Weekly information - Wednesday 5th February 2020
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All - Cashless Catering Consent Form
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All - Outcome of Admissions Policy Consultation
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All - Online Safety Procedure
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All - Safer Internet Day
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All - Hollie Guard
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All - Volunteers needed for Employability Skills Workshop.
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All - National Careers Service LMI Update
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All - Bugsy Malone rehearsals during February half term
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All - World Book Day Celebrations
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Y11 - Exam Preparation (including Easter Revision Programme)
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Y11 & Y13 - Exams Notice
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Y10 & Y12 - Exams Notice
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Y11 & Y12 Uniform Feedback
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Y7 - Y10 Uniform Feedback
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Y7 Parents Evening - 3rd March 2020
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Y7 - Outward Bound Residential to Aberdovey
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Y7 - Religious Studies Field Study Visit to Coventry Cathedral March 2020
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Y8 - PGL Trip
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Y10 - Maths Tests
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Y11 - GCSE English Revision
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Y11 - GCSE Food Prep & Nutrition deadlines
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Y12 - Maths and Computer Science Work Experience Opportunity
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All - Snow Closure Procedure
As a school, our preferred method for students to pay for items in the canteen is to use a biometric facility (their fingerprint) as this eliminates the need for them to carry cash or remember a PIN code and is the most secure method for them to pay for items in school. We need written consent from a parent/guardian to store your child’s biometric information and we are currently reviewing our records to ensure they are up to date regarding parental consent. Once given, consent will apply throughout your child’s time at John Taylor High School but can be withdrawn at any time in writing.
We would like a parent/guardian to complete the online form for each student using this link https://johntaylorhigh.schoolzineplus.co.uk/form/20 before half term (Friday 14th February) please to indicate whether or not you consent to your child using the biometric system, even if you have previously signed a paper form for this. We require a form to be submitted for every student.
Kind regards,
Mr J Twynham
Deputy Head of School
Please see the attached letter regarding the outcome of the admissions policy consultation for September 2021.
We have recently written an updated Online Safety Procedure to meet the needs of current online challenges. It is important all stakeholders are aware of this procedure and how we can work together to promote Online Safety. Over the coming weeks, students will be part of assemblies that focus on Safer Internet Day. During these assemblies we will also be informing students that in order to promote online safety we have written a new procedure which outlines specific roles for parents/carers. These roles can be found in Section 3.6.
We would also like to draw your attention to our Safeguarding Page on the JTHS Website (accessible via the link below). This page has a list of useful apps and links to support parents with online safety.
Safer Internet Day is on Tuesday 11th February. Students will be marking this in school with assemblies led by their Heads of Year. To support parents in ensuring internet safety resources are available using the following link.
https://www.saferinternetday.org/
We have also attached for you a range of posters to support parents with Social Media. These guides have been created by the Online Safety Alliance.
Hollie Guard App and Consent.
Please find attached information from Staffordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board in relation to Consent and an app which helps keep men, women, boys and girls safe.
On the 2nd March 2020, our Year 10 and 12 students will take part in employability skills interviews as part of their Careers Programme at John Taylor High School. This is a vital step in our students journey towards employment and this for many, will be their first ever interview with a professional. The aim is for all students to gain an insight into how they should prepare for an interview as well as conduct themselves during the process.
With over 300 students to interview, we need lots of people to interview the students and for that reason we would like to invite parents and friends of the school to volunteer their services for the day.
The interviews will take place in the training centre from 9.30 am until 3.40 pm with a break for refreshments at 11.10 am and lunch at 1.10 pm. Tea, coffee, biscuits and a buffet lunch will of course be provided for all those who volunteer on the day.
We would be delighted if you could join us for the whole day however if you cannot attend for the whole day then we would be more than happy to welcome for either the morning or the afternoon if preferred.
Please contact me via my email [email protected] if you would like to volunteer.
Kind regards
Mr C. Knight
Please find attached information regarding the Labour Market Index for Staffordshire which may be of interest.
