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Our Manor 27 September - 1 October 2021

Welcome to this week's newsletter

As we move into October, it is a great opportunity to reflect on a really positive start to the academic year. One area I am working closely with this year is the Inclusion department. From a personal perspective, I am a parent of a child on the Autistic Spectrum and understand the challenges, stresses and barriers that we face in an ever-changing environment. We are delighted with the addition of Karen Stevenson (our Trust SEND lead) who has provided additional experience and capacity to drive inclusion forwards even further. We are a truly inclusive school, and our drive is to ensure our young people are employable, lead healthy active lifestyles and have a positive view of the world.

On Thursday there was an announcement from the government regarding adaptations to GCSE and A Level 2022 Summer examinations. The Senior Leadership Team and Curriculum Leaders are currently processing this information. Further details can be found later on in this newsletter.

This coming Wednesday we are holding our Year 6 into 7 Open Evening, and we are looking forward to showing our upcoming students what a great school we are.

Finally, as mentioned in last week's newsletter, it is important that your child is testing weekly using the Lateral Flow Tests and that we are informed immediately of a positive test. Please do not send your child in if they are displaying any symptoms.

Have a great weekend.

Glenn Martin, Co-Principal

2022 examinations

As you may have seen in the news recently, the government have now published their decisions on the proposed changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2022. They are also consulting on what contingency arrangements will look like should it be the case that examinations are unable to go ahead. We will be reviewing the new guidance over the next couple of weeks and will be in contact with families in due course to make them aware of how they apply to us and the students at Manor School.

In the meantime, the preparation for Summer 2022 continues for Year 11 and Year 13 with trial examinations approaching. Between 15 and 26 November, students will sit a series of internal examinations in all subjects that have a terminal examination component to help prepare them for the intensity of an extended examination period. We will write to students and parents/carers with further information and examination timetables nearer to the time, but would like to thank you in advance for your support in helping to prepare students for these important trial examinations

Data checking

Over the next few days we will be carrying out a data checking process to make sure that the contact details we hold for students, parents and carers (such as addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses) is correct and up to date. Please look out for an email over the next few days which will inform you on the day when your child’s year group has been issued with the details we currently hold on file. These will be given to students in a sealed envelope marked for the attention of parents/carers. Please check the details carefully – any out of date information can be updated by writing the new details on the sheet. All data sheets, including those containing correct information, will need to be signed and returned to the student’s form tutor.

Student lockers

Students in Years 7 and 8 who have recently purchased a locker via WisePay can now collect their key from student services.

Open Evening student ambassadors

We have had a wonderful uptake from students wishing to assist on our upcoming Open Evening. If you have given consent for your child to take part, then they are to arrive at main reception, in full school uniform, for 4pm on Wednesday 6 October. Students will be met, briefed, and will also be provided with some basic snacks. Please feel free to supplement this with any additional items which are appropriate. Students will be dismissed from 8pm. All students volunteering will also receive REACH points for representing the school in such a positive manner.

Sports honours

A couple of weeks ago we asked for students to inform us of any of their sporting achievements outside of school so that they can be added to our sporting honours board. We had a fantastic response and would like to share some of our students' successes in this week's newsletter.

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Thank you to all students who made themselves known. Names will be added to the honours board in the near future.

Rugby trip

Mr Parker has secured 25 spaces to see England v Tonga at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 6 November. Tickets are £25 each. If students would like to attend they must go to the PE office and sign up by this Tuesday. Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. All years are welcome.

Summer School

We may have just entered autumn but we're still thinking about how much we loved holding our Summer School in August. Click the link below to watch a video about everything that students got up to.

Manor Maths Challenges

In recognition of Maths Week Scotland and the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, this week's maths challenges are all linked to issues and consequences of climate change.

Online safety tips

This week's tips from National Online Safety are about how to set up parental controls for apps on both Android and Apple phones. You can download the guides by clicking on the links below.

PE notices

KS4/5 hockey club will not be on Monday 4 October – apologies.

Students who volunteered to be a part of the SSP Primary Tag Rugby festival will have been emailed by Miss Hustwait. There will be a training session for those selected on Friday 8 October after school until 4:30pm. Please could students check their email and confirm whether they still want to be part of this or not as soon as possible. Thank you to those who have already responded.

As we draw into the colder and wetter months, it is important to note that all students are still expected to participate fully in PE lessons. Should there be a medical reason as to why a student is unable to participate in PE, a medical note should be provided. A note from home excusing a student will not always be enough and students are still expected to bring their PE kit and change for lessons to then participate in their PE lesson, albeit perhaps in a different role. Students are encouraged to speak to their PE teacher to explain that they might not feel 100% and we will adopt an understanding and empathetic approach as we understand that we will all have days where we feel under the weather. PE is a compulsory requirement of the national curriculum, with an increased importance regarding wellness now more than ever. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Miss Hustwait, Curriculum Lead for PE

eSports Club

The Manor eSports club began on Friday 24 September with a small group of six students who were testing the network and Minecraft.edu edition. The club opens to the rest of the Year 8 cohort this week and is expected to be a popular club running until 13 November, when the gauntlet will be passed to a different year group.

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Teamworking in eSports is no different to more traditional sports, requiring good communication skills, problem-solving ability, planning and dexterity. As the club develops, students will work on more collaborative projects, and engaging in build battles where they are challenged, against the clock, to build specific items which are then judged by their peers.

Students will also learn about posture, good diet, the benefits of sleep and exercise.

Employment opportunities in the world of eSports are developing at a pace. A five-hour Twitch event, streamed on 23 September, drew in 183,446 viewers at its peak, with a prize pot of $50,000. The infographic below shows the current range of careers available to students, which is still evolving even now.

Raunds War Memorial Centenary