INSIDEOUT - CTC Kingshurst Academy · InsideOut April 2018 5 Update on LPPA Sinead Taker looks back...

INSIDEOUT

1InsideOut April 2018

CTC Kingshurst Academy’s Official Termly MagazineISSUE 48

April 2018ctckingshurstacademy @ctckaFollow us on:

Message from the Principal, Damon Hewson It is an absolute pleasure to once again introduce the latest edition of Inside Out, incredibly now having reached its forty-eighth edition. Looking back across all our previous editions to this one, what strikes me is the constant, consistent and rich range of opportunities and experiences that out students engage in, both at the academy and outside its gates. Once again our students showed their altruistic nature in whole heartedly supporting Sport Relief in a packed week of sport. I hope you enjoy seeing this snapshot of academy life as much as those students and staff whose ongoing effort and involvement enjoy experiencing it. Thanks, as always to Lee Fletcher, Tori Sutton and Mark Bragg for their hard work in providing our termly update and thanks to all out students and parents/carers for your continued efforts and support, respectively. I’d like to extend to you all my very best wishes for a happy Easter break and look forward to seeing you in the summer term. Damon Hewson

Sport ReliefCTC students and staff raised £1398 and surpassed our target of £750 to support Sport Relief. The charity helps vulnerable people, across the UK and the world, to live happier, healthier and safer lives. To support their good work, students took part in a wide variety of activities including penalty shoot outs, egg and spoon races, netball matches, hula hoping and much more. These activities took place over the course of the week and while having great fun, our students showed their altruistic side in supporting this worthy cause by giving up their time and money.

£1398

Explorer Dome brings Science to LifeOn Wednesday 14 March 2018 we were treated to a visit from Explorer Dome. The Dome itself is inflatable and holds over 30 people, being around 6m in diameter and 3.5m tall! The presenter, Jim, took five sessions involving Years 7 through to 10, with each session lasting 50 minutes – the outline of each being:

Space Show (KS4): The origin of the universe and

the evolution of stars. Cosmology, constellations, observational

astronomy and astrobiology. The relevance of space science in our lives

today and the possibility of life on other worlds.

Light Show (KS3): What light is and where it

comes from. How light travels, how we see,and an introduction to the

electromagnetic spectrum and invisible light, concave and convex lenses, how the eye works and why we see colour. Using mirrors, prisms, filters and more, enjoy a dazzling and enlightening display of

effects and hands-on experiments inside the darkened Dome.

The Human Body and Cell Show (KS4): A journey inside the biological cell to explore what

makes something alive. Their scale, diversity in form and function, from organisms to organelles, discuss

the units of life and get to grips with the genetic code. Chromosomes and genes, cloning and genetic engineering – what will be possible in the future and where do we draw

the line?!We are very grateful to Jim for his engaging and

enthusiastic presentations – the students (and staff!) had a great time and learnt some great science facts

through their entertaining delivery.

2 InsideOut April 20182 InsideOut April 2018

Space Show (KS3): An inspiring tour of our sun, solar

system, galaxy and beyond. Our sun as a star, its birth, death and the evolution of other stars. Refresh your knowledge about the spin, orbit and axial tilt of the Earth and

navigate through the seasonal night sky tonight with the legends from ancient

Greek mythology.

3InsideOut April 20183InsideOut April 2018

Chelmund’s Anglo Saxon Camp

4 InsideOut April 2018

New Developments in the Outdoor Education and Adventure CentreThis summer will see a number of changes in the outdoor centre as we improve on the facilities that we have and develop new ones to support student outcomes.

The “Vickers VC World War 1” trench now has a dedicated website to showcase all the work that is going on down there - www.ww1trenchexperience.co.uk. Our volunteers are busy creating more resources and are constantly on the lookout to acquire more genuine artefacts to add to our already impressive collection of battlefield antiques.

This summer will see more opportunities for students to get involved in the OEAC and for teaching staff to take their lessons outside to help student engagement.

Students may have noticed buildings being erected in the plot of land next to the OEAC. This is our new development that may primary school children and parents will be aware of. “Chelmund’s Anglo Saxon Camp” is named after Chelmund, a Saxon, who first settled in this area. The area will boast an Iron Age forge woodworking area and an animal enclosure.

This is what we are hoping the finished area will look like and will be ready for visitors in September to learn about life during the Saxon era.

