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NCHS The Science College NEWSletter

AUTUMN TERM 2013

Four of our Year 9 boys: Aiden Oldfield, James and Lucas Wright, and

Taylor Stolz, recently had their 15 minutes of fame when they achieved

the front page of the Evening Sentinel on 28.11.13 and were interviewed

live on Radio Stoke on 29th.

The boys had received a commendation from Staffordshire Police and

were honoured for their „quick thinking and positive action‟ during the

summer holidays when they helped to save a woman who was threatening

to jump from a bridge in Silverdale.

After spotting the woman dangerously close to the edge of the bridge the

boys understood they needed to take immediate action. Lucas called for

the police whilst the others talked to her asking simple questions and

trying to distract her. Aiden then ran to meet the police at the nearest road

junction. Taylor confirmed that all four stayed calm throughout the ordeal,

despite the woman not apparently responding to their efforts.

Chief Superintendent Juliet Prince personally thanked the boys, stating

“Due to the positive action and quick-thinking of Lucas, Jamie, Aiden and

Taylor, the woman‟s life was saved and she was taken to hospital. Had

they not taken the positive action they did, the outcome could have been

very different”.

Here at NCHS both the staff and other pupils are very proud to have these

boys as part of our community, setting such a compassionate and sensible

example for us to aspire to.

Well done boys, we are all proud of you! - Jill Adamson

|| Student Absence Line: 01782 667660 || Tel: 01782 667650 || Fax: 01782 667667 || E-mail: office.nchs@snfederation.co.uk || www.nchs.org.uk ||

NCHS students save a life. P

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Inside This Issue

Head’s Report….…..2

Coca-Cola Challenge..…….3

Class Acts....…...4

Message from the Federation…......5

Monkeys and Marines.……..7

Christmas Puzzle..…….8

INTRODUCING TWITTER

Jill Adamson and the senior leadership team are tweeting bite sized snippets of information. Link in via the website or on your mobile, and keep up to date with the latest goings on at @NCHS_ScienceCol

USING PARENTMAIL

For some months now we have

been sending announcements

and letters via email as well as

paper copies taken home by the children.

So if you want to make sure you are getting

all the relevant information from school,

please sign up to Parentmail.

Please contact Mrs Gregory for a registration

form.

Contact: office.nchs@snfederation.co.uk

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As we look towards the new year I want to take the opportunity to share with you the school’s vision for the future, our aim and some of our goals as we strive to become outstanding. The phrase ‘Aiming Higher Together’ is now a common feature of the South Newcastle Federation. You will see it on our letters, our mini buses as well as it being an intrinsic part of learning within the school. The newly formed Governing Body have also thought long and hard in producing the following mission statement which is at the heart of all we do:

From this NCHS produces an operational plan each year which

identifies priorities for the school. These are reported on and judged every 6 weeks against Ofsted criteria. At the centre of this plan is how each objective impacts on student learning and how every child will benefit both now and in their future lives. ● At NCHS we are focusing on achievement to support the students meet their targets in every year. We have put a team in place to support learning and teaching and further develop independent

and collaborative learning within the classroom. ● We are ensuring that students are recognised more often and rewarded for their positive attitudes towards learning, the effort they put into their studies both at school and at home, the extra-curricular activities they take part in, as well as their academic achievement. To this end we have consulted with students regarding how they would like to be rewarded at both key stages and what they would like to receive as rewards. ● We continue to support literacy across the school. This was an action point from our last Ofsted inspection and work has been on going in this area. Mrs Haley has been seconded to the Senior Team to lead this and we are now seeing students’ literacy levels improving, especially with regards reading and the higher level sk i l l s o f understand ing and interpreting text across all subjects in order to respond to exam questioning. ● With current changes to the National Curriculum at KS3 and exam changes at KS4 senior and middle managers are looking carefully at a bespoke curriculum for each year

group, tailoring subject choices and content to the needs of the students. A lot of time is being spent looking at each year group and in particular for the current year 9 as they select options and move into KS4 next year. ● Finally we are continuing to re-model the school buildings to further improve the learning environment. September saw the opening of our new ‘Learning Resource Centre’ in the Library which has given pupils a 21 s t Century resource which combines a library with 30 computer stations. This is now widely used in lessons and before school, break and lunch times as well as after school. Mike Heelis and Debra Toft represent you as parents and carers on our governing body. I am sure they would be happy to talk to you if you would like a parent perspective on any of our work. The final cog in the wheel to help school become outstanding is you as parents and carers. We want to work with you more, we value your support and input from a parental and community angle. A focus for us all at this time is how we can support your children more in their home learning. We currently have a homework club each night at school but are aware that not all students work well independently at home. If you have any thoughts on how we could work together to make this a more fulfilling and beneficial experience for your children please let us know. I hope you enjoy the festive season and look forward to the new year.

