Dropping off student belongings

We have had an increasing number of parents dropping off PE kits and other required items throughout the school day. Students are asked to check they are bringing everything they need for the day as office staff cannot always be available to receive and distribute forgotten items. 

February Diversity Display

We have another packed display board for students to take a look at this month, including LGBTQ+ History Month, the Lunar New Year and the history of Valentine's Day, plus some festivals coming up in the Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist religions. 

Year 10 Project Polyglot

Last week 30 French and Spanish GCSE students visited local primary schools Whitehill, Wilshere Dacre and William Ransom to give French and Spanish lessons.

The lessons were the culmination of weeks of hard work and collaboration by our students during Wednesday lunchtimes. They were excellently put together with plenty of interesting content and activities. The students far exceeded expectations, presenting confidently and speaking so well in the foreign language. The primary pupils were incredibly engaged and we have heard from many sources how much they enjoyed the sessions!

The MFL department are delighted with this achievement and are already looking forward to the second round of lessons later this year!

Attention all swimmer parents

If your swimmer is interested in applying for the district swim team this year, please ensure you read the attached information. Applications are due through a Google Form (link is found on the form) by 9am on Wednesday 7 February. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Froud.

Geriatrics & Recovery

Sunday 4 February, 8.30am - 5pm

Years 10 - 13

The NHS Virtual Allied Healthcare Work Experience offers a unique opportunity for aspiring healthcare professionals. Coming up in February, a rare occasion for students to hear from an exceptional guest speaker, Sarah Trevannah, a seasoned nurse with a wealth of experiences, stories and insights to share.

Sarah provides invaluable guidance to help future professionals embark on their dream healthcare careers. Through Sarah’s talk, students will gain an up-close look at the healthcare industry, and in the LIVE virtual work experience, they will delve into diverse roles within healthcare, and take a closer look at patient care by following the journeys of two patients from incident through to treatment.

The NHS Allied Healthcare Work Experience is the largest programme for aspiring healthcare professionals, having successfully invited 12,000+ students to participate in its programme last year - many of whom have gone on to study:

• Nursing
• Midwifery
• Paramedicine
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Dietetics
• Radiography
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Pharmacy

Once registered, students will receive access to their virtual work experience portals. Better yet, every complete session comes with a Work Experience Certificate, and for those who complete the full 6-month programme, there's a Highly Commended Reference – a golden ticket for their apprenticeship and UCAS applications.

Students can register at any time throughout the 6-month programme using the link below. Early booking is recommended to gain as much out of this programme as possible.

Places are £10 a session to cover administrative and technological costs, or £50 for the full 6 months:
https://alliedhealthmentor.org/nhs-healthcare-careers-virtual-work-experience/
 

National Apprenticeship Week
5 - 11 February

Amazing Apprenticeships has a wealth of information, including monthly parent newsletters. Also take a look at their one-sheet: Interested in Apprenticeships - What Now? 

Think Cambridge is a three-week-long series of webinars to inspire Years 11 and 12 students to apply to Cambridge. Running from January to February 2024, each session is hosted virtually and consists of a presentation, comment from student ambassadors and additional visual elements.

• Week One: Learn about student life at Cambridge
• Week Two: Hear from lecturers and admissions tutors about courses and learning at Cambridge
• Week Three: Receive advice about next steps and the application process

Medic Mentor's virtual work experiences provide students with valuable insights and opportunities that may be otherwise difficult to access. Developed in collaboration with Birmingham University Hospitals Trust, this virtual work experience has proven to be transformative for thousands of secondary school students over the past year. It goes beyond being just an alternative to in-person shadowing; it is a crucial step in preparing students for their upcoming physical placements.

Medic Mentor have designed a 6-month medical e-learning work experience programme, focusing on one specialism each month, allowing students to set their own pace of learning. From structured teaching to direct interaction with doctors and healthcare professionals, the programme ensures students not only observe procedures but also gain a broader understanding of roles within the medical field.

Covering everything from ethics to procedures and broader team roles, this virtual work experience provides an overview of students' desired career paths and the skills that medical professionals are looking for, thereby enhancing their UCAS applications.

Find out more and apply

Saturday 3 February / Sunday 4 February

All aspiring doctors in Years 10 - 12  are invited to register

These conferences offer tailored advice for applying to study Medicine, covering a range of crucial topics:

- Tactically choosing universities
- Personal statements
- UCAT
- Medical school interview skills
- Medical leadership programmes
- Awards programmes
- Extracurricular activities
- Work experience
- Building a CV
- Applying for scholarships

 

National Apprenticeship Week, 5 - 11 Feb

Over 330,000 young people started an apprenticeship last year, with 6% more higher apprenticeships than the year before.

• Unifrog's Apprenticeship tool is the most comprehensive database of apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships in the UK.
• Students and parents are invited to join Unifrog's virtual Apprenticeship Fair (7 Feb) to learn about apprenticeships and network with top employers including the BBC, NHS, Lloyds Banking Group, and British Army.

Sorting Out Family Arguments online group (6 weeks)

Wednesday 7 February - 20 March, 9.30am - 11.30am via MS Teams

Do you feel everything ends in an argument and you are constantly trying to keep the peace? Join our free online 6-week group to help improve family communication, reduce the reactions which lead to arguments and create a culture of teamwork in your family.

Getting On With Your Pre-Teen/Teenager online group (6 weeks)

Tuesday 6 February - 19 March, 9.30am – 11.30am via MS Teams

Is your teen feeling anxious or isolated? Are you concerned about their mental health and struggling to get help? Maybe you have an FFA/CIN/CP in place and need more support. Join our free 6-week online group to learn how parents can best emotionally support their teen and feel confident and prepared for whatever challenges might arise.

Dads Together online group (6 weeks)

Tuesday 6 February - 19 March, 7pm - 9pm via MS Teams

As a dad do you feel you are constantly nagging or shouting at your child to get what you need? Are you tired of losing your cool and want a calmer house? Join our free online 6- week group to learn how you can change the way you communicate with your child, respond better and feel more in control.

Anxiety Around ADHD online workshop

Wednesday 28 February 7pm – 9pm via MS Teams

This 2- hour workshop is for parents and carers who suspect or have received a recent diagnosis that their child has ADHD. The workshop helps parents/carers understand what ADHD is, why it makes sense for a child to be anxious if they have ADHD, strategies to help support you and your child, plus signposting to other support that is available.

Reducing Conflict online workshops

Thursday 14 March 9.30am – 11.30am AND
Wednesday 20 March 7pm – 9pm via MS Teams

Conflicts are a regular occurrence within families. It’s often a normal part of everyday life. However, conflict that is frequent, intense and poorly resolved has a significant negative impact on children’s mental health and long-term life chances. This 2-hour workshop explores different types of conflict between couples and families. It will provide support in understanding the causes and impact of parental and family conflict on children and gives practical steps and strategies that parents can take to help improve their family relationships.

Book for any of these courses/workshops here

DSPL is a Hertfordshire-wide partnership approach in which parents/carers, school staff, local authority officers and other agency staff work together as part of an Area Group, to ensure that there is a range of provision and support services available in their local community that:

• Meets the needs of children and young people (aged 0-25) with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), as close to home as possible.

• Improves outcomes for wellbeing and attainment

• Widens choice for children and parents/carers

• Removes barriers to learning

• Uses resources more effectively

More info including parent workshops