To help us with this project we currently have seven students selected. They will learn about the process that this development will take and take a hands on part in building the structures required.

They will also be working towards the John Muir Award, an environmental award scheme to encourage an understanding of wild places. This is the second year that the Academy will have taken part in the award and we look forward to an increasing participation in the future.

OEAC

Coming Soon


Update on LPPASinead Taker looks back on the progress of the LPPA.

The LPPA is currently making good progress and the recent anxiety workshop went very well. If you would like to get involved please contact me.

English classes for parents are currently being held in K2 on Thursday evenings, these are going extremely well and the parents are really enjoying the classes. Hopefully this will support more parents getting back into work.

These are things we are hoping to set up next term - Coffee morning for SEND parents - Drop in for parents in the Hub- Catch up/drop-in lessons for parents and students to work together.

In partnership with Extended Services we will be hosting a CTC open day on the 9th June so everyone can see the great opportunities we have.

If any parents have any ideas on other classes they would like to see or would like to support these events, please contact me via [email protected]

A message for new Year 7 students starting in September 2018CTC Kingshurst Academy student Taylor Harrison offers our forthcoming intake a warm welcome and outlines what they have in store.

As all students know, everyone will be moving another year up soon, and as usual, we will be receiving a new group of Year 7 students. We are sure that we will get along well with the new students and will give them the best possible education. These students will first be brought to school for their interviews with their new form teacher to first get to grips with the school. Then in the upcoming half term, these students will come here for one day to do their tests to analyse their abilities so that the school can help them improve on their weak points. We hope that on the first day, students will give the Year 7 students a warm welcome so that they can work happily in a friendly and supporting environment.

When I first joined here with the current Year 7s, I was nervous, admittedly. However, with the help and encouragement of the teachers, we finally felt that we could achieve our goals! The new year 7’s will also be given the encouragement that we were given and, no matter what obstacles they face, we will make it absolutely clear that they will achieve their goals too. One final message for the Year 7s, if you are worried about anything, don’t keep it to yourself, tell a teacher.

World War 1 Trench Experience


Did You Know?

Eleanor Tyrrell Years spent at the academy2004 to 2011

Course undertaken in Post-16BTEC Health and Social Care

The highlight of CTC was that I had great teachers in all subjects that were taught to me. Staff were always willing to help if you were struggling with a subject, something which I at times needed more than others and without their help I don't think I would be where I am today. Staff were also friendly, polite and trustworthy. Friends I made during my schooling were also a highlight of my CTC experience.

By completing my Health and Social Care qualification at CTC, it allowed me to go into care as a level 3 healthcare assistant. I started in care homes through an agency company before I became a temporary bank healthcare professional at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT). I worked at Solihull and Heartlands hospitals and it was then that I realised I wanted to step up my career in care and I went for my nursing degree at university at BCU. This is where being at CTC helped me as I was used to the assignment module format from my Health and Social Care Diploma. The layouts, referencing and general context were all familiar which helped me be less apprehensive about starting this degree and transitioning from level 3 to level 4 (degree level). I now have been a nurse for two years in June 2018. The CTC also helped me as I took full advantage of all the resources I could find if I felt I was struggling, such as having extra tutorials, library resource books and searching online. At university, study was much more independent and you don't get that teacher support as much as at CTC. However, thanks to the inspirational teaching I received I was able to cope.

Tips for students• Keep working hard to reach your goal• Stay positive and always focus on the goal or achievement in front of you• Realise your own stress and how best to utilise it• Have fun and get the best out of subjects you’re learning! I would like to personally thank the CTC itself as well as the staff for all their help to get me where I am today, particularly Helen Smail, Lee Fletcher, Richard Jones, Margaret Palmer to name a few. I personally enjoyed my school and college experience and feel it really shaped me to become the person I am today. I hope the CTC continues to create positive experiences and helps their students to succeed like they helped me!

ALUMNI The CTC is a happy and vibrant community which for over twenty-seven years has been helping equip students with the confidence and skills to succeed in adulthood and play a positive role in society. We are an innovative, outward looking school responding to the changing needs of our students in order to help them enjoy their learning and achieve their potential.

If students are late into college they

MUST sign in with Natalie Grady in

D026.