Jill Adamson

Headteacher

Head’s Report

“Our schools provide

students and staff with

opportunities to achieve their

potential by raising standards

and developing learning skills

as we seek to add value in all

we do. We will support this

process by providing an

enriching curriculum

combined with a safe and

progressive learning

environment.”

I hope you will take the time to

read our latest newsletter and

see just how busy and

productive we have all been

over this autumn term, and

what talented pupils we have

at NCHS.

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Coca-Cola Real Business Challenge

Year 10 Business Studies pupils from both NCHS and Clayton competed this term in the Coca-Cola Real Business Challenge. There was tough competition between the teams for the opportunity to take part in the West

Midlands Regional Final in February 2014.

The pupils were challenged to develop a new healthy drink for Coca-Cola which would run as a social enterprise supporting a local charity. They had to develop their brand, identify and cost their new enterprise, to

ensure both profitability and sustainability.

All Business Studies pupils at South Newcastle Federation were able to take part in the challenge during their normal lesson as the enterprise challenge also fits into the

content of the GCSE course.

Well done to all the Business Studies pupils who took part, this year's presentations were outstanding and the efforts from all pupils

are to be commended.

The winning team developed a new soft

drink called "Coca-Berry " (pictured above).

Congratulations to Amy Wild, Fran Durber, Louis Thomas and Dan Davies. Outstanding presenters who have been invited to join the winning team are: Paz Jawardin, Cain Davies, Bailey Wright, Anna Leonard-Dunn,

(Tyler Dimond – First Reserve).

Mrs Marks

Building for

their Future This term year 11 construction group have been working on a number of plumbing tasks including a radiator system and a sink unit. They have planned their projects, worked to a correct specification and used the correct PPE when conducting practical tasks. The group have also produced a number of theory tasks and presentations with evidence of their practical work.

The year 10 group have been learning about manual handling and have been using a variety of lifting techniques with and without lifting aids. They have produced a portfolio on manual handling including photographic evidence of their work.

The year 10‟s have also been learning about setting out and producing footings in preparation for their bricklaying task and setting out and laying a crazy paving path.

Mr Gregory

So far this year our Year 8,9,10 and

11 girls have participated in the

Newcastle District Netball League.

Our Year 7 team will be taking part

in January.

Results

On 16th October our Year 11 & 10 Netball

team had a brilliant match against University

Academy Kidsgrove and won 6-4. The

squad were as follows:

Nakita Emmens Georgia Dunn

Alyshia Elms Jess Rowley

Hollie Griffin Tammy Lawrence

Rebecca Hughes Courtney Naylor

On 20th November our year 9 team played

Chesterton Community Sports College and

fought really hard for a 5-4 victory. The

squad were as follows:

Jordina Hancock Morgan Denson

Alexis Everill Harley Everill

Helena Lawrence Mandie Davis

Nicole Langson Melanie Owen

On 4th December our Year 8 team played

their first match of the season against

Wolstanton. After a brilliant performance

from all the girls they came away with an

amazing 12-2 win! The squad were as

follows:

Molly Godding

Amelia Birks

Chloe Derrett

Anna Jones

Lois Hancocks

Abbie-Rose Powner

Chloe Carson

Sian-Gibson Poole

Sophie Hammersley

Meisha Morris

Sophie Pritchard

Ms Lucas

NCHS Netball

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Silver Birch planting at Pool Dam Parkway, sponsored by Brookes Printers

Tree Planting at Poole Dam It is our ambition throughout NCHS that every child reaches their full potential in school, and can make a successful transition to adulthood and the world of further education, training or work.

