News

Hot Chocolate with the Head – 06/06/25

This week, our star pupils enjoyed some delicious chocolate goodies with Mr Heath, Deputy Headteacher, for their fantastic contribution in the JTMAT Subject Excellence competitions for Art and Maths.

The Subject Excellence competitions are open to all students across the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust and provide an opportunity for pupils to complete a task set by subject specialist teachers.

The brief for the Art competition was to create a piece of artwork that conveyed a message linking it to the Trust’s core values. Pupils got the option to choose the media they would like to use, the size, the shape and how they would like to interpret the value. Additionally, Raj Dhunna a professional illustrator was involved in judging the competition. The winners of the competition also got the opportunity to meet Raj at an exclusive finalist’s event and workshop.

Congratulations to Bethan P who was named as the winner.

Well done to the participants; Martha L, Rabia W, Jack S, Aisha S, Amelia N, Lotty M, Sophie M, Daisy H, Ffion F, Joshua D, Dylan C, Emilia B, Alice R, Andrei A.

The brief for the Maths competition was to create a Music Festival taking into consideration planning, timings, budgets and presenting them in a mathematical way. Mr Corbett was very impressed with our pupils and wanted to give extra recognition to them at ‘Hot Chocolate with the Head’.

Congratulations to the winners; William G who was commended for his use of Technology and to Oscar W for being the overall winner in the Secondary School Category.

Well done to the participants; Oliver W, Isaac B, Jack S

Mr Heath was delighted to present the pupils with certificates and pin badges and highlighted the importance of striving for personal excellence.

We are delighted to announce details for the John Taylor Summer Concert. See the poster for more information.

Between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025, our Duke of Edinburgh participants have made an incredible impact through their volunteering, contributing an outstanding 2,353 hours of service.

Their dedication has shone through a variety of volunteering placements including Parkrun events, St. George’s Park, Scouts, and the National Memorial Arboretum. Several students have also been gaining valuable work experience in local charity shops and supporting the organisation of community events. This practical experience not only benefits the community but also helps students develop essential life skills for personal growth and future employment.

This achievement highlights their commitment to community, teamwork and making a difference. Each hour volunteered reflects the spirit of the Award: achievement, integrity, and empowerment.

Well done to all involved for this remarkable contribution!

Miss H Platts

“We learnt valuable coding and presentation skills, we learnt to use Thunderbird and a Raspberry Pi computer. We also learnt about the importance of load shifting to help keep energy costs down.”

“You have touched upon a really interesting topic with real-world benefit—something that people are actively looking at across the world. It is clear that you all took an active part in the project. Well done to you all.”

Mrs Bostock’s group of Year 12 IT students were delighted to be joined by Muhammed Lateef, for an exciting educational workshop about data-modeling using a world- leading online learning platform.

Mr. Lateef, who holds a Salesforce Certified Associate certification and has achieved a Trailhead Ranger status, shared his expertise in data modeling using Salesforce's advanced learning platform, Trailhead. The hands-on workshop focused on essential data modeling concepts that linked with the students' Unit 5 topic. Students engaged in practical exercises using Schema Builder, Custom Fields and differences between standard and custom Objects. More importantly, they gained valuable experience in creating and modifying data within the Salesforce platform.

Mr Lateef said ‘the students were fully engaged throughout the session which was pleasing to observe. I am a firm believer in work related learning and helping the next generation acquire new skills that are relevant for their careers. The interactive nature of the session meant the students could ask questions and advice. This real-world application helped bring their theoretical knowledge to life.’

For more information about our BTEC IT vocational course, you can visit our website here: PowerPoint Presentation

‘Turn up, work hard, be nice’ is the motto that underpins everything that happens at this school.’

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are delighted to share with you our recent Ofsted report for John Taylor High School. The outcome is extremely pleasing and is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our staff, pupils, and the wider school community.

We are very proud of this achievement and would like to thank you for your ongoing support in helping us create such a positive learning environment for our pupils.

