Year 13 Newsletter 30/03/20
Nobody could have predicted how this academic year would end. Some of our students would joke about how they couldn't wait for the exams to be over, but nobody wanted the opportunity to prove themselves to be taken away. Students will have experienced a mix of emotions including frustration, anger, disappointment, relief and anxiety to mention a few. All these emotions are perfectly understandable and interchangeable. However, the Sixth Form team want to congratulate Year 13 in demonstrating their resilience and patience. Staff have been impressed with the work that has been completed and it has been really pleasing to hear how students have been proactive in preparing for the next chapter of their lives.
We want to reassure our students that the Sixth Form team will continue to support them and if they have any questions, they can e-mail us directly. When the positivity starts to decline, think back to the Sixth Form room; laughter and friendship.
The purpose of this newsletter is to clarify our current position and provide further support moving forward.
What we do know:
- All A level /BTEC exams for the Summer 2020 series have been cancelled.
- Year 13 students will have A level / BTEC ‘calculated grades' from teacher assessments, whole-school historic achievement and individual student's prior attainment. The 'calculated grades' will be moderated externally by exam boards to ensure the grade distribution follows a similar pattern to previous years so that no student is disadvantaged in these extraordinary circumstances. Please remember that the grade teachers submit is not guaranteed to be the grade you receive. It is only one piece of information that exam boards will use to calculate your grade.
- Year 13 ‘calculated grades’ are expected to be released before the end of July 2020.
- Year 13 students studying for AS exams will also be awarded a calculated grade.
- Year 13 students will have the option to sit an exam in 2021 if you are unhappy with your 'calculated grade'.
We know no more than this!
What information we are still waiting to hear:
- Dates of the 2021 exams – we still await information about when and how this can happen for those who opt to take an exam, if unhappy with their calculated grade.
- If students opt to sit exams in 2021, will these grades override any Summer 2020 ‘calculated grades’? e.g. if students opt for an exam in 2021 and the result is lower than the ‘calculated grade’ – which grade would stand?
- BTEC National coursework. Centres are continuing with coursework, as we have not received any information on this.
John Taylor High School advice
All Year 13 students keep working at home to study / revise the subject specifications, in case you opt to sit the 2021 exams. Teachers have set work on Go4Schools.
All BTEC students continue with coursework.
All Year 13 students undertake wider reading to prepare for University undergraduate courses. Look up the Year 1 content for your chosen university course and start reading around the topics.
Be reassured that the Sixth Form team will provide as much support as we can over the coming period.
To Firm & Insure your university's offers, the original deadline of 5th May has been extended by two weeks to the new deadline of 19th May. This will give you more time to consider all your options and information available.
Many universities are now hosting a series of live link ups and a variety of other ways to keep in touch and support their prospective students. This includes support on a variety of topics and providing study techniques and activities to help applicants prepare for University. Please visit your intended university websites and explore all the fantastic resources available to you.
You might not have applied to university but have now changed your mind. It isn’t too late. If you want to discuss submitting an application, please e-mail [email protected]
Free one to one coaching for students who are applying for Apprenticeships
John Taylor High School has worked with a company called ‘Young Professionals’ for the past few years and they have offered our students the opportunity to receive online one-to-one coaching on the application process. This will involve an hour spent with an expert in this field over a Zoom / Skype call.
Content:
- Online Digital Interviews
- Applications to work experience and apprenticeship opportunities
- Mock psychometric testing
- Assessment centre preparations
The Young Professionals company represent many big companies including; PwC, EY, IBM, Capgemini, Lloyds Bank, Travis Perkins and many others!
All students have access to Office 365, therefore, they will be able to download Skype or use Zoom for this. Please direct them to the Office 365 home page.
To book please email Dan Miller at [email protected] with a date and time so that he can issue students with an appointment. Please can you ask students to also add [email protected] as a CC so that the sixth form team can monitor the use of this service.
Other resources to support Apprenticeship applications:
www.unifrog.co.uk - Remember you can search apprenticeship opportunities across the UK as well as visit the 'How to' library for support on applications and interview preparations.
Assessment_centre_guide.pdf- This is a really detailed guide to what to expect on an Assessment Day.
https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/advice/apprenticeship-assessment-centres
While you have time at home- think about trying a new cultural pursuit online. If we #Stayathome, the entertainment and learning can stream into our home instead. Lots of online services have enabled free access-take advantage of this unexpected opportunity.
Watch a Play
National Theatre Live will screen a NT Play every Thursday at 7pm. They will be available to screen for the following 7 days, It starts on 2nd April with James Corden in One Man Two Guvnors LINK.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has free full length broadcast here LINK
Watch a Ballet
Every Friday at 7pm a full-length ballet will be broadcast by the Royal Opera House LINK This week begins with Peter and the Wolf LINK
Discover a new City or Culture
Explore the world’s greatest landmarks, culture and arts with Goole Arts and Culture LINK
Virtual Tour
Here are 12 of the world’s greatest museums and galleries LINK
Explore London
All our best Museums and Galleries from Home Museums LINK Galleries LINK
Have you ever tried Opera?
The Met Opera in New York have nightly broadcasts of World-class performances LINK
Glyndebourne Opera is in East Sussex LINK
Attend a virtual Lecture
Gresham College records all of its high-quality lecture programme LINK
MASSOLIT works with academics from the world's best universities to produce high-quality videos. LINK
Live Classical Music
Chamber music from around the world LINK
Berlin Philharmonic LINK
Speak another Language
Learn a language for free HERE
Read/listen to Classic Books
Free on Audible including some classics HERE
There are over 1000 free audiobooks here LINK
Go to University
Try a Short University Courses from around the world LINK
Still not found your passion?
Try Chatterpack’s - Zoo cams, podcasts, tour, challenge, concerts, prayer, mindfulness, dance, engineering, Tai Chi, economics, rainforest tours, virtual choirs and lots more! It’s fantastic… LINK
At this time of uncertainty your well-being is more important than ever. You might find yourself feeling worried about the spread of coronavirus and its impact on you and your loved ones. These feelings are normal and it’s important we acknowledge them and remind each other to look after our physical and mental health. For the most recent government guidelines on how to do this please check www.gov.uk/coronavirus. For more specific guidance on how to look after your mental health while staying at home please access student minds and/or young mind websites.
Strategies to maintain your well being
- Keep a daily routine; you might find it helpful to plan our your time in advance so you know what you are doing each day and have something to look forward to.
- Learn a new skill; cooking a new recipe, playing a new instrument.
- Complete an online course; British Sign Language, Open University or a MOOC.
- Stay in touch with family and friends via video calls; Use apps such as Whatsapp and Zoom.
- Complete daily exercise and get fresh air where possible; watch.lesmillsondemand.com/at-home-workouts or complete Joe Wicks home workouts; www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6r99N3kXME
- Read a book or catch up on a series that you were hoping to watch.
- Look after your personal environment; create a space that you are able to enjoy and feel comfortable in. Have a clear out of old clothes and clutter.
- Take a break from social media and the news if you need to.
- Download the app called Headspace.
Just a quick reminder from IT Support @ JTHS.
If you are having any technical issues accessing Office365 or Go4Schools, in the first instance, please read the linked document which contains lots of help.
JTHS_Student_working_at_home_help_and_guidance
If you are still struggling then please email :
Sorry for the strange email but this ensures your message will be seen by a team of 6 it technicians and someone will be able to help you.
Please keep safe and look after yourself.
See you all again soon
Mr Duncan (Snr IT Technician)
Alistair Duncan - JTHS
[email protected]