2013 UCC October Newsletter

Uppingham Community CollegeA Specialist Technology Academy

Newsletter: October 2013

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Dear Parents & Guardians,

This newsletter celebrates a very successful half term for all our new students and staff, as well as those who have been here for some time and is also the beginning of an exciting new development. Uppingham Community College and Catmose College wish to jointly open a post 16 Free School for academically able students, in a location close to Uppingham and Oakham with accessible transport routes from our catchment and feeder schools.

The two colleges are preparing a bid to open a school – with an offer including traditional A Levels – because too many of our academic students find it difficult, time consuming and expensive to travel to and access post 16 courses in cities such as Leicester and Peterborough.

The local post 16 provision for our many academic students leaving UCC at the end of Year 11 to pursue A Level courses is not as good as it could be – and we want to give them an excellent option, one which is close to home and which builds on their GCSE experiences. Students who wish to choose more vocational options already have access to these close to their home locations.

Students in, and on the outskirts of, Rutland have to search hard to access suitable provision – our Year 11 students go to more than 16 different providers in at least six counties. Academic students have to travel considerable distances to access high quality sixth forms such as Kings in Peterborough and QE in Leicester, or they have to pay for independent schooling.

This not only disadvantages able students from low income families (transport to Leicester for example, costs more than £2,000 per year), but also impacts significantly on study time and energy levels, with some students travelling for up to two hours per day.

A joint bid for a Free School has been agreed upon by both governing bodies and work has begun on the prospectus which will outline the new school’s vision and ethos.

Harington, an old Rutland name, has been chosen for the sixth form and a logo has been finalised, along with a dress code. Work has been completed on areas such as the curriculum and admissions. Research is underway for a suitable site, although this is not essential for the Department for Education (DfE) to give initial approval for the progression of plans.

The New Schools Network (NSN) has four windows per year in which to apply for a place on its development programme which advises on the DfE bid and provides some financial support. We are intending to apply in the January round.

Issues to be addressed:Completion of the prospectus (end of • November)Support within the community for • Harington through promotional resources, public meetings and events.Application for the NSN development • programmeApplication to the DfE• Secure a suitable site• Establish the Governance of Harington• Creation and staffing of a • management structure for HaringtonCreation of policies which support the • vision and ethos of HaringtonPromotion of Harington within the • community to recruit students

We will shortly be publishing a full consultation which will include a prospectus which will outline the Harington philosophy for a sixth form education, its curriculum, uniform and admissions criteria. This is an exciting development but we will need the full support of the Rutland community to make it a reality.

I would be very pleased to hear your initial views on these plans if you would like to contact me [email protected] is Harington the name of our proposed sixth form?

The name Harington is synonymous with Rutland. It is the name of one of our oldest families, from Exton, a family that supported the Royal family despite great personal cost. It was that willingness to serve others and the strong connection to Rutland that made the family name an ideal choice for a new sixth form designed to cater for the needs of our students.

Our commitment to the provision of an enriching all round educational experience for our students is exemplified by our recent accreditation as an International School. As part of this we have experienced an excellent visit from our French Exchange partners, as well as our Chinese exchange teachers so we really have celebrated our commitment to global education.

We are focusing on whole school literacy this year – not just in English but in all subjects. Going forward, this is going to have a major impact on all exam outcomes as every subject will have marks allocated for spelling, punctuation and grammar. However there is only so much we can do in school, so I would be grateful if as parents you could assist by ensuring that your son/daughter does some reading each week. Newspapers, magazines, books even! This really would help a great deal. Also, when supervising homework, if you could emphasise attention to detail in presentation and spelling as that will be a key feature of future exam marking. Recommended reading lists will be coming out to each year group in the next few weeks.

We are also aware that most people do prefer to receive information in an electronic form as everyone tries to cut down on the overuse of paper. Therefore, any major bulk whole school items will be sent out on an email attachment. Personalised communication will, of course, continue to be sent to you in the usual manner. Please can you ensure that we have an up to date email address for you.

I hope that you enjoy reading about all our activities and experiences and also that you have a very enjoyable half term.

Yours Sincerely,Jan Turner

PRINCIPAL’SMessage

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Bugsy MalONeBy Mrs Perkins & Mr rhodes

We are hard at work on this year’s ambitious College Production of Bugsy Malone. With large numbers of students involved and many staff and community links contributing, it is quite a juggling act to bring it all together but rehearsals are now well on the way and the hardworking cast are showing great commitment. We hope their hard work will be rewarded with record numbers of audience members as we have extended to run to a dress rehearsal for Primary Schools and three nights. The date for your diaries is December 11th, 12th and 13th 2013. Tickets will be available through the students involved at first and then they will go on general sale to anyone involved in the College. We hope to see many of you there being entertained by our many talented students.

