February 2023 – Friday 31st March 2023
- Summer Term 1: Monday 17th April 2023 – Friday 26th May 2023
- Summer Term 2: Monday 5 June 2023 – Friday 21 July 2023
Further details can be found on our website: Term Dates
Have a good weekend
With good wishes
Neil