North Leamington School Parent Portal - NLS Parent Bulletin Summer 2

Year 7 – HTML & Microbits

This half term students have completed their learning on how to create a simple webpage using html including body, tags, head, images and hyperlinks. Some examples of what they have produced can be seen in the pic. Students have finished the year participating in physical computing by programming small computers called Microbits.

Year 8 – Binary Number System & Key Historical Moments
This half term students have completed their understanding of data and binary, how to decode denary to binary and how to add binary numbers. They have extended this knowledge into understanding how to convert binary to letters using ASCII and how computers covert binary to images and sound. Students have completed the year by investigating key moments and figures in the history of computing such as Alan Turing (cryptography), Sir Tim Berners-Lee (WWW), Charles Babbage (problem solving) and George Boole (Boolean Logic).

All of our GCSE students have continued to develop their programming skills using a high level language (Python). In addition to this …

Year 9 – GCSE Computer Science
Our Year 9 students have been looking at network security including various threats such as malware, phishing, brute force attacks, DoS, etc. They have also examined the various ways in which these threats can be minimised.

Year 10 – GCSE Computer Science
Students have moved onto answering exam style programming questions to demonstrate their understanding of python programming. On the theory side of things students are revisiting topics taught in Year 9 (Computer Architecture and Number Systems) and being tested on more in depth exam style questions.

Year 12 – A Level Computer Science
Students have continued to develop their programming skills using a variety of high level languages (Python, SQL, HTML, CSS and JavaScript). Students have also spent time learning about advanced Boolean Logic techniques including how to simplify using various rules plus Karnaugh maps. It is now time for them to finalise and present their project proposals ready for approval so they can be started without delay in September.

Extra Support – GCSE and A Level

For all our GCSE & A Level students there is a continued promotion of using the Smart Revise platform to develop and enhance student’s ability to recall information and facts plus improve their use of literacy and keywords around the subject. Your support by encouraging your child to engage with this at home on a regular basis is much appreciated. Each student has their own personal login and can access the platform on any device through a web browser.

Computing Club
The club now has a regular steady group of students numbers from Years 7 to 9. In addition to the Meowbit 2D game consoles and the Xbox’s we have invested in a programmable robot dog called ‘Bittle’ from Petoi.

CISCO Certificates & iDEA Award
We are still continuing to offer CISCO certification and came to the end of the ‘Get Connected’ course a couple of weeks ago. Our next certificate will go live in September, please keep an eye on the NLS website.

We also encourage all KS3 students to at least complete the Bronze award for iDEA. This is something students can access at home as well as in class, students have their own individual logins for these. This half term we have seen Jake, Finn and Anya complete their Bronze certificate. There are also Silver and Bronze awards to aspire to.

These courses are an invaluable addition to CV’s, references, College and University applications plus apprenticeships.

Competitions

The computer science department ran its first competition this year (more to come next year) and went ‘old school’ with Tetris! Our clear student* winner was Emego in Year 9, well done! He was given a limited edition pin badge only awarded to competition winners. We are hopeful of a Rocket League or Fall Guys competition at some point in the new term.

*Mr Butler needs an honourable mention here as he beat all students … including Emego!

Computing Literacy

The computer science department now has a selection of fiction, non-fiction and coding books plus a range of revision guides available to loan from either the department itself or the school library to supplement homework and NLS literacy focus as a whole (see pic for sample). We also have a large selection of computing magazines. We will be adding to this over the next year so, if you have any recommendations that you would like to see included, please email Mr Sycamore to add to the reading list.

In Science Club this year students have been exploring a range of different activities across Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Some activities have included making functional parachutes out of paper and straws, making crystals from copper sulphate and dissecting eyeballs! We’ve also undertaken chemical investigations to find out what is in Mrs Claus’ baking mix, made the most stretchy slime possible and used Bunsen burner skills to figure out what metal salts we have just by their colour! Students have practiced a range of key science investigation and safety skills that will set them up for the rest of their time at NLS. From the Science Club team, thank you so much for being such enthusiastic Scientists, and well done!

In Science, 7M has started a new module all about space. Their first task was to research the eight planets in our solar system to find out facts such as composition, colour, number of moons and rings, diameter, temperature, atmosphere and distance from the sun. Students then used these facts to produce a model of our solar system. The students really enjoyed this task and worked incredibly hard. They produced some fantastic models, well done.

Year 8 International Schools Project

Year 8s have been working on an International schools project, involving issues surrounding climate change, plastic waste and how this can impact our planet and its ecosystems. In the first lesson we spoke about what climate change is scientifically, and then spoke about what climate change means to them and the world they are living in. We then compared the world they are living in today with the world staff grew up in (only a decade or so before them!), and how much it had changed in just the last ten years. We spoke at length about how often we see a White Christmas, a reminder of the almost 40°C days we had last year, and their feelings for the future with electric cars, industry and deforestation. Both groups had some very strong feelings about deforestation, electric cars and plastic waste in the oceans, which later became the focus of our board games!