FIRST CALL HOMEA reminder that if your child is not going to be at college, for a legitimate reason, then parents need to contact the college by 8.00 a.m. at the latest, on the day of absence on:

0121 329 8300or0121 329 8307

When college is closed, messages can be left on the answering machine.Switchboard is open from 7:30am

AFTER COLLEGE ACTIVITIESIf students are staying in collegeafter 3:05 p.m. for any reason(sports practices, after school clubs/rehearsals, homework club,interventions, catch up classes)then they MUST register at thestart of the session.

TELEPHONE IN ADMINISTRATION OFFICEStudents should only ask touse the telephone in the office for emergencies . A minimum charge of 20p will be made for each call.

Oxford and Cambridge student conferenceA group of Year 12 students visited the “Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference” at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in order to support them in the specific nature of applying for these institutions.

The Year 12 cohort were quite literally, given substantial space at the cricket ground and were afforded light and airy views of the pitch in many of the rooms in order to make for a more motivating educational environment.

Over 30 different sessions were available over the course of the day so students therefore had full control of the five seminars that they elected to attend in order to provide them with the information they require for the specific routes they plan to apply for. Seminars that our students attended included: Medicine, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Psychology, English, Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, Engineering, Economics and Computer Science.

The students found the visit very informative and we hope that it will enhance their employability prospects upon leaving the academy.


World War 2 Outreach Project and new websiteCTC Kingshurst Academy sent its World War 1 trench experience outreach team to teach year 6 youngsters at Castle Bromwich Junior School about World War 2. Extending our focus to include learning about World War 2 is the next phase in the evolution of the trench

The focus of this visit was on the impact of the Second World War, and in particular the impact of the blitz on Birmingham. As with all the projects in the OEAC, student input and support to the programme is essential. The outreach team was supported by Oliver Fullwood who accompanied Mr Fletcher, Mr Jones and the team. According to Oliver, “It is really interesting for the students and because it’s practical with lots of props, it really was something the children really enjoyed and learned a lot. Many never knew the significance of Spitfire Island but do now”.

The outreach programme utilises local experts who have volunteered to support the CTC with the development of the “Vickers VC World War One Trench”. David Vaux, Paul Jacques, John Smith and Tony Fox have been incredibly supportive and are helping shape the development of the trench so we can maximise its benefits to the school and wider community. They visit the battlefields in France on a regular basis and have furnished the trench with lots of original artefacts. We are extremely grateful to them.

We are delighted that staff form the Hilton Group will be volunteering to support work on the OEAC as part of their CSR programme. We would welcome any organisation who wishes to support the development of the OEAC as we strive to make this an unrivalled national educational and community resource.

We work with community groups and schools to ensure that the sacrifices made during the war are remembered. To find out more on what we offer, and how you could help, please visit www.ww1trenchexperience.co.uk.


www.ww1trenchexperience.co.uk



Outdoor Education and Adventure Centre Half TermOutdoor Learning instructor Dan Jones, looks back on an enjoyable week using this innovative resource for all those involved.Between the 19th and 23rd February, students from the CTC Kingshurst Academy had the opportunity to take part in a programme of activities daily from 10.00am until 3.00pm.

The holiday programme provided activities that would challenge the students both physically and mentally, encourage them to work together and to enjoy each other’s company. There was a good variety of activities during the week and each session allowed for differentiation within the group.

The Low RopesThe students started the programme on the low ropes course. This activity is challenging physically as it requires good balance and agility, as well as the ability to work and help each other. All the students enjoyed this activity and were able to manage their own use of the facilities responsibly and safely. The cave was also used to challenge the students. Moving around the confined area in the dark took the students out of their comfort zone as many of them initially felt uncomfortable going in. They all chieved this and this gave them a sense of achievement that comes with overcoming fear.

ArcheryArchery proved to be very popular with all students taking part and they all improved their accuracy. The ability to shoot the arrows requires good hand eye co-ordination and isometric strength. The games enabled the group both to work together but also introduced a competitive edge to the games whilst improving numeracy skills.

Trench ExperienceThe WW1 trench gave the students a trip back in time, they were able to see and handle artefacts brought back from the battlefields of Europe. There are the casings of exploded shells and barbed wire but also tin cans and can openers which brings home the humanity of the subject. The session culminated in a trip into the trench to experience what life would have been like for the soldiers living there. The outcomes for this activity were different from the others, in so much that it allowed the students to consider the sacrifice that individuals have made and how that sacrifice has enabled them to enjoy the freedoms that they have.