Full cast rehearsals for Bugsy Malone are scheduled for Wednesday 19th February and Sunday 23rd February (during the half term holiday). Both rehearsals will take place from 9.30am - 3,30pm in the school hall. Please encourage your child to attend if at all possible.
Plans are being made to celebrate World Book Day in school on 5 March 2020. Year 7s will be involved in a lunchtime session to celebrate all things bookish and will be allowed to dress up as their favourite book character on the day should they wish to do so. Staff have also been invited to dress up on World Book Day.
We've had some fantastic costumes from students and staff in past years and we hope that our Y7s, who have shown themselves to be extremely keen readers, will enjoy participating in this exciting celebration. There will of course be a prize for the best costume from students and staff.
Any students from Y8 and above who are keen to help with celebrations can apply to be World Book Day Ambassadors. Interested students need to collect an application form from the LRC staff and they will also be allowed to dress up to help us promote World Book Day around school.
As always there will be a form competition, plus individual competitions run in school throughout the week. These include Literacy Cluedo, Bake a "Book" Cake, a Short Story Writing Competition, Find Staff's Book Recommendations and the opportunity to exchange World Book Day tokens for one of the specially produced books. In addition, we will be holding a Scholastic Book Fair from 20 to 26 March in the LRC, where students can use their World Book Day tokens to get £1 off a book of their choice.
We hope our students enjoy celebrating this year's World Book Day.
As we near the exams there are a number of important initiatives for you to be informed of.
Lunchtime and after school revision sessions
Many of our subjects are now offering lunchtime and after school revision sessions. More will start after half term. As with the Easter programme, not all subjects will feel it necessary to offer these sessions. It must be reinforced that any revision session offered in school should be considered as an added extra; the bulk of revision will always be completed independently by students outside of school time
If students have questions about these sessions, they should see their subject teachers. Some students will be invited specifically to attend certain sessions. This is because their teacher believes that they would really benefit from attending. Please support us in encouraging them to attend.
The current revision timetable can be viewed below:
We will be running a programme of Easter revision sessions for selected subjects. Those that choose not to do one will be completing sufficient amounts of exam preparation during their curriculum time. We will be publishing the timetable for this after half term.
Revision Incentive Scheme
Students are now able to collect 'Revision Incentive Scheme' card from the Upper School Office. Every time they attend a lunchtime, after school or holiday revision session they will collect a staff signature to confirm their attendance. If they complete the card, they can exchange it for a reward of their choice.
'Study Hall'
After half term we will be offering students the opportunity to study with friends in the LRC after school. We have offered this 'study hall' in previous years and it has proved very popular and very productive. Not only does it mean they can access resources within the LRC, including the computers, they are able to create study groups with friends which research shows can be a productive method to include as part of their revision programme. The 'study hall' will finish at 4.30pm and be held on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening in the LRC.
Online Revision resources
As a reminder, please remember that all students have access to both Century Tech and GCSEPod which are valuable online resources to support revision. Many students also use free online resources such as Seneca Learning and BBC Bitesize. Please consider asking your son or daughter to show you how these work and encourage them to think about using them.
Top tip - Revision timetable
Many students have created and been using revision timetables for a number of weeks. However, we are aware that many have not! The first step to creating an effective revision programme is to ensure their weekly revision time is efficiently planned. This ensures appropriate coverage of all subjects. Ask your son or daughter to share their plan with you. If they do not have one, then consider taking time to create one with them. The document below is an example of how you could organise this:
A “Statement of Entry” was given to all pupils during registration on Monday 27th January 2020.
It is really important the both you and your child check the following information:-
- Pupil Name(s) This will appear on their official examination certificates
- Date of Birth
- Entries Are they entered for the correct subjects & tiers? Are there any examinations/subjects missing?
Individual timetables will be given to pupils after the Easter term, however there is a generic timetable on the school website showing dates etc. which is continually updated.