Using our discussion, the classes were split into groups of 3-4 and given a planning session to come up with ideas on creating a board game to both engage and educate people in issues such as climate change and plastic waste. The only limit was 3-4 players, and they must draw inspiration from the most competitive board game they’ve ever played! The students were then given 2 lessons with full access to glue, tape, scissors and coloured paper from me – they must supply the rest of their materials from home, and it must be recycled/reused, to link with the Reduce/Reuse/Recycle message! Over the two lessons, students created a wide variety of board games – from Monopoly and Ludo-inspired pieces to original “first to the end” style pieces. One group even made a completely original battleship style game, where every turn plastic infests more of the ocean, which may get in the way of your animal surviving to evolve! The result was over 10 different individualised and fully playable board games, most with instructions too!

Our students have the opportunity to stretch their own limits and explore the realms outside of their normal comfort zones by taking part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Participants on the scheme, select and set objectives in each of the following areas (over varying time frames depending on the level of award):

Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.

Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.

Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.

Expedition: planning, training for, and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.

Year 9 participants have been working towards their Bronze level award and completed their qualifying expedition on 30^th June and the 1^st July. They faced challenges, some of them walking twice the distance they were meant to and returning to the coach much later than expected – but all enjoyed the expedition and the rose to the challenges that were presented to them.

Their preparation for the expeditions has required them to learn how to set up their tents, learn basic first aid skills, learn how and what to pack on their expedition, learn how to cook on a trangia and what foods they will need take in order to be sufficiently fuelled. These after-school sessions have been great fun as well as key learning experiences and students have progressed superbly well towards their goals for the expedition.

Our Silver DofEers completed their practice expedition on the 8^th – 10^th June and then their qualifying expedition last weekend of the 14^th – 16^th July. On this last one, they were challenged by three days of climbing The Long Mynd in Shropshire – “Mynd” means mountain in old Brittonic, so by its name you get a sense of the heights and inclines they faced!

Added to this the less than clement weather we faced: rain (seemingly from all directions), gale force winds, hail, sleet… you name it, our students faced it! Thankfully, the threat of thunder and lightning by-passed us.

Despite these conditions and the terrain, our students absolutely smashed all three days of the expedition and came out smiling at the end. They are an absolute credit to themselves, their families and the school and I could not be more proud to have led the team to take them on their expeditions this year.

There will be an awards’ evening to celebrate the students’ achievements, share phots and stories and for the students to collect their certificates in September. Further details to follow.

In September we are again launching Bronze for Year 9 students, Silver for Year 10 and, for the first time at North Leamington, the Gold Award for Year 12 students. Again, further details are to follow so please look out for these.

Alternatively, and if you wish to have any more information about The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, please contact jbarrett@northleamignton.co.uk

Astronomy Club
We are delighted to share with you the extraordinary achievements of our talented Astronomy Club students. Throughout the year, their unwavering dedication and passion for the subject have propelled them to accomplish remarkable feats. Here's a glimpse into their fascinating journey:

One of the highlights of the club's activities was the in-depth research conducted by our students on famous astronomers. They delved into the lives and contributions of notable figures in the field, such as Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Edwin Hubble. This research deepened their appreciation for the significant discoveries made throughout history, and they eagerly shared their findings with fellow students.

To showcase their newfound knowledge, our creative students produced impressive display. These displays presented captivating information about the different fields within astronomy, as well as the remarkable achievements of the astronomers they studied.

The Astronomy Club also provided students with hands-on experiences. They eagerly undertook the challenge of building their own telescopes, learning the intricacies of assembly and alignment. This practical endeavor allowed them to understand the inner workings of telescopes and appreciate the technical skills required to manipulate these instruments for celestial observation.

Excitement reached its peak when the students had the opportunity to use real telescopes for their observations.

In addition to exploring the depths of space, our students also ventured into the world of rocketry. They eagerly designed, built, and launched water rockets, mastering the principles of propulsion and flight. The exhilaration of watching their creations soar into the sky sparked their enthusiasm for science and engineering. Even when faced with setbacks, such as failed launches, the students persevered, using each attempt as an opportunity to learn and improve their designs.

We commend our Astronomy Club students for their remarkable dedication, teamwork, and creativity. Through their participation, they have developed an array of skills that extend beyond the realm of astronomy. They have honed their research and presentation abilities, cultivated critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fostered collaboration and teamwork, and gained practical hands-on experience in constructing telescopes and rockets.

