Ms Bingley – Easter Gala Winners Presentation
I hope you and your families are enjoying the Easter break.
Standing Still?
As we all know, if you’re not going forward, you’re going backwards. There is no such thing as standing still, and if we are to ensure that our children can compete in an ever-changing educational and employment landscape, we must be prepared to adapt. With this in mind, the governors and the SMT have been working on a school strategy to move the school forward and benefit our pupils. Some of the plans are now in play, and when you have read the newsletter, you’ll find that we are far from standing still!
When I received the seemingly endless newsletter submissions from staff, I was overwhelmed – not with the quantity but the quality. This quality fills me with pride in being part of something extraordinary that the pupils, the parents and the staff are creating. I am proud to be part of a school where:
- Our culture of excellence and innovation permeates every aspect of our school.
- Staff constantly strive to improve our curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and professional development.
- There is a strong sense of community and collaboration that binds us together as a school family.
- We value and respect each other’s differences and celebrate each other’s strengths.
- We support and encourage each other in times of challenge and celebrate each other’s successes.
Fee Restructure
On behalf of the governing body, I would like to inform you of the tuition fee restructuring due to the governors’ finance review. Fees are payable from Tuesday, 6th September.
The governing body continues to look at every area of expenditure in the school to make reductions where possible and ensure that our administrative and overhead costs are kept as low as possible so that our investment in resources to benefit all our pupils can be maintained.
Tower College is a registered charity and does not make a profit for owners or shareholders; any surplus is required by law to be reinvested in the facilities and activities of the school. We ensure that your fees are invested in the school to provide the children with the best educational experience.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the payment of school fees or would like to take the opportunity to make your payments monthly, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mrs Potter by telephone at 0151 426 4333 or email mrspotter@towercollege.com.
On behalf of the governing body and all the staff, may I thank you for choosing Tower College for your children.
Stationary Year 6
One of our primary aims is to inspire our children to be their best selves. We hope that by fostering a nurturing and enriching environment, we provide a well-rounded education, allowing our children to thrive in the modern world. Regular curriculum reviews with appropriate adaptations are necessary for the best educational provision.
It is in the best interests of our pupils that Year 6 becomes a stationary class with a permanent class teacher. The current Year 5 class have been making excellent progress with Miss Midgley. We want to continue with this nurturing and supportive environment for one more year as it will best allow our pupils to thrive.
Mr Sweeney, working with our Year 6 cohort, will become the new Year 6 class teacher in September 2023. We will arrange an information evening in the summer term so that pupils and parents in our current Year 5 class can meet Mr Sweeney and learn about some of the amazing things he has planned. Although Year 6 will have a permanent class teacher, they can still access an enhanced curriculum. Time has been allocated for specialist subject teachers from the Middle & Upper Schools to provide specialist lessons. This will provide our pupils with a well-rounded education and better prepare them for the transition to Year 7.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Gibson; she will be happy to arrange a meeting to discuss any queries you may have.
Recruitment Update
We have appointed new teachers to all our vacant positions. We look forward to welcoming the new staff members to our school community. In the meantime, we have secured subject specialist teachers as temporary staff members until all our new teachers begin. The appointed staff have kindly shared the following:
Mr Sweeney – Year 6 Class Teacher
Hello, I’m Mr Sweeney, and I am pleased to introduce myself as the Year 6 teacher for the 2023/24 academic year.
I live in Liverpool and am thrilled to be at Tower College. In the past two years, I was fortunate to have experience in many year groups across the primary sector ranging from ages 5 to 11. Completing my PGCE in primary teaching and my prior experience has provided me with a firm foundation for understanding the various stages of child development.
As a child, I threw myself into everything, whether sports, music or extracurricular activities. My love of teaching began with work experience in Year 11. I worked with primary school children in a sporting and musical environment. I am passionate about the impact sports and culture can make on a child’s well-being and support them in reaching their creative potential, both in their personal development and academic success. Immersing children in a wide range of subjects gives them the tools to push and accelerate forward where their passions lie.