One of our many ways to help promote and improve the support they need is by running the Nurture Group on a daily basis and involving students as much as possible with outside run agencies.

Currently the group is involved with the ECO for schools programme run by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council which encourages the students to become hands-on with events such as maintenance of park areas, planting of trees and bulbs around the community.

In the New Year the students will be developing an outside ECO classroom which will involve a seating area, wild flower garden and a „Bugingham Palace‟ for wildlife. This area will be for all students to make use of during the summer months.

Caroline Begley

Assistant SENco/Nurture Manager

An exciting and unusual major project has been running this term involving the entire top set of Year 7, our creative arts department, professional artists and Keele University. Twenty six pupils have been learning to play brass and wind instruments which have been supplied by Yamaha UK on free loan. Many of the pupils have never played before and it's given them a fun way to study music; playing the trombone, trumpet, flute, clarinet, euphonium, tuba and saxophone.

They began by learning a few notes, but will work up to producing their own compositions – and that's where the link-up with Keele will come into its own. Using recently discovered archive materials from the Sneyd family, who used to own Keele Hall, a stunning new musical adaptation will be produced for the young students to premiere in March at Keele Hall as part of the latest programme of events for Keele Concerts Society. Along with manuscripts, former Keele music

l e c t u r e r J o h n Simmonds found some verse written by Charlotte Sneyd in the 19th century which had been set to music and probably performed in the Sneyd’s drawing room. The Sneyd family were wealthy landowners who can be traced back to the 13th century in North

Staffordshire. Alongside their ancestral home of Keele Hall, they owned swathes of neighbouring land, including the site now occupied by NCHS The Science College. The school itself used to be called Sneyd High and so pupils will be uncovering a slice of history as well as exploring their musical talents. NCHS pupils are now looking forward to taking an element of the original work and adapting it. As well as playing the instruments from their class band, they could be using music software on iPads to fuse the old with the new. There will also be 4D art projections on stage. To help prepare for this performance, pupils are also working with artists from a London based creative group called Sound Collective and the class band is tutored by a specialist music teacher from Entrust. Funding has come from a variety of sources, including the Keele Key Fund, which is money donated by the university's alumni.

Eddie Kerr Imogen Heelis, Bethan Hill and William Powner

Photo courtesy of: The Sentinel, Clare Jennings

Class Band discovers Sneyd Musical History

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Primary partnerships

The two schools continue to work with

our primary partners on many different

activities. This term has seen the

federation engage in areas such as

Science, Languages and Technology.

In each case we work with the young

people in our partner primaries to

enhance and extend their learning

opportunities. We are lucky to have

highly qualified staff in these areas that

allow us to provide expertise and

experiences that build on the primary

schools curriculum.

We have worked with all our partners in

recent months and it is delightful to see

so many young people adopt such

positive attitudes to their studies.

Activities such as a French boutique,

science master-classes

for year 6 looking at

chromatography and

the Great Clayton Bake

Off, not only enthuse

pupils but add variety to

their education. All this would not be

possible without the great support and

co-operation we get from our primary

partners who fully support these

enrichments.

Summer Schools

The summer holidays saw the federation

offer a two week Summer School.

Designed to support students in the key

subjects; English, Maths and Science,

we had over 60 young people attend

sessions. Learning each day was

supplemented by the activities such as

baking, swimming and trips to Iron-

bridge and Madame Tussauds in

Blackpool. Each week ended with a

presentat ion to parents and a

celebration of what the pupils had learnt.

It was a great success due to the

excellent efforts of the students and the

hard work of the staff.

Examination Results

This summer also saw both schools

achieve excellent examination results.

NCHS results for 5+ A*-C including

English and Maths rose by 10% to 59%

(best ever), while Clayton Hall’s

remained high (and the second best

ever) at 72%.

Investment in Teacher Training

A key reason for this improvement has

been the significant up-skilling of our

teachers through a teacher development

programme called TEEP. All staff in

both schools enjoyed their Level 1

training in April, while 13 of these went

on to Level 2 training on November 18th

and 19th. This programme has led to a

massive improvement in the quality of

teaching in lessons and encourages

staff to be more creative and flexible.

Most important though, it encourages to

staff to plan lessons around the pupils’

learning.

Both schools have fully embraced this

more student-focussed approach and

pupils have responded positively.