Well done to Gregory Durden 8CAB, whose stunning poster design for Bugsy Malone, which you see here, won him £10 of Amazon vouchers and two tickets to the show.

RuTlaND DayBy Mrs Perkins & Mr Moffat

On the 14th of September, it was Rutland Day, the annual food and drink festival held on the banks of Rutland Water. Although the weather was not as good as we might have hoped for, members of the cast of Bugsy Malone, opened the entertainment on the main stage by singing a number of songs from the show.

Although there were few members of the public around at that time, the cast was highly praised, especially by Rutland Radio’s Rob Persani who was amazed at how early in the rehearsal process they were considering the quality of sound they made.

Jemima Oakey also performed two solos and demonstrated why she is now a member of the National Youth Choir and Megan Thompson-O’Connor was prepared to perform a solo but the technology let her down! Thanks to all the students and parents who showed their support for this event.

INsTRuMeNTal lessONs

Would you like your child to take instrumental lessons with us here at the College? If so, contact the reception desk at UCC to receive further details.

Each week teachers give lessons on the Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Guitar, Drums, Violin and Singing. Lessons cost £11 and this includes the opportunity to join in various ensembles that run here at the College.

Help RequIReDfOR gCse sTuDeNTs

After the GCSE students have completed their performing and composing tasks, they are given a listening examination and asked a variety of questions based on given areas of study. Over the next few weeks, students are going to be taught how to do Irish Jigs, Waltzes and Tangos. Is there anyone out there who could lead sessions in Salsa, Line Dancing, Bhangra or Disco? If so, please contact Mr Moffat. You would need to have the music and be able to demonstrate some of the moves for the class to follow. We are hoping that a more active approach to listening may help them with their final exams.

NaTIONal MaTHs OlyMpIaD

The UKMT have set up a new Maths competition aimed at girls in Years 11, 12 and 13 who enjoy trying to solve challenging maths problems. Three of our Year 11 girls rose to that challenge, Megan Scott, Hollie Marriott and Lucy Wright. They sat a gruelling two and half hour paper whose mathematical content was A Level and beyond. There were only 5 questions in the paper and the guidelines stated that complete solutions to two of the questions would be impressive. The girls’ papers have been submitted for marking and the results will determine whether they are chosen to represent the UK in a European Maths Olympiad in February. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for them, though the mere fact they chose to participate says a lot about them!

DRaMaTIC NeWs

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NaTIONal pOeTRy DayBy Mrs Crossley

Thursday 3rd October was National Poetry Day! Across the school poetry was read and used as the basis of lessons. Voice recognition software was used in IT which picked up the rhythm of the voice belonging to the person reciting the poem and played it back as a form of music. In Music, poems were used as lyrics for composition. RE explored how spirituality is expressed through poetry, MFL translated some poetry and used it as the foundation for grammar work and in Drama, spooky poems helped create the atmosphere for some haunted house scenes.

As you would expect, things were happening all over the English department. Lots of different styles of poetry were being used, both as starter activities and as the foundation of lessons. Year nines were linking love poetry with ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and year eights were reading war poems in conjunction with ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. 7SLB took part in Poetry Speed Dating in the library with Mrs Crossley. Students had two minutes to read a poem and decide whether they would like to read more by that poet before moving on to the next poem.

All in all, a highly successful day with some of the work produced going on display!

faNfaRe fOROakHaM COuRT

The traditional sitting of the Crown Court at Oakham Castle was celebrated by a fanfare played by pupils from Uppingham Community College, with Leighfield Primary School with members of the Uppingham Jazz & Soul Band.

Following ancient tradition, The High Sheriff Trish Ruddle invited the musicians to play fanfares for the arrival of The Honourable Mr Justice Flaux at Oakham Castle. The music was played first at a service at All Saints Church and then outside Oakham Castle as the procession arrived from the Church. The musicians, the youngest aged nine, played The High Sherriff’s Fanfare, (written by Peter Lawson, High Sherriff of Rutland

2011), Fanfare for the University of Rochester, New York and Fanfare & Chorale on trumpets, trombone and drums.The High Sheriff said: “I was really thrilled and very grateful to Uppingham Community College, who played a key role in the success of the day.”

“The High Sheriff’s Fanfare was marvellous as we walked into Church, very poignant for the occasion. One of my favourite memories of the day was my last glance at the Altar, all the group were playing their heart out with another stirring fanfare.”

