Weekly Information - Friday 31st Jan 2025

The following students celebrated their achievements with Mr Blanchenot this week, congratulations to them all!

Mr Blanchenot had a fantastic break-time with this week’s star students who have gone above and beyond in their studies and their wider community contribution. To celebrate, three students were invited to enjoy a hot chocolate with Mr Blanchenot and share their accomplishments with each other.

The nominations came from teachers who observed these students excelling in various areas. The recognition goes further than academic achievements; it’s about building a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and regarded.

Rebekah (Year 8), had been nominated by Mr Markwell for her incredible efforts in the creative challenge. Rebekah stood out amongst her peers for her remarkable creativity and exceptional talent. Her creation inspired by Yinka Shonibare, beautifully captures his style of using vivid colours, materials and sculptures. Rebekah not only showcased technical skills but also conveyed Shonibare’s perspective between the interrelationship between Africa and Europe. Well done Rebekah!

Isaac (Year 8) & Grace (Year 9) were nominated by Ms Smith for their incredible talent and contribution in the recent Rotary Club Cooking Competition. Participants were challenged to create mouthwatering and delicious dishes that not only taste great but also display their skills and culinary experience. The final dishes are then put to the judges to make their decision. Ms Smith said ‘“Isaac worked independently during the final to produce dishes that were mouth wateringly full of flavour and beautifully presented!  He should be incredibly proud of himself and the plates of food he produced.  I am sure his passion and drive will carry him far in a food based career should he decide to follow this route!  Great work Isaac.

Grace found inner strength during the Rotary Young Chef competition to produce and plate a stunningly flavoured Carbonara served with her own homemade pasta which all of our judges complemented for taste, texture and presentation.  Her Lemon Meringue Pie also went down well - it just shows that with that little extra confidence and Grace's passion, she is capable of making food part of a successful future!  Well done Grace.”

Through this experience, students developed their culinary skills while gaining confidence and learning the importance of working under pressure in kitchen. It was also incredibly pleasing to see Isaac and Grace helping each other out, like true professionals would in a kitchen environment. To view the full gallery of images from the Cooking Competition, click here: John Taylor High School eNewsletter

Mr Blanchenot said ‘I am once again delighted to be celebrating the achievements of our pupils who have demonstrated our core values and shown the importance of hard work, dedication, and the positive impact they can have during school life. These positive actions don’t go unnoticed and we hope that these role models inspire other pupils to achieve their personal excellence.’

If you’d like to nominate a pupil for Hot Chocolate with the Head, please email [email protected]

In the run up to National Apprenticeship Week, we had the pleasure of welcoming back an ex-pupil who shared her incredible journey as a second-year solicitor apprentice.

Hannah joined our pupils in assembly and began by talking about her time at school. Through studying her A-levels, she developed strong communication and critical thinking skills, which laid the foundation for her future career. She emphasised the importance of working hard at school and encouraged current pupils to pursue their interests and seize opportunities.

After Hannah left school in 2022, she was initially unsure whether to take the traditional university route or have a gap year to gain work experience. She decided on the latter. During her gap year Hannah did more research and discovered the degree apprenticeship route which she soon realised was the perfect career path for her.

Hannah told the students ‘there are many benefits of completing a degree apprenticeship which include; no tuition fees, real-life experience and projects, job security, growing a network and learning new skills across a variety of departments. By the end of my six  year degree, I’ll be a fully qualified solicitor at one of the biggest global law firms without having been to University. I feel passionate about shifting the narrative and misconception that an apprenticeship is an ‘easy route’ into a career. I want to make the resources more accessible and grow students’ knowledge when they are deciding what to do after school.’

Hannah’s hands on experience during her apprenticeship further deepened her understanding of the legal system and she discovered her passion for justice and helping others. She shared that whilst it can be challenging navigating her degree studies whilst working, you are given so much support. She spoke about the importance of building relationships with mentors and peers in the legal field. These connections have provided guidance and opened doors for new opportunities.

Thank you to Hannah for taking the time to inspire the generation. Her journey in becoming a solicitor reminded our pupils that with perseverance and integrity you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

On Thursday 30^th January Mrs Berry and our JTHS Dance Ambassadors were thrilled to be joined Year 3&4 pupils from local primary schools; Thomas Russell Junior School, Mosley and Rangemore, to explore their creativity and express themselves through movement, at the first JTHS Dance Workshops of 2025.

The workshop began with the Dance Ambassadors performing the routine which they have been learning and preparing for several weeks. Primary pupils were then split into groups to learn the routine. Not only was it great to see the enthusiasm from the primary pupils but also great to see them gain confidence in their abilities as the workshop progressed. Moreover, participating in the dance workshop was a great way to enhance pupils’ physical fitness, as dancing is a fun way to stay active and healthy.

The JTHS pupils were fantastic leaders and showed kindness, respect and patience towards the primary pupils as they learnt new dance techniques and new routines. Mrs Berry said ‘this supportive environment encourages both primary & secondary pupils to step out of their comfort zones and try something new whether that’s leading the workshop or learning the routines. Our aim of the workshop is to create a sense of teamwork by collaborating and developing social and leadership skills.’