Support provided by the 13 level 2 staff

has been arranged across the two

schools, allowing experience and skills

to be shared between NCHS and

Clayton. It is a direct benefit of working

collaboratively as two schools in one

federation.

New Governing Body

Finally the new governing body was

constituted in September. Both schools

are now foundation schools linked in a

Trust with NULC, Keele University and

Aspire Housing. In our first real meeting

of the Trust Board we spent a great deal

of time discussing how this arrangement

can improve your child’s education and

opportunities over the next few years.

When our plans are more fully

developed I will, of course, keep you

informed. It really is a positive

development in the provision we can

deliver for your child in the next 5 years.

I would also like to wish you all a Happy

Christmas and a fantastic New Year.

Best Wishes - Mark Heuston

Message from the Federation Executive Head As the autumn term draws to a close I’d like to take this opportunity to up date you on the work of the federation.

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At both our NCHS and Clayton Hall sites we offer a wide range of sports & social facilities that

are available for hire almost all year round.

The facilities that we have at both schools include: astro turf pitches,

sports halls, school hall and classrooms.

In addition to this at NCHS there is also a 25 metre swimming pool

and a fitness suite.

We have a few vacant time slots at both schools so if you would be

interested in using our facilities in the future please contact:

Fred Austin at NCHS 01782 667658

or Lorraine Walker at Clayton Hall

01782 297547

And if you’re thinking about your New Year resolutions, don’t forget

the regular classes and activities at NCHS Community Sports

Facility: Aqua Fitness Street Dance

Gymnastics Zumba Fitness classes

Football Coaching

Ring or email for further information communitynchs@snfederation.co.uk

01782 667658

Talented cricketer Liam Banks, a Year 10 pupil at NCHS, has won a 3 year contract with Warwickshire Academy, at only 14 years of age.

His achievements so far include representing the midlands last summer at Bunbury Festival, and travelling to Barbados at the start of 2013 where he scored back-to-back 100s. In September Liam scored 1st place in batting on the England Development

Programme.

Liam is now playing for Warwickshire in both the under 17s and under 19s, having started his cricketing career aged 5 at Silverdale juniors and progressing to his current Hem Heath first team. His ambition is to play for Warwickshire First Team, and to

help England win the Ashes back!

First Class Cricketer

Do the Shake! Key Stage 3 pupils have been winning iPod Shuffles through drinking Viva Milk drinks at school. As part of a scheme to promote healthy choices we have been offering these flavoured milk drinks with the competition running until the end of this term. Every time a student buys one and registers it online they are entered into a competition to win one of the daily iPod Shuffles.

So far we have had several winners and the success and popularity of this promotion has led to the school being chosen as „school of the month‟ in the Viva Milk scheme, winning £400 which will be spent on a healthy meal of roast meat, vegetables, dessert and a milkshake for pupils in years 7,8,9.

Welcome to Our Community Facilities

+ =

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In preparation for their mock

controlled assessment Y10 Business

Studies pupils visited Chester Zoo

for a lesson from Zoo Staff in

Customer Service. And, it seems, to

carry out some customer research of

their own!

During the day pupils were given the

opportunity to meet the monkeys

and visit other animals. The top

favourites for the day were the baby

hippopotamus and baby giraffes.

The cross-federation trip was a great

success and resulted in high marks

for all pupils in their mock controlled

assessments - Well Done!

Mrs Marks

Business Studies Pupils Meet The Monkeys

„Routes into Languages‟ is a project that runs

every year at Keele University and aims to

advertise the importance of language learning in

higher education. This term, Year 8 pupils were

invited to take part in the project and visit Keele

University. The pupils involved were: Brooke

Jones, Sian Gibson-Poole, Greta Johnson,

Molly Godding and Carwyn Higginson.

As part of the project pupils and their parents

attended an evening seminar at Keele where

they learned about the importance of learning

languages.

The evening included talks from linguists from

all different backgrounds including university

students, teachers and even a design engineer

from Bentley. Pupils were interested to hear

about the experiences of these different people and

the opportunities language learning had given them.

The seminar ended with a “modern foreign languages

lesson” from keynotes speaker Stephen Fawkes.

