We are delighted to launch our themed menus for 2023/24 off the back of our very successful new menu for the academic year. 

These special days are an opportunity to celebrate events, festivals and cultures from around the world across all of the Matrix Academy Trust schools. Not only will these provide pupils with a wide range of food experiences but will also compliment our Personal Development curriculum and Theme of the Week.

Watch this space for more updates on our menus and the wonderful food that we will be offering as part of these events.

On the 1^st October 2023, Mr Hawkes ran the Cardiff Half Marathon. He completed the half marathon on behalf of the UK Sepsis Trust which is a charity very close to his heart. After weeks of training, he joined over twenty thousand other runners on the start line in Cardiff.

Mr Hawkes managed to complete the 13.1-mile course in 2 hours 14 minutes and 35 seconds. In doing so, he managed to raise £1100 for his chosen charity. Mr Hawkes is looking forward to his next big run in 2024!

Our year 7 football team played a home game yesterday on our astro VS UoB School. This was a cup match, the boys got off to a flying start passing the ball around with ease. In the 16^th minute Jack Clark scored a rocket of a goal our first ever year 7 goal, celebrating in front of an audience of 40+ this was a moment to remember for the team. Within 10 minutes the UOB could not get the ball, it was like watching Barcelona. Within this play Jack Clarke scored a scrappy second goal! Half time came and 6 subs were made, this made a difference in our play we were on top for the first 5 minutes but UoB come back with a fight scoring quickly in the first half… 2-1. The game got more intense and aggressive from both sides, 10 minutes left to play the pressure was on to hold the lead then….. Goal UoB got a second making the score 2-2, Turves Y7 Boys were rattled mistakes were becoming more frequent. With 1 minute to go penalties were looming, with 30 seconds to go UoB went for a long shot from half way line… Goal, our keeper Max was caught off guard, devastated turves Y7 boys were now 3-2 down with the game pretty much done. 

The game finished  UoB 3 – Turves 2 .

Please if you see the boys show your support!

Boys involved:

M Carr

N Overthrow

M Jinks

L Lawrence

W Priestley

C Jones

J Mahoney

F Grainger 

J Clark

F Campbell

C Pedley

A Larrud

L Timmins

M Starkey

T Mcclure

C Moulton

Cuisine Island Y11 Newsletter: Designing Digital Information Points for Accessibility

October 2023

Greetings Y11 Digital Information Technology Enthusiasts!

Today, we’re excited to share a sneak peek into an intriguing assignment our Year 11 pupils are tackling as part of their BTEC Digital Information Technology course.

What’s Cooking?

Our pupils are diving deep into the world of digital information point design for a fictitious restaurant called Cuisine Island. This project is not just about creating aesthetically pleasing interfaces but also ensuring accessibility for all users.

Why Accessibility Matters

In today’s digital age, accessibility is of paramount importance. It means making digital content and interfaces usable for everyone, including those with disabilities. Ensuring accessibility is not only ethically responsible but also essential to providing an inclusive user experience.

The Cuisine Island Challenge

The pupils’ assignment is to design digital information points for Cuisine Island that will serve both the restaurant’s needs and the diverse range of customers it attracts. This includes patrons with different accessibility needs.

Key Accessibility Considerations

Here are some of the accessibility considerations our budding digital designers are focusing on:

1. Screen Readers: Designing interfaces compatible with screen readers to assist visually impaired users in navigating the menu and restaurant information.
2. High Contrast and Large Text: Using high contrast colours and providing options for larger text sizes to aid those with visual impairments.
3. Keyboard Navigation: Ensuring all functions can be accessed and navigated using a keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse or touch screen.
4. Alternative Text: Providing descriptive alt text for images to assist users with visual impairments in understanding the content.
5. Responsive Design: Creating responsive interfaces that adapt to different screen sizes and devices for users with various browsing preferences.
6. Colour Contrast: Ensuring sufficient colour contrast for users with colour vision deficiencies.

