News

At the end of our first half term at John Taylor the vast majority of Year 7 headed off to Beaudesert Activity Centre on the edge of Cannock Chase for 'Year 7 Bonding Day'. The day was an opportunity to develop new friendships outside of our teaching groups, tackle some challenging activities and, really importantly, have some fun. At the end of a long half term, and through Covid times when opportunities like this for any group trips had been few and far between, an opportunity to have some fun was very welcome by all. 

The pupils did themselves, and our school proud; with fantastic enthusiasm and determination, as well as excellent behaviour. We certainly did embody our school values of Integrity, Perseverance, Respect and Kindness, even though we were miles away from the classroom. 

But please don't just take my word for it! Here are Bea and Connie to tell you a little bit more about the day: 

"When we went to bonding day, we did lots of fun activities including go pedal carts, fire lighting, different climbing activities and archery. Once we had got off the coach, we were put into groups of 15 and learnt who our teachers were for the day (my teacher was Mr Hulley).

The climbing wall was my group's first activity, we got into our harnesses and put on our helmets. I was one of the first people to have a go at climbing, there were 3 people doing things at the same time. Two of the group were responsible for pulling the ropes whilst the other person climbed. After that we had 2 minutes or so for break time and then we went down for our next activity (archery). It was really fun; some people even got the gold circle in the middle. Even Mr Hulley had a go - he got 4 gold circles, the best anyone did in our group.

After archery we had lunch, there was not a lot of room but some people ate outside. After lunch it started to rain but we still went to our last activity (my last activity was go pedal carts), this one by far was my favourite activity. We did lots of races and times; it was much more fun than it should be because of the rain. This meant when we were driving, we skidded around a lot that made it much better . Then it was the end of an amazing day." Bea, 7T. 

"Bonding day was really fun although at the end of the first half term we have already got to know lots of different people. We did a range of activities, with a couple involving climbing; up trees and on crates which did not involve much teamwork other than supporting each other.  Despite this the climbing activities were enjoyable and good fun, for those of us who did not mind heights. Bonding day was fun and a great trip."  Connie, 7T

Thank you Bea and Connie for your reviews of the day and we are pleased you (and Mr Hulley) enjoyed yourselves. 

As Head of Year I would like to pass on massive congratulations and thanks to all of Year 7 for the way that you have all conducted yourselves through the first half term. You have made an amazing start to your time at JTHS and have been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with. I would also like to thank parents and carers at home - we never underestimate the vital support that you offer your children and are really grateful for supporting us as your school. As our vision says, "We are one community - striving for personal excellence".  Please do keep in touch so we can continue to do our best for your children. 

We are already looking to the next half term, where we start form competitions: let's show why your form is the best! We will start charity fundraising and year council with our new student representatives Nathaniel Bull and Jessica Neachell, as well as our deputy student representative Joe Bolton and Habibah Shan.  Each form has also elected their own representative, so we ensure that everyone can have their say. Congratulations to these students on their new roles and I hope you and your families have a safe healthy and relaxing half term. 

Kind regards, 

Mr S. Markwell

Head of Year 7. 

Attitude to Learning Grades

As we approach our first reporting cycles, we have reviewed our ATL criteria and have written clear descriptors so all our stakeholders can be clear on what each grade means. For more information, please see below.

1 - Excellent 

Demonstrates the core values consistently in lessons, and goes above and beyond in the classroom and with homework. 

2 - Good 

Demonstrates the core values regularly in lessons. Classwork and homework are completed to a good standard. 

3 - Needs to Improve 

Does not always meet expectations of the ethos and core values, classwork and homework are not always completed to an acceptable standard. Work is sometimes submitted late. Teacher reflections recorded on Go4Schools. 

4 - Concerns 

Does not meet expectations of the ethos and core values. Classwork and homework are often incomplete or missing. Teacher detentions and CAL detentions are recorded on Go4Schools. Deadlines are regularly missed

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please find below some useful information from Staffordshire Police regarding County Lines.

Kind regards,

Miss N Dean

Head of Upper School/Designated Safeguarding Lead

The following students have received a Hot Chocolate with the Head over the course of this half term. Congratulations!

