This term, our pupils and staff have gone the extra mile and risen to every challenge. We are proud to share the below details about the achievements of the Middle and Upper School and our developments for the immediate future. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our teaching staff for investing their enthusiasm and passion into every lesson and to welcome our new teaching staff to the Tower College community.
Maths
In maths, this term, years 7 and 8 have been introduced to Eedi, our new learning package. They have enjoyed the interactive nature of the platform and being able to earn coins for their hard work. This package allows pupils to develop their maths skills, respond to their answers, and give further individual guidance when needed.
The further maths group had a great time at the Maths Inspiration event in Chester, listening to talks about sequences, patterns & predictions, the mathematics of space flight and the sacred geometry of chance.
Every week our middle and upper school pupils have been working hard on mathswatch, earning house points and developing their maths skills. A huge well done to our current leaders:
Year 6 Ayaan, Year 7 Zoya, Year 8 Leighora, Year 9 Khushi, Year 10 Juswan and Year 11 Sarah
In the summer term, years 7 and 8 will continue using Eedi, including at home, to support their learning. Eedi uses diagnostic questions to help identify misconceptions and then supports pupils in resolving them. Following their half-term progress tests, pupils received their test scores and feedback in lessons. Using mathswatch and Eedi would be an excellent way for them to revisit any shaky topics. The individual feedback sheets given to the pupils have the relevant mathswatch video numbers listed to support pupils in finding them easily. Pupils can also log in and use either of the resources to explore other topics in mathematics and stretch themselves. As part of Eedi, they gain rewards for completing tasks/topics, which can lead to prizes within the package.
Parents are encouraged to sign up as part of their child’s account. This enables pupils to access the prizes. For a monthly subscription, parents can sign up for Eedi Plus, which enables their child to access online 1-2-1 tutoring in an ‘online chat’ format, if they need additional support. The tutors are all fully qualified maths teachers and are available from 9am – 8pm, 7 days a week. Signing up for the Plus account is not compulsory, and the school receives no benefit or information regarding parent engagement. Pupils can still gain support without the subscription and can always discuss any problems with Mrs King via Teams or in school.
We hope that Eedi will be a useful tool in supporting our pupils to develop their maths understanding and confidence.
Our booster and intervention sessions will continue enabling pupils to come and get further support with specific topics and help build their maths skills.
GCSE (open to all year 11 pupils) Wednesday morning 8.00am – 8.40am (until the last maths exam: Paper 3 on 14th June, Further maths paper 2 – 21st June)
Year 10 and 11 – Tuesday lunchtime 12.50 – 1.15 (lunch usual time)
Year 7, 8 and 9 – Monday lunchtime 1.15 – 1.40 (lunch usual time)
English
This term, the English Department has been very busy with a wide range of exciting Literacy based activities. There has been a focus on Spoken Language activities as our Year 11 pupils successfully performed their speeches as part of their English Language GCSE. The standard of work was fantastic, with pupils discussing a wide range of topics in a most mature and thought-provoking manner. Additionally, Taylor, supported by fellow Year 11 pupils Mariam and Sarah, went on to perform her speech on the topic of Urban Sprawl at the prestigious Rotary Youth Speaks Competition. Her original and perceptive view on this topic was well received, and the team were placed as overall runners-up in the heat. We are already looking forward to hearing Year 10 perform their speeches next year!
Years 6 – 8 have enjoyed a fantastic term reading a wide range of exciting texts. Year 6 have ventured into the world of Dracula and have been engrossed in the book Room 13. Years 7 and 8 have immersed themselves in the great reads of Skellig and Stone Cold, while Years 9 and 10 have studied the classic texts of A Christmas Carol and An Inspector Calls.
We have also spent much time refining our skills as young writers by carefully using the drafting process while exploring different types of writing, such as Detective Fiction and Gothic Conventions. Our literary journey will continue next term when we explore texts such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas while Year 6 will be reading (and acting !) the classic poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes
It has been a joy to use our new library that gives the pupils space to relax and unwind when reading. Thank you to several of our Year 11 pupils for spending so much of their time organising the books in such a user-friendly way. Library club is open to all Middle School pupils on Thursday lunchtime, and we would love to see some new faces next term.
Spanish
Pupils in all years have been working exceptionally hard in Spanish, resulting in some super test results. We have had a lower school Spanish ‘take over morning’, and pupils from year 2 came down to the butterfly and caterpillar rooms in Tower Tots and taught them Spanish. We set up a pretend ice cream stall, and pupils ordered different ice cream flavours in Spanish. It was wonderful to see pupils of different ages supporting each other and being united through languages.