Please Note: All pupils MUST remain available until Wednesday 24th June 2020 should an Awarding Body need to invoke its contingency plan.
A “Statement of Entry” was given to pupils who are due to take either a unit or qualification, during registration on Monday 27th January 2020.
It is really important that both you and your child check the following information:-
- Pupil Name(s) This will appear on their official examination certificates
- Date of Birth
- Entries Are they entered for the correct subjects & tiers? Are there any examinations/subjects missing?
Individual timetables will be given to pupils after the Easter term, however there is a generic timetable on the school website showing dates etc. which is continually updated.
Please Note: All pupils MUST remain available until Wednesday 24th June 2020 should an Awarding Body need to invoke its contingency plan.
Please see the attached letter with regards to the school uniform. We would welcome as much feedback as possible.
Please see the attached letter with regards to the school uniform. We would welcome as much feedback as possible.
Year 7 Parents Evening is scheduled for Tuesday 3rd March 2020. Your child will be given a paper booking sheet by their form tutor which they will then use to book 5 minute appointment slots with each member of staff. Please make sure your child knows what times are convenient for you to attend. It is advisable to leave 5 minute gaps between each appointment to ensure you can move between different rooms.
Attached is a letter detailing further information on the trip. Please make sure all outstanding balances are paid urgently. Thank you.
Please could all parents pay and consent for the RS trip to Coventry Cathedral using Parent Pay as soon as possible (deadline Fri. 22nd Feb). Please see attached letter for further information regarding this trip and when your child will be going.
Kind regards, Mrs Walker.
A reminder to all parents of students attending the PGL trip to Boreatton Park in July 2020. Please ensure medical forms are completed and returned to either Miss Sears or Miss Simnett by the 14th February. Additionally the second payment for this trip needs to paid via parent pay by 20th February. If there are any issues please contact Miss Simnett or Miss Sears via e-mail – [email protected] or [email protected]. Thank you.
All Year 10 students will have a Maths test in their lesson on Thursday 6th February, based on the topics they have covered so far this year. Students will need to bring their own calculator for the test, these are available through ParentPay if needed. Students will be provided with a copy of the attached revision list and given suggestions on how to prepare for the test. AQA revision guides are also available through ParentPay should you wish to purchase one. If you do purchase any Maths equipment or resources on ParentPay, please ask your child to show the receipt to their teacher to ensure they get the items as soon as possible.
Year 11 are now beginning a detailed programme of revision for their English Language and Literature exams. Students will also have a series of mock exams on their literature texts over the next term.
Please refer to the schedule attached for details.
***GCSE FOOD PREPARATION & NUTRITION****
NEA 2: British Cuisines
35% of your GCSE
Deadlines
Section A: 15.11.2019
Section B: 13.12.2019
Section C: 17.01.2019
Section D: 24.01.2020
Section E: 14.02.2020
Mathematics & Computer Science Experience Week
Monday 29th June- Friday 3rd July
The School of Computer Science and the School of Mathematics at the University of Birmingham are welcoming applications for a work experience week across the two departments. The week will consist of mathematics and computer science projects, an introduction to the university, and a university Mathematics Taster Day.
We welcome applicants in year 12 who are studying suitable A Levels (or equivalent), and who are planning to study Mathematics or Computer Science at University level. The week is free of charge, but applicants must be able to attend the whole week and make their own travel, accommodation and sustenance arrangements. Each day will run from about 09:30 to 15:30.
To apply, students should send a CV and covering letter, each no longer than one side of A4, to Rachel Burgess, Outreach and Schools Liaison Officer, by Saturday 29th February.
The CV and Covering Letter should be attached to a polite email explaining who you are and why you’re getting in contact, and sent on to Rachel Burgess, Outreach and Schools Liaison Officer, [email protected].
Very occasionally, during periods of difficult weather, we have to make the decision to close the school. Please read the attached letter for important information and details of our how we communicate a closure to parents/carers. Thank you.