Fire LightingStarting a fire and maintaining it long enough to boil some water requires knowledge and skill particularly when your fuel is wet and you have no matches. Preparation and patience are the key elements in this activity. Instructions needed to be followed both for safety and for success. The students used kelly kettles and fire steels to ignite the fire. The challenge was to boil some water for tea. The science behind fire was addressed in a practical way. The students were all keen to do this activity and it gave them a challenge they were all keen to meet. They were all successful.


If you would like to take use the OEAC, there is an OEAC enrichment every Tuesday and

Wednesday during the summer term.

Shelter BuildingThere is a hazel coppice at the back of the academy. The students were taught how to coppice hazel and then build a shelter with the timber collected. This is a physical activity but more essential to success is the ability to work together to the same design. Hierarchies developed with students showing leadership skills as well as different leadership styles. Success also required spatial awareness as well as an understanding of basic engineering. The final design was based on a North American tepee.

TennisThe CTC Academy is very fortunate to have its own tennis coach. Students enjoyed a day of tennis coaching where they took part in many competitive games. They also took part in activities to develop their inter-personal skills and challenge themselves. They were given a racquet as a reward for their efforts and we hope they will continue to participate as part of CTC Tennis Hub’s extensive community programme.

Pond DippingThe pond allowed us to look at the diverse eco-system it accommodates. The students found various creatures in the pond and were asked to identify them and consider the relationships between them. The carnivores and herbivores, primary and secondary consumers. As we developed the theme, the students began to understand that we are also part of the jigsaw.

Fire CircleThe fire circle may just seem the place where we sit keep warm and eat. It is however an essential element of the programme. Fire helped the group settle and concentrate. Listening was easier when you they were looking at the flames. It is in the fire circle that we talked about the day and what was good what was bad. We discussed how we felt and what we can do to feel better. The group enjoyed some bacon sandwiches cooked on the fire on the last day. It was a nice way to end a hugely enjoyable week.


NCSCTC Kingshurst Academy is an NCS Champion School in recognition of the huge importance we place on the programme as a vehicle to support academy students personal development and ultimately improve their life chances. Last year we had more students taking part from Solihull than any other school in Solihull.

Are you in Year 11 and still unsure about NCS?The good news is that there are still come places left this summer for Solihull students. Mr Fletcher is a keen advocate of NCS and will be accompanying NCS on their stand during year 11 parents evening and on Monday 23rd April at lunch time. Here he provides further information for those still unsure whether it is for them.

“When I look back on school, the best things I remember are the extra-curricular opportunities we experienced. Taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh programme, numerous sports teams, school trips and even productions made school an enjoyable experience and provided me with fantastic experiences. At the CTC we strive to provide you with similar opportunities and the NCS is something I would have relished taking part in.

You are fortunate to have this opportunity and having spoken to previous students who have taken part, I don’t want a single CTC student to miss out. With the programme open to all Year 11 students in Solihull time is running out. NCS offers academy students an unbelievable opportunity to experience a “Cleobury Mortimer” type adventure holiday (except better), experience university life in university accommodation with your friends learning about something that interests you such as the media, business or sport. Finally you work with other NCS friends on a group project in the community and make a difference.

The NCS experience costs £1500 to provide. However, the government think it is that useful to you that they subsidises NCS so that you can enjoy all this for only £35! Universities and employers really like NCS and participation in NCS will increase your chances of a successful application. It is important to remember that for most Year 11 youngsters this summer will be one of the longest holidays you have ever had as you break up after their last exam and do not return to the academy until early September. Your holiday post GCSE results is longer than your normal six weeks, in fact you have about 12 weeks so please make the most of this opportunity and take the Challenge!

I have been asked many questions by students and here are the most common FAQs should you have the same enquiry.

NCS FAQ Together with my colleagues at NCS we have answered these questions that you have asked. Should you have anything you are unsure about, please speak to me or email me ([email protected]) and we will answer your question and publish our response in our FAQs on the academy website so you can decide.

Where will the young people stay at night during the residential parts?There are a range of accommodation options available during NCS, and the specific accommodation will vary by programme. Details of the accommodation for each programme will be sent out to participants approximately one month before the programme start date.

All our accommodation is single gender (for example separate dormitory rooms, yurts, tents, and so on) and comes with all the necessary amenities, such as access to showers and power plugs. Some accommodation, including bathrooms, may be shared with other young people, but it will only be with participants of the same gender.