Amelia 7A

Ava 7L

Ben 7T

Emelia 7T

Arthur 9S

Dan 9Y

Henry 9A

Nathaniel 9Y

Harry 10J

Kaylen 10R

Dominik 11A

Esmee 11O

Henry 11Y

Matthew 11R

Neve 11S

Paige 11H

The Spring Bank Holiday in 2022 will be moved to Thursday 2nd June 2022, and there will be an additional Jubilee bank holiday on Friday 3 June 2022. As this falls within the half term holiday, an additional one day holiday must be taken elsewhere.

Therefore the school will now close on Tuesday 19^th July 2022 at 12.30pm instead of Wednesday 20^th July - the term dates on our website will be updated to reflect this.

Please find information below from Staffordshire Police regarding County Lines, for your information and awareness.

Dear Parent / Carer,

Please find attached a letter from the PTA regarding membership of the 50-50 Club, which raises funds for school. The 50/50 Club have just been able to donate £1900 to the school thanks to your participation over the last two years, and your support is needed now more than ever.  

Regards,
Mrs K. Cochrane
Head of School on behalf of the PTA

Dear all,

Please find attached a letter regarding vaping.

Many thanks,

Miss N Dean.

Dear Parent/Carer,  

If you have not yet done so, can we please ask that you read the home school agreement below, and complete the home school agreement and transport survey.

Home School Agreement

Home School Agreement & Transport Survey questionnaire

Thank you in advance for your support with this, and our thanks to those who have already completed it.

Regards,
Mrs K. Cochrane
Head of School

On Friday 1^st October, I was afforded the opportunity to attend a private dinner with the Chancellor, as my role as Secretary for Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield Young Conservatives. The event was held at Swinfen Hall, and went on until the very late hours of the evening. The Chancellor arrived at 19:18 that evening and was immediately swarmed by political zealots, desperate for a photo opportunity and the possibility of a conversation about the economics of Lichfield life. He was smartly dressed in a full tuxedo, which a conversation with his private secretary revealed to be a rarity as he apparently flaunts the fashion rules.

My friends and I, eager to meet this political leviathan off the TV, entered the crowds and were immediately greeted by him. He was immensely polite and paid an interest in all of us, asking questions proactively, which was refreshing as some of our modern politicians seem more interested in those whom ‘matter most’. After approximately an hour of him working around us all and taking brief photos and engaging in a quick conversation, we all headed to our tables.

Once the starters were taken back, the Chancellor arose in front of a crowd of 118, and gave a more politically frank and honest speech about the situation of the economy and politics currently. He interjected it with some amusing remarks, stating how he had been to several dinners over the past year and how the response had been the same “you are even smaller in real life than on TV!” (Rishi being 5 feet 6 inches tall). He also stated how his wife had needed to explain what Mr Sunak did to his youngest daughter - in reference to his long nights at the office, his wife had told his youngest daughter that ‘Daddy works in Big Ben’. He said how he was quite amused and pleased with this, to which his wife responded, ‘I would not be too pleased, she thinks you fix clocks for a living!’

After his speech in which he spoke about clocks, but also about the Government’s economic position on the COVID recovery package amongst other things, we were afforded the opportunity to ask questions. I, having already asked countless teachers, already had a few lined up and hence was able to ask immediately after catching Michael Fabricant’s (the association’s MP) eye based on employment. I asked ‘We have a surplus in jobs at the moment, yet we have a rise of unemployment at 1 million, what would you say to combat this issue, not just in the COVID economic environment but also in typical economic circumstances?’ to which he responded stating how the Government understood the resistance that businesses had, and that they had rolled out the kickstart scheme to encourage business to hire more staff. It is clear to me that he views the situation as a supply issue and that the Government needs to focus on improving the supply of labour. Despite my question being somewhat harsh for a private dinner, afterwards he still got a private photo with myself, and all my friends sat at my table.

Overall, the night was amazing, several photos secured and now the name-dropping ability to say I had met, spoken with and questioned the Chancellor of the Exchequer.  

By Archie.

Over the next few weeks students will all be asked to complete a short student voice survey. This will be available to them as a link to a Microsoft Forms and shared by their Head of Year and Tutor. We are aiming for 100% engagement with our student voice survey as it focuses specifically on safety and we are keen to listen to students and use this information to continue to provide key messages to all of our community.

The survey will take no more than 5 minutes, so please encourage your child/children to complete this once they recieve the link. 

Dear Parents/Carers,

A reminder that the school day will finish at 12:30pm on Thursday 21st October, in advance of our Year 6 Open Evening.  If your child(ren) usually travel by bus, these will be arranged to collect them at the earlier time.