Tony Gray, one of the trumpeters and a governor at UCC, said: “It was a great experience for all the musicians, especially the youngest. We are proud to have once again played our part in such an important day in Rutland’s calendar.”

yeaR 8 TRIp TO BlaCk COuNTRy MuseuM

Bt Mrs kirsty rodgers, head of history

Year 8 History students travelled through time in June when they visited the Black Country Museum to witness life in England during the Industrial Revolution. Students had studied how Britain changed between 1750 and 1900 in their History lessons and this trip re-enforced their learning from earlier in the year when they had seen the Horrible Histories production of Vile Victorians.

As they stepped into this living museum, students were transported into an earlier age where guides, dressed in traditional clothes of the era, showed students around the reconstructed town. The Black Country Museum is remarkable in so much that an original, local town was taken down brick by brick and re-located at the site in Dudley in order to preserve life of the Industrial Age. Students were first taken to the Victorian school where they took part in a lesson from the Victorian era. All students’ nails were checked before they sat down and when seated they had to ensure their backs were straight and no slouching was allowed. Students chanted their times tables and had to write their name on slates. This was particularly hard for the “left handers” in the group as they were forced to write with their right hand with their left behind their back, emulating what would have happened in the Victorian classroom.Next students witnessed what all said was their most favourite part of the whole trip – the journey down the mine. This is a “walk in” mine and nothing prepared students for the cramped spaces and the darkness that greeted them. Guides explained the work both children and men were expected to do

whilst down the mine and all students couldn’t believe the hours children were expected to work coupled with the difficult and gruelling working conditions. Many had remembered their lessons and the depiction of working in a mine during the Horrible Histories production but all said they had a greater empathy due to being down an actual mine and experiencing an element of the work for themselves.

A sunny day made the Black Country experience even more effective as students could walk around the streets, visiting the sweet shop, experience the traditional fair ground, visit the hardware store, the grocer’s store, witness the chain maker making iron chains of all sizes and every time be told stories by the guides about the history of the shop and/or industry.

This was an excellent trip to end what has been another successful year for Year 8 historians. It is always with pride when members of the Black Country Museum tell UCC staff that they are always very pleased to welcome UCC students as they have the reputation of

being well-behaved, engaged and interested in what is one of Britain’s greatest living museums. Well done Year 8!

aT COuRTBy saM thoMPson, Catherine thorPe,

PhoeBe lawton & rhys hill

On Friday 4th October we went to Oakham Castle to hear three court hearings but unfortunately one of the three people on trial went to the wrong location. We started the day by getting picked up by a parent governor from school. Once we arrived we quickly walked to Oakham Castle where we waited for the procession to arrive. Once the procession had arrived and had been greeted by the fanfare, the court was ready to begin.

The first case was a man in his early 30s that pleaded guilty to stealing £32,700 from his work place. He had no previous convictions but had a serious gambling and drug addiction. After the two barristers had spoken he was sentenced to 18 months, with 9 months in custody. He was handcuffed, taken away and the second case was brought in.

The second trial featured a man in his early 20s who had stolen from family members and who had a previous conviction of armed robbery. The second trial commenced with the defendants lawyer appealing for him saying that he suffered from depression. However nearing the end the judge had already made his decision. He was sentenced to 20 months, with 10 months imprisonment. He waved goodbye to his partner then was handcuffed to be taken to prison. After the two court cases, we were lucky enough to have a question and answer session with the judge himself. He explained law is a great profession to go into and would recommend it to anyone.

We would like to thank Mrs Turner and Mrs Allen for this opportunity.

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Check out our Gifted and Talented Articles on the college website. From Forensic Pathology to Ted Baker, Archaeology to Robotics, Cookery to Nanotechnoloy and Space!

www.uppinghamcollege.org.uk

Perhaps it was the promise of some gory pictures and body parts in jars, but there was a mammoth turn out for the first Cookie Club of the year on September 18th. Dr Louisa Dunk, a Histopathologist from Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, talked us through the different types of pathologists, including forensic pathologists. We looked at some crime scenes and injuries and made some assessments of how these may have been caused – was it an entry or exit wound? Was it caused by a knife or ballistics?

Then, a look at the tantalising collection of specimens in jars – bits from real bodies! The task – what was the body part, and what had been the cause of death? Charming stuff for a warm Wednesday afternoon...

My ‘favourite’ was the radiologist’s finger –damaged by years of lining up X-Rays before the harmful effects were known.

It was all rounded off with a Pathology Quiz and some large chocolate bars for the winners! Thanks to Louisa for a great workshop.