What if a young person only wants to take part if they can be with their friend/s?Young people can sign up with friends, and if they apply for the same date in the same area, and attend the same school, they have a good chance of being on the same programme. Once they have both signed up, the young people can request to be on the same team. We will then do our best to take this into consideration. Although we cannot guarantee they will be on the same programme, signing up early will increase the chances of this.

Can I share a room with my friend?NCS is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Young people can let us know that they would like to share a room with their friend who has signed up to the same programme as them once signed up! We will need to know the name of the young person and the friend they wish to share with. Please note: we will try our best to accommodate these requests but we cannot guarantee them. Accommodation on NCS is single gender and so we cannot accommodate room sharing requests for young people of different genders.

Please remember that the majority of young people’s time on NCS will be spent on exciting daytime activities, so please don’t let the accommodation arrangements stop you from taking up this unique opportunity!

What do I need to bring on the NCS programme?The packing list will be included in the NCS info packs that we send to young people with confirmed places and their parents or guardians. We send these out approximately one month before the start of the programme. Parents or guardians will receive their programme packs either by email or by post, usually depending on the preference they selected on the application. Young people will receive their own information pack by email. We provide any special equipment for NCS activities, so you do not have to buy any of this. Please note that we are unable to insure personal belongings.

Where will my programme take place?Each NCS programme takes place within the UK. We are aware that you will be keen to find out the locations for your programme but we can only send out further information about the exact locations approximately one month before the start date of each programme. This is because we can only send this information once the venues have been confirmed for each of our many programmes.

Participants will need to travel to a meeting point which is usually within or near to their local area. We will then arrange transport to take young people to any venues that are further away. Young people and their parents or guardians are responsible for organising their travel between home and the meeting points at the start and return times which will be shown on their timetable. The good news is that as part of our extended services provision we are hoping to be Solihull’s venue for the NCS programme this summer so you will be in a convenient and familiar base.


“The time of my life” – National Citizen ServiceStill unsure whether NCS is for you? Here we look back on a previous CTC student’s experience and track Jack Vasey’s journey from the introductory assembly to participation in NCS. Jacks experience provides an excellent example of the impact the programme has, an experience which he considered, “The time of my life”.

An NCS representative talked about the challenge of completing the NCS course in assembly. I thought that it sounded like an excellent opportunity, especially the adventure week in North Wales. I was excited and worried at the same time about participating. I was concerned about going on my own and not having any of my friends there. I spoke to my family about my worries and they told me they were confident that everybody would be in the same situation and I would make new friends. Being reassured, I decided to sign up for the adventure.

The big day arrived; I said goodbye to my family and walked into the hall. Gathered around in groups was a mixture of boys and girls all probably feeling as apprehensive as I was. We were organised into teams of about ten or eleven. In my team and a total surprise was Josh Murphy, who has been a good friend for many years. At least I had someone I knew! Our team was called Reiss and we were the best! Later that morning we all played games and took part in team building exercises which helped us make friends within our group. Once the fun and competitiveness kicked in I started to make some new friends. After lunch we boarded the coach and set off to North Wales. We were sitting together in our groups all chatting and laughing and having a good time. The journey went really quickly as I had met some great new people, all with lots of stories to tell. We all got to know each other during the three hour trip. Everybody was excited and when we arrived and we were all wondering where we would be sleeping and more importantly what we would be eating as we were starving. We had time to get settled in and relax before wavetime (everybody together) in which we were given our assigned activities for the week.

Over the next few days, Team Reiss (the best!) went coasteering, climbing cliffs and jumping into the sea which was freezing. It was funny to hear the gasps and screams as people jumped into the water. Next day, my team went kayaking and we all donned life jackets and had a safety talk. Then we paddled out onto the lakes between the mountains of Snowdonia which was lovely but freezing. During our journey back to shore there was some ‘over enthusiastic’ paddling and some deliberate splashing, resulting in more water inside the kayak than in the lake! The final thing we did was to have a race back to the shore. Our kayak decided to prolong the race and prevent the other boats from winning by cutting them off using our kayak as a barrier. After what some people may say constituted cheating, we made it back to the shore first.


Thoughts from my mother about the programme:

“I always encouraged Jack to try new experiences as I believe they will help

make him into a responsible adult. I sent him with his mobile phone and requested

a text or a call on arrival to North Wales. After I sent many text

messages and made many unanswered phone calls, I finally received an

apologetic message from Jack. He was having such a great time he’d forgotten!”