Years 10 and 11 enjoyed a trip to Home in Manchester, where they participated in a school and college’s modern foreign languages day. Dr Carmen Herrero, subject lead for languages at Manchester Metropolitan University, led it. Our students watched a film from the Dominican Republic and then attended a follow-up lecture/analysis session. It was fantastic to see so many of them engaged in this and see them in a higher education setting – hopefully, a glimpse of the future…
History
Our Year 6 pupils have been working very hard in History to consider different reasons World War II happened, including assessing Neville Chamberlain’s actions and whether he can be blamed alongside Hitler for the war. They have also studied political cartoons of the 1930s, which were drawn in response to international events, and finally designed their own political cartoons about an interesting variety of more recent events. Next term, we will study how World War II affected people in Britain, including the experiences of children. One pupil has already told me he wants to bring his family’s WWII gas mask!
Year 7 will study ongoing issues of kingship, religion and war in the Middle Ages, including the reigns of Henry II, Richard I and John. They recently visited Skipton Castle to see evidence of how the Norman Conquest of England developed
over time.
Year 8 have been studying the culture of the Sioux on the Great Plains of North America. Next term, they will be learning more about how the lives of Native Americans developed in the later 1800s.
Our Year 9 class will be studying the aftermath of World War I, including differing attitudes from the time on how Germany should have been treated. I look forward to giving them a role-playing task based on the discussions that led up to the Treaty of Versailles. We will also look at some of the social changes that took place in the USA in the 1920s, sometimes called the ‘Roaring Twenties’ or the Jazz Age.
Year 10 historians are now studying the varied, complex and interesting personalities and events of the reign of Elizabeth I. The exam units on the Causes of World War II and the USA in the 20th century have now been completed.
Our Year 11 course is now nearing its end with the final lessons on Medicine Through Time. Revision for the summer exams should be well underway, and I have recommended various resources to help, particularly in the class Files on Teams. Good luck.
Geography
Year 6 have had an excellent term learning about Japan’s physical and human characteristics. In Year 7, pupils had the opportunity to complete a fieldwork investigation exploring the environmental quality of Skipton. In Year 8, pupils have been understanding the formation of tropical storms and then seeing the real-world impact of natural hazards on people and the environment. In Year 9, pupils have been evaluating the opportunities and challenges of living in hot environments, a topic that will only become more prevalent due to global warming. In Year 10, pupils have been analysing another global phenomenon, urbanisation. Year 11 pupils have just completed a unit on resource management challenge and are now in the final preparation for their GCSE examinations. We wish them all the best.
Year 7 pupils will be exploring the continent of Africa, exploring the human and physical characteristics and learning about different cultures and the opportunities and challenges of development. Year 8 pupils will be starting a topic on biodiversity and conservation, and we are organising a trip to Chester Zoo so that pupils can see the different strategies used around the world to protect species. In the summer term, pupils in Year 9 will be designing and building their own ecosystems to understand the functions of biotic and abiotic elements and their interdependence. Year 10 pupils will continue the GCSE course and learn about the changing UK economy.
Computer Science
Our Year 10 Computer Scientists have been gearing up towards an extended programming project to develop hands-on experience in software development and Python programming. Each pupil has made an excellent start to analysing and designing the algorithms needed to create a two-player dice game, and I look forward to seeing their results!
Next term, our pupils in Year 6 will begin the process of 3D modelling using TinkerCad – part of the Autodesk suite of 3D development tools. From some of our recent conversations, I know they are very excited about this! Year 7 and 8 pupils can look forward to programming in the Scratch and Python programming languages, learning incredibly important skills for the digital era.
Pupils in Year 9 can make a head-start on achieving their Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA), and our Pupils in Year 10 will embark on the development of their extended programming projects.
I wish the Year 11s the very best of luck as we approach the GCSE examinations, and I will continue to support them through exam question practice and targeted intervention work based on their mock exam feedback.
ART
The year 8 artists have been experimenting with the use of clay and have been creating a clay skull head representing the popular festival Day of the Dead. Each pupil has worked extremely hard and shown a brilliant understanding of techniques for working with new material. We have just finished painting them and now display them in the classroom to inspire pupils for their next projects.
Next term, the year 9 pupils will start the construction of their 3D haunted house. Looking at the work of Morris Kantor for their inspiration, pupils will individually produce a 3D model, which will take them all the way to the summer term. They will use various materials and techniques to enhance their skills in creating texture to add an eerie effect.