The inspection was led by an experienced HMI (His Majesty’s Inspector) and included deep dives into English, maths, science, MFL, business and law. The report highlights the many strengths of the school, in all aspects of our provision. It is an honour to lead such a wonderful school full of exceptional pupils and staff.

Of course, we are also very aware of suggested ways to further improve, and strategies linked to these will be incorporated into future whole school improvement plans.

Thank you once again for your continued support. The feedback provided to the inspection team via staff, pupil and parental questionnaires was overwhelmingly positive. We truly value the partnership between home and school, and we look forward to building on this success together.

You can read the full Ofsted report via the PDF link below.

It will also be published on the Ofsted website in due course. https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/

With kind regards,

Mr J Blanchenot

Year 12 - Post-18 Information Evening – Tuesday 1^st July 5.30pm-7.35pm 

As students approach an important stage in their education, we are committed to providing comprehensive support to help them make informed decisions about their Post-18 options. 

Join us at John Taylor High School for an exciting event where you can explore your options after turning 18. Whether you're considering university, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce, this evening is the perfect opportunity to gather valuable information and insights. Our knowledgeable speakers will cover a range of topics to help you make informed decisions about your future. Don't miss out on this valuable event!

To further support both students and parents, we are delighted to invite you to our Post-18 Information Evening on Tuesday 1st July. 

This event will provide detailed information about Post 18 opportunities, university and apprenticeship pathways, including: 

• How to choose a University & Course and the Application Process – Jeff Chilton, Aberystwyth University (30 minutes, Main Hall)
• Exploring Apprenticeships – The Ask Programme (30 minutes, Main Hall)
• Rotational 15-Min Sessions (you can choose up to 3 of these sessions) -
• Applying to Oxford or Cambridge
• Writing a competitive Personal Statement
• Unifrog – Exploring & Special Opportunities
• Gap Years & Alternative Pathways
• Making the Most of the rest of Sixth Form
• How to successfully apply for an Apprenticeship
• Early Entry Applications (Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary)

We strongly encourage all parents and students to attend this evening to gain valuable insights and practical advice on how to best support their next steps. 

This is a ticketed event via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/post-18-information-evening-tickets-1364332769039 When booking please ensure a ticket is booked for every person attending including students.

The below menu will be served in the Canteen on Wednesday 18th June

Dear Parents/Carers and Teachers,

Please be reminded that nominations for the prestigious JTMAT Exceptional Achievement Award are still open but close on Friday 13th June. This award gives all John Taylor Multi Academy Trust (JTMAT) pupils the chance to be recognised for their extraordinary achievements both inside and outside of school. We are extremely proud of our students at John Taylor High School and hope that parents and teachers will nominate a pupil should they meet the criteria.

If the nomination is successful, winners will receive a special gold pin badge presented by Mr Donoghue OBE, CEO JTMAT via an online celebration. This is a wonderful way for students to share their achievements with the school community and gain recognition for their dedication and success.

The deadline to nominate a pupil is at 4pm on Friday 13^th June 2025 and the online celebration will take place on Friday 11^th July 2025 in Mr Blanchenot’s office.

We look forward to receiving the nominations and celebrating those pupils who strive for personal excellence!

For further details and to make a nomination please access the followng letter:

With around 70% of teens reporting they've seen violent real-life content on social media in the past year, this guide shines a light on a disturbing – and increasingly common – aspect of young people’s digital lives. From shocking videos to hate speech, many children don’t go looking for this material, it finds them via algorithms or peer sharing. 

The guide outlines key concerns, including the mental toll of repeated exposure, shifts in behaviour, and the worrying normalisation of harmful ideologies. It also explains how such content can escalate from screen to street, and why some young people may feel pressured to share or even create violent media themselves.

Our Year 12 BTEC Sports Students displayed an impressive example of student leadership and community engagement at the multi-skills sports festival, which saw approximately 100 primary school pupils taking part in an action-packed afternoon.