“ This such a great opportunity for Jack to experience life at university, teaching young adults life skills which help make

them independent and self-reliant. Jack came home with lots to tell us and many new friends. He has become more

confident and is very much looking forward to his future as a university

student. I would advise every young adult to take part in this opportunity as it is a

wonderful experience.”(Mrs Vasey)

Day four was expedition day and we had all been eagerly awaiting this adventure. Our task was to walk 11 miles through treacherous hills and mountains in deep, dark Wales (I swear the sheep were giving us funny looks). One of the girls was convinced that the sheep were stalking her. There was no singing but lots of moaning coming from a couple of the girls but I didn’t see any problem with the walking. However, it was very funny to hear the girls suffer until we stopped. Later that day, we pitched our tents and set up camp. We had to cook our own dinner. I didn’t struggle too much as it was ‘boil in a bag’. Some of the others were a little more ambitious and ended up wishing they, too, had boil in a bag! It was an early rise on day five to walk back and get packed up ready to catch the coach back home. There was minimal conversation on the way home because of everybody feeling drained. I enjoyed the peace whilst it lasted.

After a weekend of much needed sleep we met up at Grace Academy on the Monday with our cases packed ready to go and stop at Coventry University Halls of Residence. Team Reiss (the greatest!) were assigned drama as our subject for the week. We had to devise a performance about our community partner which was a retirement community home. We spent a couple of days visiting the retirement home talking to the elderly, playing games and doing various other activities which was a lot of fun. At the end of the week our performance took place. The performance provided insight into our time spent at the retirement home which our parents and family were invited to watch. Our performance was a collaboration of the residents’ memories which we acted out much to the enjoyment of the audience. Every group did a presentation but in their own unique subject, for example photography, music, media and sports. Ours was still the best! Every evening we travelled from Grace Academy to Coventry University halls of residence. We were expected to live independently as a student, planning and cooking our own meals for which we were given a budget for the ingredients. There was a mentor on site at all times supervising just in case we needed any assistance or blew up the kitchen. We’re all still alive so we must have done something right!

Week three was campaign week. We had to pitch in a Dragon’s Den style to local business owners and employers to obtain funding for our campaign, ‘#breakthesteroldtype.’ We were successful in raising funds for our campaign; our target was £50 and we raised £45. We then went into Solihull to raise awareness to the public about negative stereotypes of the elderly. The campaign was very successful as we had many people agree that there should not be negative stereotypes toward the elderly.

I graduated with my team and attended an official ceremony where I wore a mortar board and received a certificate. One of the young ladies in my team wearing very high heels nearly fell head first into the audience and would have without my help. There were many speeches to congratulate us on completing the challenge. They also explained to us about our ongoing involvement in the NCS programme where we can all reunite in the future.

After completing all three weeks, I have made some life-long friendships and created lots of unforgettable memories. I am so glad that I took the challenge.


“The time of my life” – National Citizen Service


Boys’ football updateMr Cronin provides an update on his year 11 team who have been engaged in their best cup run so far. According to Mr Cronin, “The CTC crashed out in the quarter finals. After a dramatic cup tie away at Arden the year 11 boys were faced with extra time and penalties in the quarter finals of the Birmingham cup. Daniel O'Mahoney opened the scoring in the second half with an exquisite volley from within the 18 yard box, however this was cancelled out late on when Arden managed to squeeze in an equaliser from a goal-mouth scramble - penalties loomed. Unfortunately fortune did not favour the CTC boys on this day as Arden were victorious winning 4-3 on penalties. The year 11 boys can however be extremely proud of their best cup run during their tenure at the CTC.”

U13 Girls Football Team into the Solihull Cup FinalAn ebullient Miss Lowe looks back on the recent progress of her football team who are continuing the academy’s fine record of success in girls’ football. “The U13 girl’s football team have made it through to the Solihull Cup final after a close semi-final match v Smithswood School. After finishing 3-3 in normal time and goalless in extra time, it went to penalties and CTC held their nerve to win 3-1. They will now play St Peters in the final after Easter, where they will hope to retain the cup for the 2nd year running. The U13 success has also led to them going through to the level 3 school games competition representing North Solihull, this will take place at CTC on the 28th March.”