I aim to bring a safe and challenging classroom environment so children can excel with a love of learning. Liaising with other subject professionals is critical in developing the curriculum, and I aim to collaborate as much as possible.
Outside of school, I am a keen musician and sportsman and enjoy fitness, swimming, football, table tennis and golf. I have a Music degree from LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts), and my main instrument is the trumpet. However, I am currently taking piano lessons to broaden my musical capability. I am immensely proud to have completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award, which reinforced my love of the outdoors and the value of working with the local community.
I look forward to starting my Tower College journey and working alongside great professionals. Welcome to Year 6!
Miss Carr – Art Teacher
Hello everyone, I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Art teacher at Tower College.
Creativity is something that has always been a passion of mine and something I showcase in a variety of areas. As a teacher, I aim to inspire and motivate pupils to be the best version of themselves in and outside the classroom.
My degree in Theatrical Special Effects Make-up allows me to demonstrate a broad range of techniques within the art world and exhibit the lengths that art can take you through various media. Planning engaging projects that allow pupils to experiment with multiple materials such as clay, watercolour, and 3D modelling ensures that everybody has the resources to discover and develop their love of art.
I can’t wait to work with you all and inspire the next artists at Tower College.
Miss Carr
Miss Stedman – Science Teacher
Dear Parents and Pupils at Tower College,
My name is Miss Stedman; however, I will be known as Mrs Poole next year! I am thrilled to be appointed as the new Chemistry teacher; what a wonderful school! I have already had the pleasure of meeting with some pupils during my visit and was impressed with how polite, happy, and welcoming you all were; it was a real pleasure to be around.
Here is a brief overview of my experience and teaching journey thus far.
As a child, I loved every aspect of school life but was fascinated by the subject of Science, particularly the field of Chemistry and its ability to explain the world around us. I loved learning about the underlying principles and mechanisms behind everyday natural phenomena, from the air we breathe to the food we eat.
Having studied at The Liverpool Bluecoat School, I earned a Pharmaceutical Science and Clinical Research degree at Liverpool John Moores University. Despite this achievement, my aim has always been to pursue a lifelong career that was challenging and incredibly rewarding. Therefore 2012, I completed a PGCE course, enabling me to become a ‘Teacher of Science’, specialising in Chemistry. Teaching has given me an incredible opportunity to use my acquired subject knowledge and experience to help others reach their true potential. There is no better feeling than that.
Throughout the years, I have taught Chemistry, Biology and Physics at Key stages 3 and 4 (using AQA specification) and have delivered A Level Chemistry and BTEC Science to key stage 5 pupils.
I take every opportunity to fulfil my adventurous side in my spare time! Over the years, I have delved into various hobbies, including indoor bouldering, yoga, pilates, running and mountaineering. However, after breaking three metatarsals in my left foot (resulting in having to teach on crutches for 11 weeks), I am easing my way back into many of these hobbies!
I am incredibly passionate about creating and delivering fun and engaging lessons which captivate students’ interests. I cannot wait to start at Tower College and look forward to meeting all members of this school community.
Miss R. Stedman
Mr Leigh – Biology
Hello all,
I have always been fascinated by how things work, and my parents often encouraged me to find the answers to my many questions, so it was natural that I would go on to study Science at university!
I studied Neuroscience at the University of Manchester due to a long-standing interest in the mysteries of the mind and Neurodegenerative disease thanks to the works of famous Neurologist Oliver Sacks. Still, my heart truly lies with the natural world. I spent many of my optional units and much of my free time learning about bizarre ecosystems and reading about differences in reptile hearts rather than learning about the human nervous system. Following this, I completed my PGCE in Manchester to allow me to share my passion for the Natural World with students.
In my career, I have taught many students who have carried on to become medical students, zoologists, pharmacologists and many other exciting scientific vocations.
