PUPIL WELFARE – SUMMER 2024

Remarkable Year of Community Impact and Charity Success

We are delighted to share that our community outreach efforts have surpassed all expectations this academic year and made a significant difference in the lives of many.

September’s Colour Run Success: Our Colour Run in September 2023 raised over £5,000, funding the construction of two new classrooms at a school in Kenya. Additionally, these funds ensured every pupil at the school enjoyed a special Christmas meal.
MacMillan Coffee Morning: Our Charity Ambassadors, alongside pupils from our Pre-prep and Lower school, hosted a remarkable MacMillan Coffee Morning. Parents were invited to join for coffee and cake, and the ‘Tower College Bake Off competition’ helped raise an impressive £1,064.
Harvest Festival Contributions: Our Harvest Festival donations provided essential support to dozens of families at the St. Helens Food Bank.
Poppy Appeal Success: This year’s Poppy Appeal generated over £517.
Christmas Donations for Children: We collected and donated hundreds of pyjamas, cosy socks, gifts, and toys for the Children’s Ward at Whiston Hospital. Additionally, we contributed over 100 Christmas cards to elderly patients, ensuring they felt remembered and cherished during the festive season.
Easter Egg Appeal: Our Easter Egg appeal resulted in over 307 Easter eggs and sweet treats being donated to children at Whiston Hospital during Easter.
Library Fundraisers: Through our Own Clothes Day and Tuck Shops, we raised over £1,000 for our School Library.
Fashion Show Fundraiser: In collaboration with ‘Want that Dress,’ we hosted a sold-out Fashion Show. 180 tickets were sold, raising over £3,000 for the ADAM Foundation, a local charity dedicated to community support and seeking justice for Adam.
NSPCC Childhood Mile Day: Our efforts during the NSPCC Childhood Mile Day raised a substantial £2,407.60.
Year-End Meal Preparation: In our final week of term, we prepared, cooked, and packaged 200 meals for local food banks and individuals in need.

The support and commitment from the Tower College community have made an incredible impact on countless lives. As we look ahead, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the innovative ideas and continued enthusiasm our pupils will bring to future projects. Together, we will keep making a positive difference. Thank you all for your unwavering dedication and generosity.

Residential Visits and Upcoming Adventures!

This past academic year, our pupils had the opportunity to participate in some truly fantastic residential visits. Our Year 7 cohort enjoyed a wonderful team-bonding experience at Willersley Castle while others explored the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland and the sunny shores of Costa Brava for water sports. Of course, who could forget the unforgettable and magical trip to Paris, including a visit to Disneyland Paris?

The upcoming academic year promises to be just as exciting and enriching! In September, our new Year 7 cohort will embark on their own adventure to Willersley Castle. In October, we have an action-packed trip to London planned. Highlights include a tour of Wembley Stadium, a West End musical, visits to the Tower of London and the London Eye, and an exhilarating day at Thorpe Park!

Stay tuned for announcements regarding trips for 2025, which will be released at the start of the new academic year. Check your ParentMails for all the latest updates!

Thank you for your continued support as we provide our pupils with these incredible opportunities for learning and adventure.

Ms Gregory

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

As we bid farewell to another successful academic year, we trust our pupils are eagerly anticipating a well-deserved summer break. With the holidays now upon us, we want to emphasize the importance of keeping your children safe, both indoors and outdoors, during the break.

While we wholeheartedly encourage our students to embrace the great outdoors and enjoy the summer sunshine, we also recognize that a significant portion of their time may be spent engaging with technology. Whether they are gaming, streaming, or scrolling through social media, these activities can be both entertaining and engaging. However, it is crucial for parents to guide their children on appropriate behaviour and safety measures, particularly in the digital realm.

To ensure safety and balanced activities, we recommend discussing with your children the importance of limiting screen time and monitoring their online presence. Encourage them to explore a variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors, that foster creativity, physical activity, and social interactions.

By setting boundaries and teaching children how to navigate the digital landscape responsibly, you can help them develop critical life skills that will benefit them well beyond the summer holidays. We urge you to engage with your children, have open discussions about their online activities, and lead by example with your own technology use.

Please click on the image below to view NOS’s full guidance.

Exciting News: Smart School Councils

Starting this September, we will introduce an exciting new initiative: Smart School Councils. Our goal is to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to have their voice heard and be actively involved in creating positive change within our school community.

As part of the Smart School Councils program, we will hold weekly class meetings where your child will participate in discussions about various aspects of school life and other engaging topics. These meetings will be entirely pupil-led, providing a dynamic platform for students to express their thoughts and ideas on how to make our school an even better place for everyone.

Pupils will also have opportunities to join the Communication Team. This team will play a crucial role in facilitating the weekly class meetings, ensuring each session is productive and inclusive. They will help organize discussions, share feedback, and make decisions that will help shape our school community.

We believe these weekly class meetings will give your child a voice and help them develop essential communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Encouraging your child to actively participate in these meetings can significantly benefit their personal growth and contribute to a more positive and inclusive school environment.

We are excited about this initiative and look forward to its positive impact on our pupils and the wider school community.

Mrs Wright

Embracing the Future: AI in Education at Tower College

We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Glover has recently been appointed as the AI Ambassador for TeachMateAI. This prestigious role not only brings additional resources to our school but also provides Tower College with a platform to influence the national conversation about the role of AI in education and its impact on young people. As an AI Ambassador, Mr. Glover will be at the forefront of shaping how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to enhance learning experiences and educational outcomes.

Integrating AI into the Curriculum

AI will become an integral part of our curriculum in the coming academic year, thanks to Mr. Glover’s innovative vision and dedication. This exciting development promises to revolutionize our educational approach, equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by AI. Our curriculum will cover:

Foundations of AI: Introducing students to the basic concepts and technologies behind artificial intelligence.
Practical Applications: Demonstrating how AI is used in different fields such as healthcare, finance, and entertainment.
Ethical Considerations: Engaging students in discussions about the ethical implications of AI is a crucial part of our curriculum. This includes issues related to privacy, bias, and employment, ensuring our students are not only knowledgeable about AI but also responsible users of this powerful technology.

Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses of AI

A significant part of our educational initiative will be informing pupils and parents about AI’s appropriate and inappropriate uses. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI is essential to ensure that it is used responsibly and ethically. We will focus on:

Appropriate Uses: Highlighting how AI can assist in learning, such as personalised tutoring, automated feedback, and intelligent research tools.
Inappropriate Uses: Warning against the misuse of AI, including plagiarism, data manipulation, and dependency on AI for critical thinking tasks.

Enhancing Communication and Educational Provision

At Tower College, we are committed to leveraging AI to improve our communication and educational provision. Some of the ways we are using AI include:

Personalized Learning: AI-driven platforms help tailor educational content to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring a more personalised learning experience.
Administrative Efficiency: AI tools assist in streamlining administrative tasks, allowing our educators to focus more on teaching and less on paperwork.
Enhanced Communication: AI-powered communication tools play a vital role in our school, helping facilitate better interaction between teachers, students, and parents. This ensures everyone stays informed and engaged, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility in our educational journey.

A Vision for the Future

Mr. Glover’s appointment as an AI Ambassador is a significant milestone for Tower College. His expertise and passion for AI will drive our school’s mission to provide cutting-edge education and prepare our students for a future where AI plays a pivotal role. We are excited about the opportunities this brings and are confident that our students will greatly benefit from the enhanced learning experiences.

As we embark on this journey, we invite all pupils and parents to join us in exploring the fascinating world of AI. Together, we can ensure that our students keep pace with technological advancements and become responsible and informed users of AI.

We look forward to an exciting year filled with innovation and discovery.