Trampolining successThis term saw huge success for the Year 8 Trampolining team. The girls competed against nine other teams from across Solihull and

showcased an array of outstanding talent and demonstrated remarkable composure in an exciting competition. The

girls showed true class and comfortably brought home the gold medal. Special mention must be made to Emily, Sophie and Lily-Mae who scored

near perfect scores and Rubi who stepped in on the day, learnt two new routines

and scored well. The girls were a credit to themselves and the school and we are all

very proud of all of them. We look forward to seeing how the girls get on at the next

round of competitions!

Tennis for Kids“Tennis for Kids” is a fully LTA-backed initiative to give children aged 4-11 a chance to get into tennis. For £25, players get 6 coaching sessions, their own racket and a personalised t-shirt. As well as this any players booked on to a Tennis for Kids course get a promotional rate on the courses at CTC Tennis Hub, so there’s even more incentive to continue playing tennis. The event goes live nationwide on April 5th and we have courses set up online now which are ready to run at CTC Tennis Hub. If any are fully booked, we will create more, so please see www.ctctennis.co.uk for further info and secure your place.

Come and Play!


Professional basketballer supports our Basketball enrichmentStudents have been improving their basketball skills with basketball coach Gevaghn Bramble, who himself has played at a high standard with Birmingham Bullets and England Under 18s and is imparting his skills to our youngsters. The youngsters have also benefitted from a visit from Gevaghn who has coached Kofi Josephs who is a British basketball player in the British Basketball League for the Glasgow Rocks and the British National Team. Kofi put the youngsters through their paces and imparted a range of tips to help them improve their performance. Kofi told the students about his career which has encompassed:

German League record of 49 points & 51 points in one gameMost three pointers made in a game with a league record of 11Great Britain Senior Men’s InternationalJordan Brand Classic All Star College Freshman of the yearNike Midnight Madness All Star ChampionKofi now plays for Glasgow Rocks in the British Basketball League and is now in Australia for Commonwealth Games with England Basketball Team.

According to Gevaghn, “The students are very keen and in time we would like to organise some friendlies with local schools. I’ve seen some real potential and I look forward to helping them improve further. In the future I can see them playing at college level.”Having outstanding professional sports coaches working with our youngsters fits in with our strategy of providing our students with the best available, as reflected by our work with Solihull Moors FC, the Lawn Tennis Association and the Football Association.Basketball enrichment takes place every Friday between 3.15- 4.15pm in the sports hall.

Post 16 Solihull Moors FC Football Academy UpdateWe are now two thirds of the way through our first year of running the Post 16 Football Academy in partnership with Solihull Moors FC. The partnership is reflective of our aim engaging fully in a wide range of national and international partnerships focussed on improving provision in the academy.

CTC PE staff teach the youngsters BTEC Sport Science in the morning and SMFC coaches lead the coaching sessions, enter the teams into league and take them to matches. The academy now has 70 youngsters on roll and we have 90 enrolled for next year. This is a massive increase in numbers as a result of linking up with the premier non-league club in the region with high aspirations to continue their journey up the football pyramid.

The Post 16 Football Academy has been a great success with over 70 students in year 12 and 13. Students study for four mornings a week, followed by four coaching sessions. Wednesday morning they rest in preparation for a competitive match in the afternoon. Post 16 Academy players study the Extended Diploma in BTEC Sport. Our Post 16 provision was rated as being “Good” following its last Ofsted inspection and this was vindicated later that summer with BTEC Extended Diploma students achieving a joint highest academy record of D*DD. Our Post 16 Academy players are working hard to emulate this achievement and contribute to another record breaking year.

U18 Squad playing in the Midland Floodlit League with Coaches Simon Hawker and Darren Carter

Physio Michael Barrett

Coach Sam Manoochehri


Post 16 Solihull Moors FC Football Academy Update (cont.)

Players receive coaching Solihull Moors FC staff from a multitude of high quality coaches who have vast experience in the game, many at the highest level. The academy coaching staff includes ex Birmingham City, Sunderland and Preston footballer Darren Carter who grew up in Solihull and began his career with his home town club. He has gone down in Birmingham City history following his exploits at the age of 18. In a nail biting climax, his penalty in the 2002 First Division play-off final was decisive in clinching the club’s promotion to the Premier League. Darren now plays for Solihull Moors FC 1St team who play in the national league. Alongside Darren, Keith Bertschin is one of the coaching staff, who some of our parents may remember as having had an illustrious career with Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and Norwich before seeing out his career in the US.

The academy is supported by physiotherapists and every effort is made to develop the players academically and professionally.