OlyMpIaN MONTH

During November we are delighted to have three Olympians visiting the College as part of our Sky Living for Sport and Sporting Champions projects.

Tuesday 12th November‘sam Ruddock Visit’

Our first visit will be by Paralympic Athlete Sam Ruddock. In 2012 with just five months of athletics experience, Sam was selected to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the T35 100m/200m.

On his new role as an Athlete Mentor, Sam comments: “London 2012 was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and I want to share with young people my own extraordinary journey. The Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative helps the young people involved to use sport to learn important life skills and to overcome challenges they may face.”

friday 15th November‘Bryan steel Visit’

In his role as a Sporting Champion, Bryan Steel, 2 times Olympic cycling medallist will be visiting Uppingham Community College on Friday 15th November 2013.

“I’m very much looking forward to visiting the Sportivate UCC Cycling Club project being run at Uppingham Community College in the Leicestershire and Rutland Sports Partnership area. It gives me a fantastic opportunity to inspire more young people and to give something back. Following on from the London 2012 Olympics/Paralympics, Sportivate helps create a lasting participation legacy and offers many young adults a brilliant opportunity to experience a wide range of sports and continue their involvement in a particular sport.”

Monday 25th November‘anthony Clark Visit’

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spORTINg NeWs

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Former GB Badminton International and Olympian Anthony Clark will return to the College for his third visit in November as part of the Sky Sports Living for Sport Programme. Anthony will be overseeing the first UCC Badminton Championships on the afternoon of the 25th with competitions for boys and girls in all 5 year groups. Any students who would like to enter this tournament please register with Mr Lewin.

email: [email protected]

CROss COuNTRy TeaMs

The College has entered teams into the Leicestershire and Rutland Schools Cross Country League this season. On Saturday 28th September thirteen students from UCC attended the Rutland Water Cross Country at Sykes Lane. The top finishers on the day were Teddy Wilson in 10th place in the junior boys race and Alice Freeman who finished 12th in the year 7 girl’s race.

More runners are needed for the following races:

County SChoolS RelayS – SatuRday 12th •oCtobeR at thomaS eStley CCleague RaCe 3 – SatuRday 16th novembeR at •lutteRwoRth College.

Please see Mr Lewin if you would like to run in these races as we will be taking a minibus over to both races.

NeW luNCHTIMe JuDO CluB

The College has joined Vale Judo Club this term to set up a new lunchtime Judo Club. Sportivate funding has been secured that will allow 20 students aged 11-16 years (boys and girls) to participate in an 8 week course. The course will be a mixture of Judo & Self Defence and at the end of the 8 weeks students will have been prepared for their

first judo grading. The sessions take place at lunchtime on Thursdays in the sports hall. Any student wishing to secure one of the 20 FREE places on the course please see Mr Lewin for full details.

upCOMINg spORTsfIxTuRes auTuMN 2

(fixtures taBle Below)

additional eventS in autumn 2:

yeaR 9 County Cup netball •touRnament at leiCeSteR gRammaR SChool - thuRSday 21St novembeR

aRCheRy taSteR SeSSion 2.00pm •-3.30pm - FRiday 8th novembeR

leiCeSteR tigeRS tRip v london iRiSh - •SatuRday 23Rd novembeR leiCeSteR City tRip v millwall - •SatuRday 30th novembeR

bRitiSh baSketball Cup Final tRip – •biRmingham nia Sunday 12th JanuaRy

fOOTBall leaDeRs

Eighteen students from Uppingham Community College and CBEC recently completed the Football Association Junior Football Leaders Award. These students gave up their Saturday to attend the full day course where they learnt how to assist in the leading of football activities, refereeing , how to work with a team and an introduction to different competition formats. These students are now helping to deliver the Rutland & Melton Primary Schools Football Leagues on Tuesday nights. Pictured are the Football Leaders with course tutor John Heathcote.

NeTBall, fOOTBall& RugBy fIxTuRes

This half term has seen the College play over 50 fixtures in Netball, Football and Rugby. This is as part of the Melton and Rutland Varsity Cup as well as English Schools FA Cup Competitions and the Rugby Natwest Cup. The stand out performances so far have been from our Year 10 and 11 Netball teams who are unbeaten in their league games. The Year 9 football team has made it through to the third round of the ESFA Cup which is the furthest a UCC team has gone in this particular cup. The Year 8 Rugby Team attended the County Cup tournament losing to Ratcliffe College in the final. The Year 10 Rugby team had a particularly hard first round tie losing against Loughborough Grammar in the Natwest Cup and now go into the plate Competition.

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