Our Manor 26 February - 1 March 2024

Welcome to this week's newsletter

Dear families,

We are into week one of a really short but busy half term. Well done to Year 11 and 13 students who have approached their second set of trial exams with an excellent attitude, driving themselves forward, one step closer to their dreams and ambitions.

We have also had a Curriculum Day this week - please read the article below to find out all about the activities your child was involved in.

Thank you our geography team who have had a wonderful time completing fieldwork in the Lake District with Year 12 this week.

We are looking forward to Manor students representing the school in The Big Sing at the Royal and Derngate next week.

Looking even further ahead to September, we are excited to welcome into our family our new Year 7 cohort following secondary offer day. We are also ready to start the GCSE options preference process for Year 9. If you are a parent/carer of a Year 9 student, please read the vital information further on in this newsletter.

Finally, thank you to everyone who had a lesson this week in which their normal teacher was absent. The supply cover staff have told us that they have had some of the best days in their peripatetic role, here at Manor School. Thank you for being ready, responsible and reliable.

Dr Newman and the Manor School family

Curriculum Day

Students were out of subject lessons on Tuesday 27 February for the second Curriculum Day of this academic year.

Year 7: STEM

Students in Year 7 participated in a variety of activities across the day which saw them using STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) to discover what is involved in making rockets.

The rocket design workshop involved students considering the different parts that make up a rocket and using their knowledge to design their own craft, making sure to incorporate both essential engineering features as well as their own unique aesthetic design.

In their rocket tech session, students learnt about the roles that some of the different components of a rocket play in a successful lift-off. They also looked at the relevant laws of physics and their associated equations, such as weight, drag and acceleration.

Further mathematical principles were put into use in a workshop centred around analysing and presenting data. Students studied the differences between bar charts and line graphs, seeing how sample data from a rocket launch becomes easier or harder to understand depending on how it is presented.

There were also more hands-on activities where students created miniature paper rockets that could be launched by blowing into a straw, before making larger rockets that could be launched from a pressurised pipework apparatus in a session led by visitors from the University of Northampton.

Student ambassadors from the University of Northampton were also on site to speak to Year 7 about education pathways and what it is like to study at college or university compared to being at school.

Year 8: Mental health and creativity

Year 8 students explored how being creative can improve our wellbeing by splitting into four subject areas designed to help educate others and promote mental health.

Students in the art group created a collaborative piece of art based on Mandala patterns. They first had to carefully transfer a pattern onto canvas using tracing paper, before deciding which colours they wanted to paint their design in with.

The dance group were tasked with choreographing a performance that represented a negative mental health situation which then transitioned into a positive message for the audience. They began by watching videos of dance performances and considering what message was being conveyed and which movements were the most powerful. They then used this to choreograph their own performance.

The third group of students explored how we can understand others through drama. Their first activity involved looking at three scenarios and considering how they and others would feel if they were involved in such situations. They then worked in small groups to develop a short performance based on similar scenarios. The performances had to include thought tracking, where characters pause the event to directly address the audience about how they feel about what is happening, as well as conclude with a resolution to the situation.

The English group looked at how reading and writing can play a vital role in helping us lead happy and healthy lives. They spent the morning participating in a number of different activities such as designing their own graphic novel spread where a character learns to understand and overcome their feelings, creating an inspirational message coaster, and having a go at journaling as a way to write about their feelings.

Students then shared their work and performed their creations within their tutor groups in the afternoon.

Year 9: World of Work

Having previously registered their interest in their preferred job sectors, Year 9 students attended three workshops from across the following organisations and employers:

  • Police (Northamptonshire Police)
  • Royal Navy
  • Leisure and fitness (Freedom Leisure)
  • Health and medical (NHS Careers)
  • Science (Unilever)
  • Adult social care (Rathgar Care Home)
  • Working with children & young people (University of Northampton)
  • Mental health (NHS Northamptonshire Healthcare)
  • Music (Northampton College)
  • Engineering
  • Fire service
  • Apprenticeships (Starting Off)
  • IT (Easi PC)

In these workshops, guest speakers talked about their own career journeys and what their current job involves. There was also the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience and ask any questions.

In the afternoon, students participated in The Real Game, which is designed to help students develop knowledge, skills and attitudes they will need to assess and make decisions about further education, training and career options.