Pupils and their parents were astonished by Fawkes‟

enthusiasm for languages and were surprised that

even they had learned words from 8 languages by the

end of his session. They even learned to sing the

theme song from High School Musical in Italian!!

All pupils and parents thoroughly enjoyed the evening and many came

into school singing the songs the next day! Many thanks to all the pupils

involved. I know they are all looking forward to their day trip in the spring

term to learn Russian and Japanese.

Routes into Languages Trip

Following our sponsored Boot Camp and

‘yomp’ around Blackpool earlier this year,

we finally collected a wonderful total of

£586.59 for the Royal Marines Charitable

Trust Fund. Mr Gregory presented the

cheque to the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle

and District Royal Marines Association in

October and received a letter of thanks

explaining that the fund is well on its way

to meeting their target of £6million by 28th

October 2014 - the Corps 350th Birthday.

Those RMA members who met our

students all commented how polite and

well behaved they were, and how much

their hard work and effort was appreciated.

After two successful years running these

challenges and raising much needed funds

for this worthy cause, we are looking

forward to a further boot camp to be held

over both sites on 15/16th July 2014, so we

should be getting into some serious

training soon!

Royal Marines Receive Donation from NCHS

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NCHS The Science College

Ostend Place

Newcastle-under-Lyme

Staffordshire

ST5 2QY

T: 01782 667650

F: 01782 667667

E: office.nchs@snfederation.co.uk

W: www.nchs.org.uk

Headteacher

Mrs Jill Adamson B Ed (Dist) NPQH

School Terms and Holiday Dates 2013 / 2014

Autumn Term 2013:

Staff: Monday 2 September – Friday 25 October (40 working days)

Pupils: Wednesday 4 September – Thursday 24 October (37 working days)

Staff: INSET - Friday 25 October

Holiday: Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November 5 days

Staff & Pupils: Monday 4 November – Friday 20 December (35 working days)

Holiday: Monday 23 December – Friday 3 January 10 days

Spring Term 2014:

Staff & Pupils: Monday 6 January – Friday 14 February (30 working days)

Holiday: Monday 17 February – Friday 21 February 5 days

Staff & Pupils: Monday 24 February – Thursday 10 April (34 working days)

Holiday: Friday 11 April – Friday 25 April 11 days

(Easter Sunday: Sunday 20 April)

Summer Term 2014:

Staff & Pupils: Monday 28 April – Friday 23 May (19 working days)

May Day Holiday: Monday 5 May

Holiday: Monday 26 May – Friday 30 May 5 days

Staff & Pupils: Monday 2 June – Friday 18 July (35 working days)

Holiday: Monday 21 July – Friday 29 August 30 days

Staff Total: 195 days

Pupil Total: 194 days (pupils are required to attend for 190 days)

Christmas Puzzle Thanks to Mr Mickleburgh no-one Needs to be out of practice with their maths during the Xmas holidays. Even Santa has had a go. See if you get the right answer!

According to the traditional song, on the first day of Christmas (25th December), my true love sent to me: A partridge in a pear tree …. On the second day of Christmas (26th

December), my true love sent to me THREE presents: Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree On the third day of Christmas (27th December and so on) my true love sent to me SIX presents: Three French hens Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree This carries on until the 12th day of Christmas, when my true love sends me: Twelve drummers drumming Eleven pipers piping Ten lords a-leaping Nine ladies dancing Eight maids a-milking Seven swans a-swimming Six geese a-laying Five gold rings Four calling birds Three French hens Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree

After the twelve days of Christmas are over, how many presents has my true love sent me altogether?

Answer: 364

ATTENDANCE IMPROVEMENTS

Well done to those students who have achieved 100% attendance so far. Whole school attendance continues to do well,

as the statistics show:

Sept-Dec 2012 …… 94.3%

Sept-Dec 2013 …... 94.3% Wouldn’t it be great if we could improve still further.

Good attendance means good results!

Student Absence Line Don’t forget—if your child is ill or going to be late due to an appointment, the number you need is

01782 667660 This line is available 24 hrs

a day—just listen to the short message and leave your child’s details and reason for their absence.

We do hope you like the new format and layout. Don’t forget this is YOUR newsletter, so if you have any comments, articles or information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at:

office.nchs@snfederation.co.uk