For many players the end goal is to carve a professional career. Some have played in the first team while others have been signed by clubs including Josh Endall who was signed by Coventry City FC and Tyrese Shade who has been signed by Leicester City FC. Other players have been sent on loan to increase their chances. Regardless of whether they make it as a professional, the course will equip them with the skills to pursue a wide range of careers and consider options at 18 years of age such as coaching in America.

To find out more about the academy, please contact Academy Manager, Chris Curran on 0121 329 8300 or via [email protected]

Moors Academy FC 2017-18



SPORT

We hope you enjoyed this issue of InsideOut that, once again, illustrates the energy of the school as reflected by the multitude of activities taking place. Students and staff deserve great credit for the progress they have made. I’d like to thank Miss Sutton and Mr Bragg for their design skills and

all the students involved who shared their achievements.If you’ve any comments or suggestions about this issue you can contact me at: [email protected]. If any students are

interested in journalism and contributing to InsideOut please get in touch with me. Enjoy a relaxing Easter holiday! Lee Fletcher

LTA Tennis Leader CourseCTC students recently gave up their weekend to begin their journey into the world of tennis coaching. As the first state school in England to have an LTA full time tennis coach, we are able to provide as many Tennis Leaders courses as demand requires to ensure our tennis lessons at primary schools and in the community programme are as good as they can possibly be.

The course is for players aged 13 years to 17 years who are interested in helping at tennis sessions and gaining a tennis qualification. As a “School of Tennis” we will support our students with the LTA to progress up the coaching ladder and ultimately secure their Level 1 and 2 qualifications that will enable them to become a full time tennis coach if they wish or well-paid and enjoyable part time employment while they are studying. Here, Year 8 student Wendy Kong explains what they did during the course and how it will help her. On the 24th and 25th March the CTC held a tennis course which aimed to give for young people like myself a chance to be a Tennis Leader. This meant I needed to give up some of my time over a weekend to take this course to learn what I needed to know to become a Tennis Leader.

On the first day of the course, we learned how to set up a mini net and court. This was important because the school hosts mini tennis for young children and it is very difficult for them to play on a full court, so we have a smaller court and a smaller net for them to make it easier. We then listed the four main tennis strokes which are the backhand, forehand, serve and volley. Following this, we got in a group of five and completed a drill that Included: A feeder, a “hitter” performing backhands and forehands, a “shadower”, one “ball kid” and one player on an activity station. We rotated positions regularly so that everyone could have a go at everything. This was effective because it taught us that everyone has their own role and no one should be sitting out doing nothing as everyone should all be positively engaged. It also taught us the valuable skill that we need to be organized so we know what we are doing at all time. Furthermore, we need to manage our time well to achieve our goals in the session. Later, we spoke about the basic structure of the tennis court and where we need to be standing if we were playing a game. To help us memorize these key parts of the court, we played a game where Ambrus shouted each part of the lines on the courts and we had to run to it as fast as we could. On Sunday, we learned how to set up a full-size tennis net and it was much more complex than the mini tennis court. We needed to unroll the nets which were attached to the sides and then put the sides into the holes. Once both sides are in you need a special attachment to tighten the loose net. It was useful to know this information because it meant we now know how to set it up so we can do it ourselves without any help and support the coach so he can focus on leading the session and interacting with players. Our next activity was a trust exercise where we had an obstacle course where we each had a partner and one of us had to close our eye and the other needed to direct our partner across the obstacle course without touching anything. This improved our communication skills dramatically.

During the next activity we learned how to help run a competition which included how to score, how to organize a round robin format (A table which helps you find out who plays who) and to understand how to support the competition organizer/coach. Once we did this we set up a singles tournament and used our round robin format to help us see who is going to play who first. When we finished, we had a group photo and

that concluded the course and enabled us all to become a tennis leader. I had a very good time having the chance to learn new things and having the chance to experience what I had to go through to be a tennis Leader. I cannot wait to start officially helping out and volunteering at school and working with the coach and putting my new skills into action.

The programme, run by Britain’s leading tennis charity the Tennis Foundation, aims to radically change the way tennis is delivered in secondary schools to make it more relevant and engaging for teenagers. There is a sharp dip in tennis participation as young people reach their mid-teens and many don’t realise the many varieties of tennis available away from the traditional game. The School of Tennis programme aims to reverse this decline by giving secondary schools the support and funding needed so they can deliver tennis in the form and way that best suits their school and their pupils.

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