Arrangements for lunch are as follows:

KS3: Lunch will start at 12pm to allow all students 30 minutes to get their lunch.

Year 12: Period 2 will be extended until 12.30pm.

KS4 & Year 13: A wider food offer will be available during their morning break time which will take place at 11.10am as per usual.

Friday 22nd October is an INSET day, so no students will be in school.

Thank you.

Are you passionate about art and science? Get creative and enter the BioArtAttack competition for the Royal Society of Biology.

Your entry can be anything from drawings and sculptures to models and collages of any scale.

You need to tell us in writing a bit about your piece, including:

• The title of your piece 
• Equipment and material used
• What your piece depicts
• The science behind your piece

Inspiration 

• From the very big to the very small: Your BioArtAttack could take inspiration from the smallest parts of the natural world that only a microscope can see: think cell structures, bacterial colonies and microscopic organisms. If you prefer to think big, you could use vast environments or ecosystems as the theme of your entry. Your piece of art could be based around great savannahs, wide-open plains or immense rainforests and the huge range of diversity contained within them.
• Hands-on science: Lab or field equipment could be the focus of your artwork, with fascinating tools and apparatus being used by scientists to provide ways to make wonderful discoveries. Take a look around your school lab or science classroom to get started with ideas for your entry.
• Scientific concepts: Why not use your BioArtAttack to help explain a biological concept, theory or area of biology that particularly interests you?

To submit your entry you need to send a photograph of your creation or a scan of the drawing and include the information detailed above. Please send them to Miss Lowson at nj.lowson@jths.co.uk. The deadline for entries is Tuesday 30th November.

If for any reason your child missed the Flu Vaccination on 30^th September and you wish for them to be vaccinated, please contact the School Immunisation Team directly on 0300 124 0366.   

Please note Year 12 and Year 13 students were not eligible for the vaccinations. 

Contact details:  

School Age Immunisation Team 

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Rising Brook Health Centre 

Merrey Road 

ST17 9LY 

0300 124 0366 

school.immunisation@mpft.nhs.uk

The Report Harmful Content service has been around for a while now. Essentially it's a helpline where students (13+) can report harmful (but not illegal) content in order to have that content removed. It is run by dedicated and experienced online safety practitioners, it is completely free, and their success rate is fantastic. 

We will be adding the button to our school website for parents and students to utilise. 

Please can we remind parents that students should not be dropped off or collected from school site at the start and end of the school day, unless prior arrangement has been made with a member of school staff. 

We have a number of minibuses, buses and coaches that use our school site at these times and our turning circle is incredibly busy. For the safety of all members of our community it is important that we reiterate this message. 

Please can parents consider dropping students in a safe and convinient place that is also considerate towards our local neighbours. 

Please can we remind parents that students should not be dropped off or collected from school site at the start and end of the school day, unless prior arrangement has been made with a member of school staff. 

We have a number of minibuses, buses and coaches that use our school site at these times and our turning circle is incredibly busy. For the safety of all members of our community it is important that we reiterate this message. 

Please can parents consider dropping students in a safe and convenient place that is also considerate towards our local neighbours. 

Please can we remind parents that students should not be dropped off or collected from school site at the start and end of the school day, unless prior arrangement has been made with a member of school staff. 

We have a number of minibuses, buses and coaches that use our school site at these times and our turning circle is incredibly busy. For the safety of all members of our community it is important that we reiterate this message. 

Please can parents consider dropping students in a safe and convenient place that is also considerate towards our local neighbours. 

Many thanks to all those students who are continuing to use face masks on buses. As a reminder, we are recommending that students follow the Department for Education guidance that, when travelling on designated school transport, face masks are highly recommended to be worn. We would appreciate your support in this matter to help reduce the spread of any COVID infection in these situations. Students should have spare face masks in their bags for this purpose.

On Wednesday 22^nd September Year 8 Boys played their first football match as a team. The boys really impressed with a 5-2 win over Repton Prep School. Goals scored by Ethan, two from Joe, a screamer scored by Josh and finally a goal from a free kick from Ollie, tapped in by Jenson- although Ollie will still claim it as his! Some great play was seen from the whole team, including some great saves by Lucas.

The team played their second game on 29^th September beating Windsor Park Middle School 11-0! What a great start boys! Keep it up!