Year 10: Making positive choices

The day’s theme for Year 10 was ‘making positive choices’, and so students attended a series of workshops to help them look after their own wellbeing and that of others.

In the first aid sessions, students learnt how to respond to an unconscious but breathing casualty by checking for danger, opening the casualty’s airway, looking for injuries, and putting the casualty into the recovery position. They also found out how to respond to an unconscious and non-breathing casualty through practicing CPR on dummies and learning how to use an AED if defibrillation is required.

Students also participated in three sessions on technology and relationships which were based upon the ‘Real Love Rocks’ campaign led by the children’s charity Barnado’s. The aim was to raise awareness of the impact of technology on young people and help them understand how to stay safe. By taking part in different activities, students looked at the law in relation to pornography and sharing content, gained an awareness of the potential impact of online behaviours, and were reminded of where to go for support and how to report online abuse.

There were further workshops on the topics of solvent abuse and mindfulness led by Re-Solv and Amy Bradshaw (Wellbeing Lead for the Nene Education Trust) respectively.

Year 11: Political parties

Year 11 students spent the day learning about government and democracy, with a focus on discovering more about political parties.

After an introductory session on political concepts and brainstorming questions they may wish to ask the guest speakers, students heard from representatives from the following parties:

  • Conservatives – Adam Fernley
  • Greens – Emily Fedorowycz
  • Labour – Leanne Buckingham
  • Liberal Democrats – Joe Norris
  • Reform UK – Edward McDonald

The guests spoke about their party’s priorities and how they as individuals are involved. There was also the opportunity for students to ask them questions such as their opinions on voting reforms.

A debate in the style of Question Time was then held in the Main Hall after lunch where students asked further questions, with guest speakers able to respond to each other about the matter at hand. This included discussions on university fees, the minimum wage for 16 year olds, and the regulation of social media.

KS5: Life beyond Manor

Our sixth form students participated in a variety of activities across the day to help prepare them for life after Manor School.

Year 12 began the day with sessions on critical thinking and the different types of courses/higher education establishments with a guest speaker from University College London. This was followed by finding out about degree apprenticeships, with former Manor student Hannah Iddon speaking about her own experience of the work & study pathway. Current Masters student Matt Hill spoke remotely to students about taking a gap year before starting university. The final event of the day saw students being introduced to student finance and learning how to manage their own personal finances via a presentation from a guest speaker from Montgomery Financial Planning.

Year 13 students were split into two halves based on whether they are planning to go to university or enter the world of work. The university group started with workshops on student finance and deciding between university offers, delivered by guest speakers from Exeter University and the Elephant Group. They also used resources developed by PiXL to aid with the transition to university. Meanwhile, the work group attended sessions on budgeting for independent living, updating their CVs and developing their cover letter writing skills. All Year 13 students also received MOT and car/motorbike maintenance tips from visitor Neal Collier, as well as having a cooking session on how to make pancakes.

National Careers Week

National Careers Week is taking place between Monday 4 and Saturday 9 March. All students will be participating in activities during their Work.World.Wellness. lesson on Monday, with KS5 students also attending a virtual careers fair.

Year 11 students who are interested in attending the virtual careers fair in their own time can do so via the NCW website.

Online safety

It can be difficult to find the right information to stay on top of your child’s internet safety. Internet Matters have therefore produced a free toolkit containing everything you need to support your child as they grow up in their digital world. Click the link below for full details.

Year 9 into 10 preferences

We will shortly be inviting parents/carers of Year 9 students to an introduction to the Key Stage 4 preferences process for 2024. The purpose of this process is to allow students to express a preference for the subjects that they would like to study at Key Stage 4 alongside the core curriculum. This can sometimes provide challenges for students and we know that the support and guidance offered by parents and carers is extremely valuable. The event is intended to ensure you have access to information about the various courses on offer and the process by which students can select their preference choices. It will also offer an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about individual subjects or the overall preferences process.

We will provide full details in due course but please be sure to note that the preferences information evening will be held on Tuesday 26 March.

Extra-curricular timetable

Please note that there are a couple of new clubs for this term, and that some languages clubs have changed day.

Click to enlarge

We also have an exciting new gospel choir club starting soon. See below for details.

Dates for your diary

House points