New Era Begins at School
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CORBY TECHNICAL SCHOOL ISSUE 3 December 2013 NEWS www.corbytechnicalschool.org New Era Begins at School The biggest day in our history came on November 18th when the doors to our new school opened. It was a truly momentous day as students went on a tour of the fantastic new facilities before settling down to start a day of learning. CORBY As you will see from the picture spread inside, it really is an awe Technical inspiring building that will help provide a first class learning environment for our students. School infinite paths to choose from... We are on Twitter. Follow @CTSCorby to keep up to date with our tweets CORBY Technical School infinite paths to choose from... Welcome We have had an incredibly busy start to This newsletter shows that our students the school year. are continuing to flourish here. We have We began by welcoming our new Year hosted talks from interesting speakers, 7 students who joined us in September. visited technology companies with I am thrilled to say they have settled in worldwide reputations and have further very well and it has been a pleasure to strengthened our ties with organisations see how welcome our Year 8 students such as Adrenaline Alley and RS have made them. Components. Our next big event was, of course, the We also have a number of students opening of our new school building who have distinguished themselves on Monday, November 18th. I remain academically and in the world of sport. very grateful for the patience that was In particular we are proud of Darnel for demonstrated by all our students and winning a speech writing competition parents whilst we were waiting for our with his inspiring words and of Drew, new building to be completed. The Bailey and Dmitrijs for their sporting opening day was a fantastic occasion achievements. which I’m sure none of us will forget It has been a great start to the year and and every day since then it has been with the introduction of new initiatives wonderful to see how much our students such as our Industry Breakfasts just and staff are enjoying being in their new around the corner I’m sure the year will surroundings. only continue to get better and better. A special thank you must go to all our staff who worked so hard to make the Angela Reynolds move to the new school go so smoothly Principal for everyone concerned. 2 3 New Building There were cries of ‘awesome’ and of which have spectacular views in line with the Brooke Weston Trust ‘epic’ as the delighted students around the green central area philosophy of openness and visibility. clapped eyes for the first time on the of Corby. Another key part of the Trust’s state-of-the art school. Principal Angela Reynolds, said: ethos, which requires that everyone After a first assembly with an address “Our students and staff have waited is treated as an equal, will have an from the CEO of the Brooke Weston patiently for our new building to influence on the day to day routines Trust Dr Andrew Campbell, the open and everyone is very excited to of the school. Staff and students Principal and the Trust’s Estates and be here. will use the same entrances; staff Facilities Director Matt Isherwood, furniture will be the same as the “During the past week our students students were given tours of the furniture students will use and staff have been talking lots about how building. will wait in line at meal times just as much they were looking forward to students will. They were thrilled with its glass- using our new technology area, IT fronted classrooms, science suites and theatre and it’s great to The new building will eventually laboratories, design technology see so many smiling faces.” use a swipe card system for workshops, IT suites, music access control and a cashless technology and art and design The two-storey school shares many catering system - news on this to studios, library, theatre, sports hall of the design features of the Trust’s follow. Display screens will also be and dedicated dining room. other schools. located throughout the building to After the tours they started their It has two learning wings and its communicate key information to lessons in the new classrooms, many extensive use of glass throughout is students and staff. Brooke Weston Trust’s “The construction of CTS was a remarkable project to be involved with. At the very Estates and Facilities Director, beginning there was uncertainty over securing the site for the school with changing Matt Isherwood, said: personnel at the Education Funding Agency, it was finally secured with the support of NCC. The appointment of Mansells Construction as the project main contractor brought the opportunity to provide a full ‘new build’ as opposed to a refurbishment & extension of the old Firdale building. The patience and faith of the students, their families and the staff of Corby Technical School were rewarded with the opening of their new school after an incredibly quick 42 weeks build programme. Special thanks must be go to Jason Stanbridge and Mark Williams of Mansells Construction (Balfour Beatty), Tom Sampson from the Education Funding Agency and Ian Murray from MACE. All key members of the project team that ensured that every pound of value was wrung out of the limited budget available. Without their drive, professionalism and rigour for quality Corby Technical School would not be in the building they have today.” Year 8 student Alice Spence was the first student through the turnstiles. She said: “I just thought ‘wow’ as I walked in. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to start learning here.” BBC Radio Northampton The local media came in to witness our big day, interviewing students and staff. Here’s BBC Radio Northampton reporter Martin Borley interviewing one of our students. The Corby Radio recording can be listened to by visiting the podcast section on our website. Technical news Festo visit inspires students Our students have had the chance to work alongside world class engineers. Nearly 50 students from Years 7 and 8 visited Festo, a leading world-wide supplier of automation technology, which has a UK base in Northampton. The students had the chance to speak to engineering apprentices about their experiences, take part in pneumatics workshops and look at 50 products made by the company. Design and Technology teacher Nigel Barrett said: “Festo makes the stuff that makes the stuff that makes the stuff we use in everyday life. It is at the cutting edge of robotics and manufacturing. “About 10 per cent of their profits go into research and development and their employees have a free hand to try things out. They create fantastic things such as their Smart Bird which weighs only 410 grams and flies like a real bird.The students loved their visit – they had a fascinating time.” Year 8 students Bartosz, Matthew and Shannon took part in the visit. Bartosz said: “I enjoyed looking at the exciting machines. I would like to work there and I found it interesting to talk to an engineer.” Matthew would like to become an engineer. He said: “I liked looking at their ping pong machine. It has a jet which blows the balls up in the air.” Shannon added: “I liked learning about the sewage machine - it separates the rubbish out into different pipes and recycles it.” Students enjoying their tour of Festo Industry Breakfasts will be launched soon Entrepreneurs and business leaders in the community and we want to work on.” will be invited to start off their day forge even stronger links with the Any parents who have industry with breakfast at Corby Technical business community. contacts who would like to find School. In the New Year we will “It would be great to welcome out more about the initiative can launch our first ever Industry businesses to our school for our contact Mr Barrett at nbarrett@ Breakfasts to strengthen our links Industry Breakfasts. It would be corbytechnicalschool.org with the business community. wonderful if the links we’re forging The project is being co-ordinated now lead to jobs for our students by Design and Technology teacher or help them to get the skills they Nigel Barrett. need for the careers they want He said: “I think this is a really to pursue. innovative project. Many schools “Businesses can also ask our are busy looking inward but here students to help them solve we are trying to look outward – challenges that they are facing. that’s our ethos. It would be great for our students “We’re trying to immerse ourselves to have real life challenges to 6 Thai boxing Sports news 7 champion Bayley Talented young karate star Dmitrijs Sporting Bronze for Success for Bayley Dmitrijs at National Competition A young star has become the British champion in his sport. A talented young athlete has competed in a national Year 7 student Bayley has been involved with karate competition. Thai boxing for about five years and his array of Year 8 student Dmitrijs has been studying karate competition wins includes the British Champion for seven years and took part in his second National title for u-11s and under-35kg. Open Karate Championships last month. In total, Bayley has so far won six trophies, two belts He won the bronze medal in the team category. and four medals. He said: “My mum took me to my first class and I took Bayley said: “I’ve been doing Thai boxing for about to it straight away.