UTC Swindon
Newsletter – 11th May 2023
Dear all,
With the formal exams starting next week we want to wish all our year 11 and year 13 students the best of luck. Staff are still on hand for any last-minute revision tips and guidance so please do encourage your students to come and see us if needed.
We have a year 11 revision timetable in place starting from Monday which has been shared with students so please do encourage them to use these opportunities wisely.
Parent Survey
Please can we remind anyone who hasn’t done so already to complete the Parent Survey by Friday 12th May. Your answers will help us to shape the future of UTC Swindon and we appreciate you taking the time to complete this. Please note that only one survey needs to be completed per household.
National Technology Day – 11th May
From smartphones to social media, technology has transformed the way we live and communicate. With new innovations emerging every day, it's exciting to see how tech will shape our future.
Applying science for practical purposes is what technology is all about! Creating items to perform tasks, solve problems, make life easier (or perhaps more interesting), scientists who work in engineering and technology are always looking for ways to make life better. And showing appreciation for advances in technology is what National Technology Day is all about!
While technology can be traced back to the time when humans began using tools to make their work easier, the modern history of technology dates back to the 18th century. This was when the industrial revolution came into full swing, particularly in Great Britain, continental Europe and the United States. As machines were invented and science evolved, the knowledge developed and fed into continued growth in the industry of technology.
Employer Engagement- Hercules Construction
We were delighted to welcome Hercules Construction on site last week, including their impressive suction excavator. They ran a careers stand and an assembly for us showcasing careers in construction
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Virtual Insight Event with RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Thursday 25th May, 18:00 – 19:00
Students can find out more about what this career could look like, what it involves and how to take the next steps. RTPI are running another Work Experience programme in the summer too which they will be talking about including, how to apply and tips on applications for students. Find out more here: Virtual Insight Event with RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute)
Booking is now open for the FREE CyberFirst summer course programme.
Led by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, CyberFirst is a programme of opportunities to help young people explore their passion for tech by introducing them to the fast-paced world of cyber security.
Apply now
Are you enthusiastic about technology and interested in exploring and expanding what you know about staying safe online? Attending a CyberFirst Defenders, Futures or Advanced course could be just the thing to develop essential skills and bring a fresh purpose to your summer break.
You’ll learn all kinds of practical insights into digital safety and how everyday technology really works. Course content will be delivered in a fun and interesting way, and you’ll get to meet lots of like-minded students.
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, Year 11 set 1 is on Wednesdays and Year 11 set 2 is now on Thursdays. 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
The Apprenticeship Guide: May 2023
For news, tips, tricks and resources for your students as they consider their future resources please see The Apprenticeship Guide May newsletter.
Ever thought of being a governor?
Becoming a school governor is an invaluable role, contributing to “transforming lives through learning” of all Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) learners. This is an extremely rewarding opportunity to make a difference and give something back to the local community. Becoming an ALET governor will allow you to use and develop your skills in a board-level environment. You would also be joining the largest volunteer network force in the country, with over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state funded schools in England.
To become a governor, you must be aged over 18 and have the necessary skills, attributes, and time to positively impact our learners. You do not necessarily need an understanding of education systems to be successful in this role as plenty of training and support is available and school governance benefits from a range of backgrounds such as from business, HR, legal, marketing and property. Our schools and University Technical Colleges in Theale, Bicester, Reading, Didcot, Swindon and Hillingdon need the benefit from a wide range of professional knowledge to provide a balanced and diverse range of knowledge, skill, and experience to be effective. As noted by Ofsted – the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management, which includes the governing body.
Should you wish to discuss what this role entails in more detail, please contact Heledd Walker, Head of Governance and Compliance via email Clerk@alet.org.uk.
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
- Monday 15th May up to and including Wednesday 28th June 2023 - Year 11 and Year 13 Exam Period
- Thursday 17th August – A level results day
- Thursday 24th August - GCSE results day
Term dates for 2022 to 2023
- Summer Term 1: Wednesday 19th 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