At Tower College, students will be similarly inspired to become and remain curious about the world around them and seek answers to their questions. There are few greater joys as a teacher than students peppering you with explorative questions about your subject to discover more!
Outside the classroom, I have been fortunate enough to chase nature across several continents with Borneo, Sumatra, Costa Rica, the Great Barrier Reef and most recently, the Galapagos, allowing me to get up close and personal with some weird and wonderful animals.
I am excited about being welcomed as part of the Tower College community and can’t wait to meet the outstanding staff and students in September.
Mr Abbott – Maths
Hello everyone,
With great pride, I can introduce myself as the new Maths teacher at Tower College.
I have always been interested in Maths from a very young age, and I enjoyed it thoroughly during the different stages of my education. After completing my degree at the University of Liverpool, I enrolled on a Mathematics PGCE at Edge Hill University.
Since completing my studies, I have been a Maths teacher at a local high school for over ten years. I have been a valued member of a very successful department where we strive for the best outcomes for our students. I have held pastoral roles for 9 years: 4 years as an assistant head of year and five as a head of year (mainly the head of year 11).
I will use my wealth of experience to make Maths exciting and challenging so all students can succeed.
I can’t wait to start in September and look forward to meeting you all.
Mr Abbott
Miss Doughty – PE
While it feels like Miss Doughty has been with us for years, she has only been with us briefly. Still, she has significantly impacted Physical Education across Tower College, from revamping the Lower School PE curriculum to introducing a wide array of sports to be developed within the PE lessons and as part of our extracurricular provision.
Her passion for sports can be seen throughout her teaching. Within a short period, she has created a supportive ethos where pupils are encouraged to develop and succeed in multiple areas of sport.
The introduction of Cheerleading, Gymnastics and Rollerblading are all examples of how Miss Doughty has developed the curriculum to focus on all pupils’ development. This pupil-centred approach has sparked passion amongst all year groups, with a record number of pupils participating in this year’s ISA Cross Country events. Miss Doughty has also reignited our Netball teams, taking the Year 7s and Year 8s to their first competitions since 2019.
After an exciting start to the year, we look forward to seeing how Physical Education will develop under the guidance of Miss Doughty and will be looking towards this year’s sports days to finish off an incredible year of sport at Tower College.
Spotlight On RHSE
You may be aware that RSHE is in the spotlight due to questions raised by a group of MPs and in the media about the content of some teaching materials. Though problematic materials do exist — thankfully, they are in the minority. Please be reassured that all our material undergoes scrutiny from the SMT before it is allowed to be used.
We know how much importance so many of our parents place on age and developmental appropriateness, alongside the need to avoid, for example, being instructional in harmful behaviours or bias. We use the PHSE Association platform for guidance and resources for these reasons. The following is taken from a recent missive from them …
We also wanted to assure you about the rigour with which we approach creating, and quality assuring, teaching materials to ensure their compliance as well as effectiveness and appropriateness. For example, as part of organisational due diligence, in 2022 we commissioned a KC-led legal review of our resources, guidance and policies related to gender identity to check compliance with relevant laws, regulations and guidance (including the Equality Act 2010, the Education Act 1996 and the Department for Education statutory and non-statutory guidance). The KC concluded that our materials are lawful, compliant with government guidance and that a court would be likely to find them well balanced, clear, comprehensible and inclusive. Best wishes, The PSHE Association team
Our Very Own Forest School
A few weeks ago, Mr Morgan took his children to a forest school in Warrington; they loved it! He thought the children at Tower could have just as good a time playing and learning – if only we had a forest school. He floated the idea with Mr Barr and Mr Barbar, who agreed it would be an excellent addition to the children’s learning experience.
If you’re wondering what a forest school is, it’s a type of outdoor education that encourages children to learn through nature and play. It’s based on the idea that children are naturally curious and creative, and they can develop skills like resilience, problem-solving, teamwork and self-confidence by exploring the natural environment.