The Creative Process

Our Year 11 pupils are not only gaining technical skills but also honing their creativity. They are crafting user-friendly interfaces that incorporate Cuisine Island’s branding, enticing imagery of delicious dishes, and intuitive navigation.

Real-World Impact

This assignment is not just a theoretical exercise. The pupils’ designs have the potential to make a real-world impact by improving the dining experience for all patrons at Cuisine Island. Accessibility isn’t just about meeting legal requirements; it’s about fostering inclusivity.

Next Steps

As the pupils continue to refine their designs, they will present their projects to a panel of experts who will evaluate their accessibility features and user-friendliness.

We’re incredibly proud of the dedication and creativity our Year 11 pupils are showing in this assignment. We can’t wait to see the final designs and, more importantly, how they contribute to making Cuisine Island a more accessible and inclusive dining destination.

Stay tuned for updates as we move forward with this exciting project. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the assignment, feel free to reach out to our dedicated teachers.

Best wishes for your own exciting journeys in the world of digital information technology!

Warm regards,

Turves Green School Computer Science Department

Congratulations to the boys on their first rugby session. This week, our session took place at Turves Green. Nevertheless, in the upcoming week, the pupils who have chosen to participate in rugby will journey to the Five Ways Rugby and Cricket Club to utilise their amazing facilities.

On Friday 29th September, Turves Green Boys’ School welcomed two members of the Department for Education to see what life at our school is like. Andrew Warren (Regional Director for the West Midlands) and Rich Jones (Delivery Team Leader) visited on Friday morning and had chance to experience what Turves Green Boys’ is like in operation. Following a discussion with Mr Till, Mrs Draycott and Mr Lowbridge-Ellis, they toured the school witnessing a range of different activities including a performance from ‘Oliver!’ by our Drama pupils, marching drill practice by our CCF cohort and visiting a range of different lessons across the school. Perhaps one of the highlights of the tour was also visiting our Hospitality and Catering pupils who had made cakes and sausage rolls for residents from our local community. Andrew Warren was very impressed following his morning at Turves Green Boys’ School and later remarked: “A really enjoyable visit to a school with such a vibrant and can-do culture. The visit highlighted what difference a strong trust can make in a previous failing school. So good to meet with pupils and hear their perspective. Their home-made sausage rolls were pretty special too!”

Monday vs The Streetly Academy – B Weaver who captains the Year 11 football team started at centre back, controlling the back line in a very competitive game. The scores were level 0-0 and it was approaching the final 15 minutes of the game. The decision was made to switch up the formation and allow B Weaver to play as striker, his preferred position. In 10 minutes of play B Weaver scored a hattrick and TGBS ended up winning the game 4-0 and are now through to the next round of the Birmingham Cup.

Wednesday vs Lode Heath – B Weaver again started the game at centre back, supporting the team in defence in attempt to maintain a clean sheet. This however did not go as planned as the team conceded 2 goals. On the hunt for goals we again changed the formation and B Weaver played as a striker. His determination and commitment to ensure TGBS were back on level terms was showcased through his extraordinary talents, scoring 2 goals. The game however concluded in a 4-2 loss due to some late drama, however it does not go without mention that B Weaver has made a very impressive start to the year and scored 5 goals in 2 games.

The ChemBAM team inspired year 9 students through a project that linked areas of the school curriculum to current scientific research.

ChemBAM at Turves Boys’ School was a Royal Society of Chemistry-funded project run by members of the University of Birmingham chemistry department. The project aimed to engage three year 9 classes from Turves Green Boys’ School in monthly chemistry activities (four sessions, each an hour long).

The hope of this project was to increase the students’ enjoyment of chemistry, inspire them to take the triple science GCSE option, and give University of Birmingham chemistry students the opportunity to develop their science communication skills.