The preparation for this event required careful planning from the student leaders, with the help of the Sporting Young Ambassadors. The leaders were responsible for the operations on the day, including welcoming the guest pupils, leading warm-up exercises and managing various sports stations. The activities included relay races, obstacle courses, penalty shoot-outs, bowling and cricket skills; all quite challenging, however scaled to suit the age range of the pupils. The Year 12 students did a fantastic job at explaining activities clearly and keeping everyone's enthusiasm high throughout the afternoon.

Mrs Roberts, Teacher of PE, said 'the group of students have worked incredibly hard to ensure that the event ran smoothly for the primary school pupils. Not only did they make it a huge success, it was also a valuable learning experience for them and I am proud to have witnessed them show our schools core values of perseverance, integrity, kindness and respect. Their interactions with the primary pupils were positive and encouraging which helped create a supportive environment for all.' 

To finish the event, the Year 12 students presented the primary pupils with a certificate, which they had designed themselves, for their participation and achievements. 

Well done to everyone involved. 

I just wanted to make you aware that we have opened for the recruitment of our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).

This is a fully-funded degree apprenticeship, gaining a Degree in Professional Policing. The starting salary is £29,907. 

Applicants need to be 17.5 years old on applying and must be in their final year of study. 

Qualification requirements:

You can apply if you:

•    Hold a level 2 in Maths and English (grade C/4 or above) at the time of applying.

Plus:
•    Hold 2 A levels or a level 3 that is equivalent qualification in any subject or are in your last year of study.
•    Or are a current serving PCSO, who has completed your professional development plan, passed your probationary period, served 12 months in post and you are up to date with all mandatory training at the time of submitting your application.
•    Or are a current serving Special Constable who has attained independent patrol status at the time of application, who is consistently completing sixteen hours per month and is up to date with all mandatory training.
•    Or are a current serving NIO, who has attained a PIP1 qualification, passed your probationary period, served 12 months in post and you are up to date with all mandatory training at the time of submitting your application.
•    You must also be 17 years old and over on the date of submitting your application and 18 years old on appointment.

For more information, please follow this link: Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship :: Derbyshire Constabulary Jobs

Candidates must attend a mandatory webinar and once attended, the application link will be provided. The webinar will discuss the training, role, university process, shifts and application process. 

Calling any local businesses, who want to connect with educators to explore how your business can support & inspire the next generation. You'll get the opportunity to share expertise, offer real world insight and collaborate with schools to offer high quality experiences of the workplace ?

Event Details: The Business Breakfast: Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub
Tuesday 5th August | 08:30am-11am | Uttoxeter Racecourse
(Please note, this event is for Businesses only)

Link below to book tickets & for more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connecting-business-to-education-business-breakfast-event-tickets-1374232308829?aff=oddtdtcreator

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights the unseen risks this poses to children’s mental health, sense of safety, and social behaviours. With insights from a leading expert, it offers practical ways for parents and educators to respond with empathy and support – not punishment or panic.

Around 70% of teenagers say they’ve seen real-life violence on social media in the past year. Violent content online isn’t just something young people are occasionally stumbling across – in many cases, it’s becoming a routine part of their digital world. From fights and stabbings to toxic ideologies, disturbing videos are often just a click away on social media or group chats.

This week Nancy in Year 9 had been nominated for ‘Hot Chocolate with the Head’ for displaying one of the school’s core values; kindness.

Nancy had volunteered to play the piano at the recent Year 9 Celebration Assembly to an audience of over 200 people in the Main Hall, showing resilience and courage. Her rendition on the grand piano impressed teachers and peers, creating an atmosphere that elevated the assembly. Her willingness to volunteer is the epitome of how kindness can be displayed within our school community. 

Miss Bale, Head of Year 9, made the nomination and said ‘Nancy captivated us with her incredible talent on the piano. The assembly, designed to recognise outstanding students within the year group, became even more meaningful with Nancy's musical contribution. It was a delight to hear her play. This experience not only showcased her piano skills but also helped her personal growth and confidence.’

Well done Nancy, we look forward to enjoying more of your musical contributions at future events!