The team did some research and found out that there are many benefits of a forest school for children’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Some of these benefits include:
- Improved immune system and reduced risk of allergies and asthma
- Enhanced sensory awareness and motor skills
- Increased concentration and memory
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Higher self-esteem and motivation
- Greater creativity and imagination
- Better social skills and empathy
All this they brought to a meeting with me. I only needed a little convincing as the team highlighted the benefits in the list above. But what sold it was Mr Morgan’s impromptu drawing of his forest school vision.
No sooner said than done!
Amazingly, it took the team just one week to complete the stunning forest school. Please watch the video to see how the photo above would look if it were taken now- see a remarkable vision realised in a week.
Thank you, Mr Morgan, Mr Barr and Mr Barbar, for your innovation and hard work. I can’t wait to see the children’s excitement when they return from the Easter break and access the school.
Library Report
As avid readers, we are keen to get as many of our fellow pupils to share our love of literature. To help make the library more user-friendly, we have used a simplified version of the internationally recognised library classification system for non-fiction books – the ‘Dewey Classification system.
Books are stored using a high-level ‘Dewey’ reference number to introduce pupils to the Dewey Classification System. We have created labels with mini images related to the topic and a description to help pupils understand the lower levels of Dewey and allow them to locate subjects of interest quickly and easily. Hopefully, this will help to foster a passion for reading.
We have also been working on organising our Middle and Upper Schools section throughout the year. We are happy to announce some new riveting additions to our library; we hope there will be even more. Let us know if you have any recommendations! In the video below, Sarah explains how this section has been arranged.
Sarah, Mariam, and I have all thoroughly enjoyed the process of making our library a place for all pupils in Tower College to relax, unwind, and, most importantly, share our love of reading. We are always in the library on Thursday lunchtime, and we will happily advise and give recommendations to pupils about their book choices. We hope to see some more pupils in the library soon!
Taylor, Sarah and Mariam. Year 11.
I want to add my special thanks to Mrs Corcoran for all the improvements she has made since taking over managing the library.
Lunch Success
As a staff member, I can bring food from home (pre-bought or homemade) or skip lunch altogether. But I choose to have lunch in our diner. This is for two reasons: 1) It allows me precious time with the pupils, and 2) The food is glorious!
The diner offers various dishes, including vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy. The portions are a good size, and the calories are controlled. Chef Ian and Chef Phil follow the dietary guidelines and standards set by the government and the school.
A rotating menu features different cuisines from around the world, such as Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, and more. The dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients and seasoned with herbs and spices. The canteen also caters to different preferences and needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and more. I always look forward to trying new dishes and flavours in the canteen.
The feedback from pupils and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have commented on how much they enjoy the new food, how it makes them feel more energized and satisfied, and how it improves their mood and concentration. Some have even said they look forward to lunchtime more than ever before.
We are happy with the results of this change, and we hope you are too. Good food is essential for learning, and we want to provide the best possible experience for our school community. We thank Thomas Franks, Chef Ian and his team for their excellent work.
Ski Trip
If you have been to our Facebook page in the last couple of days, you will have already seen the amazing pictures of what promises to be an outstanding trip.
I would like to thank the staff who are making this trip possible. As the photographs attest, they are not only providing the children with a fun and unforgettable experience but also an opportunity to learn new skills, challenge themselves, and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of nature. The staff are Miss Deane, Mrs Turner, Mrs Riley, Miss Midgley, Mr Taylor and Mr Glover – Thank you!
I’m not one for singling out individual members of staff, but as I know just how much preparation goes into running a trip like this, I must bring special mention to Mr Glover, who has been planning this trip for over a year. Running a ski trip nowadays requires high-level organisation skills and phenomenal attention to detail – especially if you’re taking a group of 48 children of different ages. I don’t think I have seen a trip checklist quite like his! Thank you, Mr Glover, for making this happen – and keep taking the photos!
Open Day
Well, that’s it from me (apart from an Open Day reminder!) and this short video that shows the difficulty of making important decisions.