UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter – 24th February 2023
Dear all,
We hope you had an enjoyable half term. We hosted our first ever ski trip, visiting Piancavello, Italy. It was a hugely successful trip and our thanks goes to the staff who accompanied the students and Halsbury Ski for the organisation.
We hope that those of you who visited the Williams F1 team testing their cars at MOD Lyneham runway during half term had a great time. We have a further visit to Williams F1 for some of our year 10 students coming up in March.
Whisper
We have partnered with SWGL (South West Grid for Learning) on a new anonymous service that lets you report a problem you may have at school or at home. Whether it be bullying, cyber bullying, issues at home or concerns about other fellow students.
This service may be used by students, staff or parents/carers.
There are two ways to report a concern:
Via the Web Form
1. Use the link: https://swgfl.org.uk/whisper/uto1/
2. Fill in the form to submit a new report
3. You will be given a unique chat URL through which you can respond to any responses you receive to your report
You can enter your email address if you wish to be notified when your report receives a response. Your email address will remain anonymous and will only be used by the system to notify you of any response to your report.
Via SMS
1. Text the UTO1+ your message to 07860 021 323 (e.g. “UTO1 There is a problem”)
2. You will receive confirmation that your message was received
3. You can reply to any responses you receive to offer more information to your report
Your mobile number will remain anonymous and will only be used by the system to notify you of any response to your report.
More information can be found on our website as well as links to report an issue: https://www.utcoxfordshire.org.uk/whisper/
Industrial Action
PPE Exam Timetable
Our year 11s and Year 13s will be sitting PPE exams in March. The timetable can be found here: PPE Timetable – March 2023
Attendance
We are still seeing a high level of absence due to illness and whilst we appreciate that this may be as a result of 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 well enough.
If students are suffering from a fever or are acutely unwell then they should remain at home but please do send them in once they are in the recovery phase.
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
CAMHS School In-Reach
The CAMHS School In-Reach team are offering a range of sessions for parents to support their young person over this term. All the sessions will run from 5.30-6.30pm (with time for questions afterwards) and will be held online using MS Teams.
The link for all 3 sessions is:
Microsoft Teams meeting: Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 318 433 756 754
Passcode: h5ddTM
NOW: How to communicate with distressed or upset young people Tuesday 28th February 5.30-6.45pm
This presentation explores how to recognise distress, how it may present in young people and how to respond in the moment. We will develop understanding of the changes to teenage brain and how this impacts on the young person. We will identify the barriers to effective communication and develop relevant skills to effectively communicate with distressed young people.
Supporting your young person with anxiety: Tuesday 7th March 5.30-6.45pm
This presentation will explore teenage anxiety and how to talk with young people about this. It highlights the difference between appropriate levels of anxiety and when additional help might be needed. It explores what might keep anxiety going and provides an overview of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as well as a number of useful techniques which parents can use to support their child.
Promoting resilience in your young person: Tuesday 14th March 5.30-6.45pm
This presentation offers and develops understanding of the importance of resilience in managing the challenges and conflicts in life. It explores ideas about the brain, feelings and thoughts to promote resilience and utilises practical and visual resources to provide a shared language to describe emotions and mental health in everyday ways.
Your facilitator for the session is Emma Hyde from CAMHS (Child Adolescent and Mental Health) School In-Reach team.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
CareerDays.co.uk is for any student aged 14-17 who wants to experience different careers or gain work experience in their chosen field. From medicine, law, performing arts, psychology, business or becoming a vet, we have a 1-day online event for you, designed to give you an insight into life in your chosen field.
- Dentistry Career Day - Saturday 18th March 2023
- Medicine Career Day - Sunday 26th March 2023
- Midwifery Career Day - Saturday 1st April 2023
- Psychology Career Day - Saturday 8th April 2023
- Business Career Day - Saturday 15th April 2023
- Architect Career Day - Saturday 22nd April 2023
- Vet Career Day - Saturday 29th April 2023
- Law Career Day - Saturday 6th May 2023
- Computer Science Career Day - Saturday 20th May 2023
- Performing Arts Career Day - Saturday 27th May 2023
Students can visit https://www.careerdays.co.uk/apply-now to join a session in their field of interest and will receive a certificate at the end of the day confirming their work experience.
OAS Apprenticeship Open Evening - Tuesday 21 March 2023
- Find out more about joining OAS and how to apply to their employer partners
- Take a tour around their world class training centre
- Hear from current apprentices on their experiences with OAS
- Meet some of their employer partners and find out what they’re looking for in their next apprentices
- You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions to our training team, employer partners and apprentices.
