Welcome to this week's newsletter
This week has flown by at Manor. The weather has changed throughout the week, but our students have remained consistent - still smiling, being courteous and working hard in lessons. Walking around the school, it is a pleasure to walk into lessons and see students focused and teachers getting them involved in their learning.
We were lucky to welcome some guests to the school on Thursday who spoke to - and answered questions from - Year 9 about apprenticeships. Our guests included apprentices from manufacturing, hospitality, construction, law and IT. This was a great opportunity for students to see the variety of careers that offer apprenticeships, as well as the reality of being an apprentice and how competitive applying can be. However, having an ex-student as one of our guests showed our students that people from Manor can succeed in getting into an apprenticeship, despite the competition involved. We would like to thank the South Midlands Careers Hub for helping run the session and I would personally like to thank Mrs Mitchell-Bunce, Miss Smedley and Mr Hill in making this opportunity happen.
Thursday evening was Year 13 Consultation Evening and it was good to see parents/carers, students and teachers planning the last steps for our Year 13 cohort. The focus and application of our Year 13 students is currently brilliant. Their attendance is above the national average and they are leading the rest of the school in setting a great example. Our Head Students are making plans to hand over their roles and I will greatly miss their contribution to the school community. However, now it is time for Year 13 to focus on their summer exams and achieve the outcomes they need and deserve.
I enjoyed dropping in on the sixth form 'Journey to Work Day' today, where they received an insight into what the world outside of Manor is like. It also allowed our Year 12 and Year 13 students to work together to develop each other. Well done to Miss Collier for her hard work in putting the event together and ensuring it ran smoothly.
I am looking forward to a great weekend celebrating my son's birthday. I hope yours is as exciting, or relaxing if not.
Adam Crawte, Interim Principal
Year 9 apprenticeships assembly
Year 9 students attended a special careers assembly on Thursday 23 January on the theme of apprenticeships. Six guest speakers - including a former Manor School student - spoke about their experiences as an apprentice across a wide range of career fields. They also answered questions from our students about pay and how their training fits in around their time in the workplace.
Journey to Work Day
Our sixth form students participated in an off-timetable event on Friday 24 January, in which they took on the roles of potential employers and employees as they learnt everything that is involved when it comes to job applications.
Year 13 students created job adverts and person specifications for a variety of vacancies, as well as putting together questions and tasks for the application process. After researching the different job roles on offer, our Year 12 students went on to write a CV and cover letter as part of their application for the role they were most interested in.
Following a jobs fair in the LRC and a 1pm application deadline, interviews for the roles took place in the afternoon, with Year 13 students acting as the employer and Year 12 students as the applicants.
Year 8 Consultation Evening
Thursday 13 February, from 4pm
Bookings for meetings with teaching staff must be made using the Arbor app or online portal by following the link to the Consultation Evening on the dashboard.
You will be able to start making the appointments at 9:00am on Thursday 30 January, and the system will close to new appointments at 12:00pm on Wednesday 12 February.
If you have not already done so, the simplest way to register is to sign into the parent portal - please visit https://login.arbor.sc/ and select 'Forgotten password'. You will then be sent an email containing further instructions. Once you have registered, you can download the app from Google Play or the App Store and log in with your details.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding this event, please contact Ms M. du Pille on mdupille@manor.school
Sixth form applications
The initial sixth form application deadline has now passed (17 January) but will continue to remain open via our website application form.
Students should expect a conditional offer via email by Friday 21 March, including a link to the Applicaa portal - this is where the application will become live, and updates can be made leading up to GCSE results day through to the September start.
For any ongoing queries, please email sixthform@manor.school
Musical rehearsals
Please note that the following rehearsals for students involved in our production of High School Musical will last until 6pm:
- Tuesday 28 January
- Tuesday 4 February
- Tuesday 11 February
Snack shack
Please remind your child that they are able to purchase food and drink at break and lunch from our snack shack located on the quad. There is a covered seating area opposite the shack where they are able to consume their purchases.
Sports news
Cross country
On Saturday 18 January, three Manor students travelled over to Abington Park in Northampton to compete in the county cross country competition. All three students performed exceptionally well, and we are so proud of their achievement. Maxwell H came 28th in his age group, Amelia I came 50th, and Sophia M came 63rd.
Futsal
Our U15 girls futsal team played their fixtures on Thursday 23 January, showing an excellent level of skill and positive team work. We lost to Huxlow 4-1 and then beat Wollaston 4-2, with goals scored by Darcy C, Libby W and Amelie B.
Although the team will not progress to the school games finals, we are extremely proud of how they played and supported each other, all playing their part in goal and maturely managing the substitutions.
Well done to Darcy C, Libby W, Alanna B, Olivia M, Isla R and Amelie B.
Sports hall athletics
On Wednesday 22 January we hosted the final sports hall athletics event for NSport with 11 primary schools attending with their Year 3/4 teams. This meant our sports leaders were back in action again and they did not disappoint. Sarah Harvey from NSport expressed how this team of students really excelled to enable a smooth running of the event, and we have again received some positive feedback from the primary school staff who commend our leaders for their professionalism, kindness and maturity. It is wonderful to see these students really flourish in these roles!
Well done and thank you to Emily M, Lauren H, Lexi Y, Maisy B, Mia B, Charlie B, Jack S, Harry B, Evie M, Sara H, Elsabeth H, Ciaran B, Amelia I, Darcy C, Hollie H, Olivia C, Hallie M, James E-Y, and Emily C.
Upcoming careers event
Police careers talk, Wednesday 5 February
The role of a Police Officer can be exciting, tough and varied. There are many opportunities once you join Bedfordshire Police as an officer. To join us there are different routes available which are: PCDA (Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship), PCEP (Police Constable Entry Programme), & D-DHEP (Detective-Degree Holder Entry Programme), but also there is the PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) role and Special Constable too. Come and speak with a serving Police Constable to gain more of an insight into the realities of being a Police Officer, how to apply, the application process and the opportunities available.
This talk is open to Year 11-13 students, who should email lsmedley@manor.school if they are interested in attending.
Extra-curricular timetable
Please note the following notices in relation to PE clubs:
- There will be no KS3 basketball club on Monday 27 January.
- There will be no girls football club on Thursday 6 February due to a girls futsal fixture.
- There will be no clubs on Thursday 13 February due to Year 8 Consultation Evening.
Credits:
Created with images by vegefox.com - "communication speak bubble" • P Stock - "Curtain in the theatre."