The real highlight of the workshop was the performance at the end. Everyone was blown away by the level of dance skill and technique. Not only did the final showcase provide a sense of accomplishment but also instils the enjoyment and confidence for performing.

Overall, the dance workshop was a huge success and extremely rewarding for the JTHS dancers and the primary pupils who demonstrated our vision admirably; One community, striving for personal excellence. We look forward to hosting our next dance workshop on Thursday 6^th February.

On January 30th, we had the pleasure of welcoming back a familiar face to John Taylor: Matt Lilley, the Golf Operations Manager and PGA Professional from Lichfield Golf and Country Club. Matt visited to assist students in crafting their social media campaigns. While this may seem unusual, Matt also serves as the Social Media Manager at LGCC, where he plays a pivotal role in developing their social media content. He brings a wealth of valuable and practical insights that will help ensure the students' campaigns are not only realistic but also well-focused.

At John Taylor, we firmly believe that education transcends the walls of the classroom. To provide our students with authentic learning experiences, we actively engage with local businesses, creating enriching opportunities that link classroom theory with real-world application. A cornerstone of this initiative is inviting industry experts into our classrooms. Professionals from diverse sectors frequently visit our school to share their expertise, conduct interactive workshops, and offer career guidance. This direct engagement allows students to grasp current industry trends and understand the qualifications and skills necessary for various career paths.

By collaborating closely with local industries, we aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring our students are thoroughly prepared for their future endeavours. Whether they decide to pursue higher education, embark on apprenticeships, or enter the workforce directly, these experiential learning opportunities provide them with a competitive advantage.

We extend our gratitude to all our industry partners who have played a vital role in supporting our students' learning journeys. If you or your organisation would like to get involved, we warmly welcome new partnerships to further enhance our students’ educational experiences. Together, we can empower the next generation with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed!

National Holocaust Memorial Day is a significant occasion observed in many to honour the memory of the millions of people who suffered and lost their lives during the Holocaust. National Holocaust Memorial Day not only commemorates those who suffered but also inspires the younger generation to be vigilant in the fight against hatred and to promote peace and understanding in their communities.

Miss Archer, Head of Year 8 / Teacher of History said:

‘‘This week, students and staff at John Taylor High School came together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, reflecting on the atrocities of the Holocaust and other genocides. As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we honoured those who suffered and considered how we can learn from the past to create a better future.

Students acted with respect and were a credit to the school in reflecting on Holocaust memorial day, many have asked thought provoking and sensitive questions, and listened intently to the testimony of survivors.

This year’s theme, "For a Better Future," reminds us that remembrance is not just about history—it is about the choices we make today. Our students listened to survivor testimonies, engaged with poetry and reflections, and explored the importance of standing up against prejudice and injustice.

At John Taylor, we believe that education is key to ensuring the mistakes of the past are not repeated. These assemblies encouraged students to think about the role they play in shaping a world built on respect, kindness, and understanding.

We encourage families to continue these important conversations at home. By working together, we can help our young people build a future where everyone is treated with dignity and compassion’’.

To learn more about Holocaust Memorial Day and the work they do you can visit : https://hmd.org.uk/

To learn more about the Holocaust you can visit : 

https://www.het.org.uk/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-holocaust 

https://holocausteducation.org.uk/ 

Mrs Bostock is delighted to be entering yet again another incredible project into this year’s PA Consulting Raspberry Pi Competition.

The competition is a celebration of STEM education and an exciting opportunity for pupils to showcase their skills in programming and invent products that can benefit society. ‘Using engineering and coding skills and a Raspberry Pi microcomputer; students put their ingenuity to the test to come up with inspiring solutions to global challenges.'

The team of pupils taking on the challenge are Brodie, Ffion, Basri, Aminah, Dylan, Harry, Junior and Nathanial or better known as ‘The Electons’. 

This year’s theme is ‘finding a solution to help live sustainably’. These challenges push pupils to think outside the box and explore different ways to use technology to address real-world issues.

The team decided to find a solution for load shifting which is when you move your electricity use from peak hours to off-peak hours of the day. By using the Raspberry Pi programming, the group have been able to develop a scheduling & reminder system that sends alerts to your email and phone to tell you key times to use household appliances. If consumers use these key times to switch their household appliances on, they will save money, help the grid, become more environmentally friendly, encourage smart consumption and have more control over when they use your power.

This competition not only encourages critical thinking and creativity but also fosters teamwork as students collaborate to solve problems and develop innovative solutions. Our pupils are learning valuable skills in coding, hardware design, and project management, which are essential in today's technology-driven world.

Should 'The Electrons' get to the next stage of the competition, they will have the chance to present their projects to judges in London, gaining experience in public speaking and receiving constructive feedback from industry experts. Good Luck!

Overall, this competition is a valuable experience that can inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).