Turves Green Boys School was chosen because the students are predominantly from a white working-class background, a highly underrepresented demographic in higher education. Furthermore, a high proportion of the pupils are from low-participation neighbourhoods and relatively few study STEM subjects to a high level. Therefore, raising the students’ aspirations by making them aware of the higher education and career options available to them is important.

The activities were designed by the ChemBAM team and aim to showcase the world of chemistry by linking areas of the school curriculum to current scientific research. At the end of each session, there was a short question-and-answer session with the volunteers, aiming to inform and excite students about university life and chemistry-related research and careers.

The impact the project had on the school pupils was evaluated by comparing survey data from the first and last visit as well analysing written answer questions from a randomly selected cohort of students. The responses to the survey questions were generally very positive with students reporting an increase in confidence to perform practical work and a better knowledge of what chemistry research entails. It was also pleasing to see comments such as “it expanded my knowledge of chemistry” and “I learned what [qualifications] you need to get different jobs” in response to the written answer questions. The latter quote indicates that the project raised awareness of some future options available to students.

Volunteers consisted of a mixture of undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral staff. Feedback was informally received from the volunteers after each session. All volunteers were positive about their experience. One PhD student commented that it was “interesting to adapt the knowledge gained through many years of studying and change it into short, fun and exciting lessons to give students a glimpse into the world of science”, whilst another student said that the activities “definitely improved my science communication skills”. By offering numerous volunteering opportunities and introducing some students to outreach for the first time, the outreach culture in the University of Birmingham School of chemistry has been significantly heightened. Students are looking forward to running and volunteering at more outreach events in the new academic year.

I would like to thank the Royal Society of Chemistry for funding this project. The grant enabled material to be purchased and allowed us to provide travel and lunch for volunteers. This allowed the project to run successfully. I would also like to thank my supervisor, Dr Zoe Schnepp, who was an integral part of planning and running these activities. Zoe initiated ChemBAM to increase the public’s confidence in discussing chemistry. In doing so, she constructed most of the experiments and teaching material that were used in the project. I would also like to express gratitude to the volunteers who bought the experiments to life and to Dr Ruth Patchett and the rest of the Turves Green Boys’ School staff who timetabled the activities into the students’ schedules and helped run the sessions.

Original Article

In recent weeks, Miss Handley and Mr. Turbill have undertaken the task of recruiting a new cohort for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Recruiting cadets for the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at TGBS is a pivotal process aimed at shaping young individuals into responsible leaders and citizens. The CCF program at TGBS offers a unique opportunity for students to develop essential life skills, including leadership, discipline, and teamwork, within a structured and supportive environment.

Recruitment at TGBS focuses on identifying passionate and driven individuals who exhibit qualities such as determination, integrity, and a strong sense of community service. The selection process involves evaluating candidates based on their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and their drive and willingness to learn and contribute to the CCF community.

Once recruited, cadets at TGBS undergo comprehensive training programs that emphasize physical fitness, leadership development, and practical skills. They participate in various activities such as outdoor expeditions, team-building exercises, and community service initiatives, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among cadets.

Recruiting CCF cadets at TGBS is not just about filling the ranks; it’s about nurturing the potential of young minds, instilling discipline, and preparing them for the challenges of the future. Through this process, TGBS ensures that its CCF cadets not only excel academically but also grow into well-rounded individuals equipped with the skills and values necessary for success in both their personal and professional lives.

On Friday pupils from year 7 – 11 showcased their Performing Arts skills to invited guests from our local community.

Pupils performed extracts from are summer Musical and wowed the audience with their talents across Music, Dance and Drama. Our Performing Arts Pupils thoroughly enjoyed another opportunity to perform and as always have shown great commitment and dedication to their work. After the showcase guests from our local community were able to enjoy tea and cake prepared by our year 10 Food and Nutrition students.

“We had the most brilliant morning and love to watch the students grow in confidence. We can’t wait to come back and watch your next performance”

-Community member