Year 6 are currently understanding the importance of mark making within art and applying this to their painting. Year 7 pupils will be exploring the work of Tamara Phillips and her sea animal illustrations. They will be using watercolour to create a canvas of their chosen sea animal and will be practising using different techniques.
Year 10 have been building up their portfolios and will continue to do this after Easter. Year 11 are working towards their GCSE on the 9th and 10th of May I wish them the best of luck!
Music
This term, our year 6 class have been exploring the music of India. Whilst creating their own music compositions in the classical and Bhangra styles, they have explored a number of traditional Indian instruments and compositional devices.
I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing and listening to their work this term, and I am enthused to hear what they write next!
Next term, our year 6 pupils will be appreciating Vivaldi’s ‘Four seasons’ and applying techniques from these works to their own compositions. In this topic, pupils will use the Glockenspiels and note their ideas on graphical scores.
Our year 7 pupils can look forward to beginning to learn the violin. We will learn how to maintain the violin, perform it with the correct posture and hold, and learn several beginner pieces and exercises.
RE
Pupils in Year 7 have been exploring the Christian faith and the role of the faith in the modern world. Year 8 have been exploring religious ethics. Pupils have looked at key ethical issues, such as human rights and understand the influence religion has had in shaping morality. Year 9 have been learning about Christian beliefs and teachings. Year 10 have been learning about Judaism as part of the GCSE requirement to learn about another major faith. We wish Year 11 the best of luck with their exams.
Year 7 RE lessons after Easter will continue to study the life of Jesus, the people who liked and disliked him, and the events leading to his death. Year 8 will be studying more examples of people who have used their religious beliefs to inspire great changes in the world. Year 9 will be learning about how Christians practice their faith. Year 10 will continue with the topic of Judaism.
Science
I have been incredibly impressed by how Yr 9, 10 & 11 students have applied themselves this term. The students have exhibited commendable dedication and effort towards their studies. Of noteworthy significance is the display of camaraderie and mutual support among the students, especially those in Yr 11. At the beginning of the term, I outlined my expectations and emphasised the need for each student to maintain a high level of focus and commitment in every lesson to attain their full potential. I am pleased to report that all students have lived up to these expectations, with Year 11 students demonstrating exceptional teamwork. The classroom atmosphere has been very supportive, with students working cooperatively to help one another learn and grow. They have fostered an environment where making mistakes is acceptable, without fear of criticism.
Looking ahead, I am excited to work specifically with the Year 11 cohort in preparing them for their biology examinations. We will continue to use various strategies, such as focusing on exam techniques, small group tuition and study groups, offering individualised feedback, and creating interactive learning activities. Together, we will maintain a positive atmosphere where learning is celebrated and every student is encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential in the subject. I am grateful to the Year 9 and 10 students who have equally demonstrated great dedication and commitment to their studies, making it a pleasure to teach them. I hope to work with them again soon.
In this term, pupils have learned a wide range of topics, year 7s have been exploring electricity by building and testing circuits, while the year 8s have been trying to understand how we see and the weird effects we can observe in light, and were recently able to work out how long it would take to walk around the Earth. Year 9s have continued to try to understand the world around us through the lens of energy transfers. Year 10 have been relating force to motion, including terminal velocity and the effect of collisions, while year 11 have been finishing off their physics studies by understanding the weird and wonderful events in space. Upper school physics pupils got to experience the exciting field of space physics by visiting Jodrell Bank.
In the next term, pupils at Tower College will continue along their physics journey, with the year 7s learning about energy and space, and the year 8s will continue to learn about motion before moving on to pressure, magnetism and the physics in the world around us. The year 9s will further their understanding of energy by learning about energy resources (a very topical subject given the current energy crisis), before they develop their understanding of electricity. The year 10s will finish their understanding of forces by studying pressure in solids, liquids and gases, including atmospheric pressure, before moving on to their study of waves and how they can explain physical phenomena around us. Lastly, the year 11s will finish their exploration of space and become more familiar with the topics covered so far before they begin their final steps at Tower College, their exams.
Homework will mainly be set on Seneca, as they are now; details for each homework will be set on epraise.
In this term, some pupils have used Seneca productively as a resource and have scored brilliantly. Well done to those pupils for their outstanding achievement!
- Year 7 – Nathan Macauley
- Year 8 – Jessica Barry
- year 9 – Deyang Chow
- Year 10 – Rodrigo Gutierrez
- Year 11 – Alfie Moss, Cedric Fung, Rees Wong (all 100%)
To help pupils in year 11, physics booster will continue to be run on Tuesdays after school, continuing from the day we come back (Tuesday, 18th April)