There will be two, 60-minute sessions at 5pm and 6pm. Spaces are limited to a total of 40 people per session. Find out more here: OAS Apprenticeship Open Evening
Is Oxbridge for me? Higher Education information event, 6.00pm, Thursday 2 March 2023 (via Zoom, St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon)
The event will include a keynote speech, some specific advice about applying to Oxford and Cambridge and questions and answers with current Oxbridge students. You can find out more and register your place here: Is Oxbridge for me?
T-2 Weeks Countdown to Mars Day - Tuesday 7 March 2023
The next virtual mission to explore Mars with ESA, the UK Space Agency, UK STEM Ambassadors and international guests is on the horizon! Find our more here: Mars Day 2023
Aerospace in Your Future: Monday 6 March 2023 (17:30-20:00), Sixth Form Students, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (OX11 0QX)
To celebrate International Women's Day and British Science Week in March, RAL Space is inviting young women to meet a range of people working in the space sector. Learn about the variety of roles and routes into those careers, and international opportunities that reflect the collaborative nature of space projects.
- There will be talks, information for parents/guardians/teachers, stalls for informal networking with different organisations including the UK Space Agency, and space to connect with fellow students. We will provide "action postcards" for everyone to take away key learnings from the event and plan future objectives.
- This interactive networking and careers event is designed for female students at college, sixth form or equivalent, and first and second year undergraduates or equivalent. Under 18s must be registered and accompanied by an adult.
Royal College of Nursing Cadet Scheme
Develop your life skills, grow in confidence and understand what it means to work in nursing and health care.
The programme is ideal for anybody wanting to have a career in Health and Social care and is suitable for aspiring and committed students who want to progress to Nursing, paramedic, pharmacy, Healthcare Science, Medicine, etc.
There is 100 hours of teaching and 20 hours of observational placements (similar to work experience). The teaching will happen in 1st week of Easter break 3-6th April. (Oxford Brookes site). Placements possibly to be during 29 May - 2 June half term or could be during the work experience week of the student if it suits the employer. More information can be found here: Royal College of Nursing Cadet SchemeAerospace Engineering (Non-Residential)
If you’re exploring a career in aerospace engineering, this course will give you an insight into modern aircraft design and help your ambitions take flight. More information here: Small Piece Trust - Aerospace ExperienceWork Experience at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL)
Each year at STFC, run a highly successful work experience scheme for Year 10, 11. 12 and 13 students at schools based in the UK. For the summer 2023 programme, the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) work experience team will be delivering on-site work experience provision for young people. More information can be found here: https://stfc-workexperience.co.uk/applyral2023/
Work Experience at Diamond: applications are now open (Years 10-13)
- Diamond’s work experience programme will run 3-7 July and offers students a chance to work on hands-on projects at the facility. The programme is open to students in Years 10-13 (ages 14-18) and they have 46 places available, across 23 projects.
- Applications are online and can be found here: Schools/College Work Experience - - Diamond Light Source . Applications will close at midnight on Sunday 19 February.
Inside Diamond Days: Saturday 25 March 2023, Saturday 10 June 2023, Saturday 19 August 2023, Saturday 28 October 2023
- An Inside Diamond visit consists of an introductory talk, a tour of the amazing particle accelerator and a chance to talk to the people who work at Diamond and make the fascinating work done there possible. A visit lasts 2/2.5 hours.
- You can now register your interest to attend the next Inside Diamond Day by visiting their website: https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Public/VisitUs.html - spaces are allocated by a random ballot to ensure a fair allocation of places.
HSBC's Work Experience programme
This opportunity is available for all students in Year 9-13 and nationwide. The Work Experience programme will allow students to gain real life hands-on experience of the world of work, develop a deeper understanding of the finance industry and receive some recruitment tips to help them in the future! More details can be found here: HSBC Work Experience
All-Expenses Paid Science Trip to Grenoble, France for Year 12 Female Students
This amazing trip offers tours of the facilities, the opportunity to meet amazing scientists who live and work in Grenoble and also a little bit of sightseeing in this beautiful French city.
There are sixteen places available, applications are welcome from Year 12 UK Physics and STEM students who identify as female.
For more information on the competition and how to apply visit https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/xmas/impact/outreach/xmas_scientist_experienceb/se2023/
The closing date is the end of Sunday 26th February 2023.
Oxfordshire Adult learning
Are you looking towards a new career in a school?
Oxfordshire Adult learning Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools is a great start into developing an understanding of the teaching and learning environment in a school setting.
Find out more: Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools
Elements Café
Dates for the diary
- Wednesday 1st March – Year 12 Progress Consultation Evening
- Thursday 2nd March – Industrial Action
- Wednesday 8th March – Year 10 Progress Consultation Evening
- Wednesday 22nd March – Year 13 Progress Consultation Evening
- Wednesday 29th March – Year 11 Progress Consultation Evening
- 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 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/
Have a good weekend
Stay safe
Best wishes
Emma