We are immensely proud of our Astronomy Club students and believe that their experiences will shape their personal growth, ignite their curiosity, and inspire them to pursue further scientific exploration. We encourage you to support and celebrate your child's passion for science and astronomy, as their achievements have truly been awe-inspiring.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Astronomy Club's activities, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Science department.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Supreme Court has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time (Platt v Isle of Wright 2017). The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school ‘regularly’ means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996.

The regulations regarding Leave of Absence (The Education (Pupil Regulations) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by Education (Pupil Regulations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.) advise:

Head teachers shall not grant any Leave of Absence during term time unless they consider there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

If the leave is granted, Head teachers are able to determine the number of school days a child can be absent for.

It is for the Head teacher to decide what is ‘exceptional’ and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. When making an application for Leave of Absence in advance parents are advised to give sufficient information and time to allow the Head teacher the opportunity to consider all the exceptional circumstances and to notify parents of their decision. It is advised that if the resident parent has not received notification or a response regarding the leave of absence application, it is their responsibility to ascertain if the leave is authorised prior to the start of the leave.

The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent ie the parent with whom the child normally resides.

Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Where a leave of absence is requested, but additional days taken either prior to or after the request may be considered as part of the leave of absence and could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s).

Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case-by-case basis and on its own merits.

Leave of Absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation. This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’. This may result in legal action against the parent, by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice. All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council.

It is important to note, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of £120 each, totalling £240 for both children, this is reduced to £60 per child if paid within 21 days).

Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings under S444 Education Act 1996.

Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices.

Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority

Warwickshire School pupils recorded 96,366 half day sessions of absence due to holiday in the Academic year 2021/22.

Is your teenager risking their future driving record by using escooters

Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership is urging parents to consider the potential long-term consequences of letting their teenager or child ride an escooter.

As well as it being illegal to ride a privately owned escooter in any public place in Warwickshire, it could affect your teenager’s ability to apply for a driving licence when they reach the legal age.

This is because escooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and this opens up their riders to a raft of offences as riders need to have a driving licence and insurance to ride them. This also means if they were to be made legal, the minimum age allowed to ride one is currently 16 years old.

There is a long list of offences that could be committed by escooter riders in Warwickshire. These include:

No insurance - £300 fine 6 points on licence
No driving licence - £100 fine 3 points on licence
Using mobile phone or other handheld device whilst riding - £200 fine and 6 points on licence.
Riding through a red light - £100 fine 3 points on licence
Riding on the pavement £50 fine.

All of these can be considered by the police, but they will usually report or charge for the most serious offence.

But that’s not all. Escooter riders under 17 years old commit the same offences as adults and will be treated the same. This means that if a young rider is prosecuted for no insurance the 6 points will be held on a ‘ghost’ licence by the DVLA. When your teenager reaches the legal age to apply for their driving licence the points are added and they could be instantly disqualified from driving. The points are ‘spent’ after 3 years and they can then reapply for a licence. However, this could have an impact on their insurance for years to come.

If they are involved in a collision whilst illegally riding an escooter they must comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 which defines an escooter as a motor vehicle. This means they must stop and exchange details if property has been damaged and report it to the Police if someone has been injured. Failure to do so could result in your teenager being arrested. Failing to stop at the scene and failing to report are separate offences to those already being committed by riding the escooter and may see riders receive a much harsher sentence.

There are also consequences for the parents.

As it's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned escooters, it's illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces. This means if an escooter is involved in a collision the rider could face a large compensation and legal bill in addition to any criminal proceedings. If the rider is a juvenile then these costs could be passed on to parents or guardians to pay.

Warwickshire Police Inspector Jem Mountford said “As well as being illegal, there are real concerns for the safety of escooter riders and other road users including people with sight loss, the young, old and disabled.

“Because they are illegal we believe the number of collisions and injuries involving escooters could be under reported in Warwickshire. Nationally, provisional data from 2022 shows there were 1349 collisions involving escooters resulting in 1437 casualties and 12 fatalities. This is a real concern and could be just the tip of the iceberg. These fatalities included a 12 year old boy riding one on his way to school and a 71 year old lady who was hit whilst walking on the pavement.”

Recently, we have seen the results of the latter case in Nottingham where a 14 year old boy was in collision with a 71 year old woman pedestrian on a footpath which resulted in her death. The rider was found guilty of causing death by riding whilst uninsured and other than in accordance with a driving licence. He was sentenced to a 12 month referral order and given a 5 year driving ban. His parents were given a 6 month parenting order and ordered to pay his Court Costs and Victim Surcharge as they had bought the escooter for him and allowed him to ride it.

We are urging parents to consider other options such as a new bicycle, as a legal alternative.

For more information Advice on e-scooter usage | Warwickshire Police

Reported road casualties Great Britain: e-Scooter factsheet year ending June 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Head Teacher's Message

Updates on removal of single use plastic bottles and catering