I am thrilled to write today to celebrate an exceptional middle and upper school term. Our dedicated teachers take immense pride in our pupils’ remarkable achievements. Their unwavering determination and outstanding growth in both academic and personal facets have indeed been commendable.
Our teaching and learning experiences have been outstanding. We provide our pupils with many opportunities to develop diverse skills and immerse themselves in enriching experiences to broaden their understanding, deepen their knowledge, and ignite new passions. The Senior Management Team conducts learning walks throughout the school grounds, and we are consistently impressed by the depth of knowledge and engagement displayed by our pupils.
This term, we welcomed Mr Abbott and Mr Leigh to our esteemed teaching staff, and we take immense pride in their remarkable impact on our school community.
We also welcomed our new Year 7 in September. Their transition has been smooth, and they have embraced the exciting opportunities that have come their way with enthusiasm and resilience. One of the highlights of this term was the Year 7 residential trip to Willersley Castle. It was an unforgettable experience for our students. They had the chance to participate in team-building activities and create lasting memories with their peers. This trip allowed our students to bond with each other and helped them develop essential life skills.
Furthermore, the Year 7s have thoroughly enjoyed educational visits to The Titanic Museum and Chill Factore. These experiences have enriched their learning and allowed them to connect their classroom knowledge with the real world. They were engaged and curious, asking insightful questions and interacting with the exhibits, showing a genuine thirst for knowledge. It’s immensely pleasing to see how our Year 7s have integrated into the school, forming friendships and displaying a great eagerness to learn. As we approach the festive season, let’s celebrate the impressive start our Year 7 students have made to their Tower College journey.
We look forward to witnessing their continued achievements and growth in the upcoming years.
Throughout the term, we organized various extraordinary school trips across different departments. I am writing to express my gratitude to our devoted staff members for their relentless efforts in making these experiences possible. Witnessing our pupils relish new experiences and gain profound insights from their classroom learning has been incredibly rewarding.
We were extremely fortunate to have led a group of pupils on an awe-inspiring residential trip to Iceland. This expedition was extraordinary, allowing us to witness various breathtaking natural wonders. It was a delight to illustrate key geographical features to our pupils in a real-world context. We now look forward to the 2024 trips to Paris and Barcelona and the 2024 ski trip to Italy, for which there are still available places!
Pupils in Middle and Upper School have actively participated in Forest School lessons across this term under the guidance of Mr Devine. The Forest School initiative has allowed pupils to acquire new skills, contributing to their holistic development. Through shelter building and fostering a deep appreciation for the natural world, pupils learn essential skills such as teamwork, collaboration, and effective communication. In today’s ever-changing world, developing these skills is more crucial than ever, and the Forest School provides yet another enriching opportunity for our pupils.
Mr. Jack has been dedicated to leading the Model United Nations (MUN) extra-curricular activity, providing pupils with an enriching and insightful experience. Our pupils admirably represented the school at the MUN, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements. Miss Stedman has recently initiated the launch of our Towering Above Programme. Further details about this exciting initiative will be released in the New Year. Additionally, a group of Year 10 pupils had the opportunity to visit Cronton College to partake in a Higher Achievers Afternoon. Witnessing our pupils actively participating and pushing their boundaries was genuinely inspiring.
Maths
Our upper and middle school pupils have had a successful term in maths. We welcomed Mr Abbott to the maths team in September; he settled in well. We have been able to start targeted intervention sessions so that appropriate pupils have received additional support. Practice is essential for success in maths. We have several resources available for pupils to use. TTrockstars is excellent for times tables, Eedi has a chatbot style for spotting and resolving misconceptions, and Mathswatch has helpful video clips with instructions and examples for each topic as well as interactive and worksheet-style questions.
Top of the mathswatch leader boards in each maths class for this term are:
The highest-scoring pupil over the term is Jiiva in year 7, with an incredible 5286 points from answering assignments and independent learning questions. Well done, Jiiva!
Before the end of term, Year 11 pupils have been given revision information for maths to help them prepare for their mocks. They also have a revision schedule timetable if they need support structuring their time. They can access the AQA Collins textbook online via Collins Connect (https://connect.collins.co.uk/school/portal.aspx). They can use Corbett maths videos and worksheets (https://corbettmaths.com/contents/) as well as Mathswatch videos and interactive questions (https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk/) to revisit and work through topics where necessary to help them prepare thoroughly for the mock exams.
Years 7 to 10 have been given revision lists on Epraise and a revision exercise set on Mathswatch. Pupils can work through the exercise to help them structure their revision and then use the videos and interactive questions to revisit any topics that require further practice.
In the new year, the GCSE maths booster will continue on a Wednesday from 8 am to 8.45 am for year 11 pupils. In addition, maths clinics will continue for all pupils in years 7 to 11, where they can drop in to receive some individual support. This can be revisiting topics from earlier in the year or gaining extra help with classwork. Monday lunchtime is for years 7, 8 and 9, and Tuesday lunchtime is for years 10 and 11.
We are delighted to announce the expansion of our prefect system to include pupils in Year 9. Pupil leadership is a fundamental aspect of our school ethos, and being a prefect presents an excellent opportunity for pupils to serve as role models within the school community. We anticipate announcing the new prefects in January and are confident they will excel.
Looking ahead to the new term, it is essential to note that assessments will occur in January. I encourage you to support your child at home with their revision. Kindly refer to our revision video below for guidance. These assessments allow pupils to identify their strengths and areas for further development.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to extend warm wishes for a joyous Christmas to all our pupils and parents. We eagerly await welcoming everyone back in the new year.
Mr Taylor and Mr Glover