Executive Principal at The UCL Academy ‘delighted’ with GSCE results

22nd August 2024webadmin webadmin

Executive Principal at The UCL Academy ‘delighted’ with GSCE results

UCL Academy students were waiting patiently to open their results envelopes this morning, and shortly after 8:30 a.m., the first of many smiling individuals started to emerge from the queues in the sports hall. Our 2024 GCSE cohort have performed very well across all subjects, with 82% of students securing a 4+ in English, 70% of students securing a 4+ in Maths, and 67% securing this measure in both Maths and English.

Numerous departments secured the top grades for their students with over a third achieving Grades 7-9 in English, Biology and Physics. Over 40% achieved Grades 7-9 in Chemistry, Mandarin and History, and an outstanding 50% achieved Grades 7-9 in Drama. 

Ms A Pomphrey, Interim Principal, said, “I could not be more proud of the resilience and dedication shown by students and staff at The UCL Academy. It is fantastic to be able to celebrate with them today and see their goals realised.”

Mr G Moore, Executive Principal, said “I am delighted to celebrate the hard work of staff and students shown in these outcomes and look forward to seeing many students successfully returning in September for the Sixth form.”

Carter Owen demonstrated remarkable achievement, earning four 8s and four 9s, showcasing his strong academic capabilities across the board. Carter’s love of learning and literature and his belief in humanity have inspired his creative endeavours and enabled him to succeed despite the tragic death of a parent during his time at The UCL Academy. He has inspired his peers with his dedication to all subjects in every field and we are sure to be reading the work of Carter in the future. Carter spoke extremely fondly of many of his teachers, singling out his Spanish, Maths and English Literature teachers as being hugely influential. He said “my teachers inspired, and really encouraged me to excel and work to my absolute potential.”

Noah Dobranic highlights the support of his parents in being role models for him. Moving to the UK without friends or family they have achieved and shown Noah how to follow in their footsteps. Noah travelled for hours a day in his commute to the Academy, but this did not prevent him from achieving 5 grade 9’s, 2 Grade 8’s and 1 grade 7 in his GCSE’s. Determination and wanting his parents to be proud of him have been key in his success. Noah Dobranic highlights the support of his parents in being role models for him. Moving to the UK without friends or family they have achieved and shown Noah how to follow in their footsteps. Determination and wanting his parents to be proud of him have been key in his success. Noah will continue his studies at A Level in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. He said “I formed a really strong connection with my teachers which helped me immensely, plus the resources here are amazing. The building too, the building is great, and also the lunch ladies, they create a really positive atmosphere.”

Saaiba Shamnath achieved outstanding results with seven 9s and three 8s, reflecting her exceptional dedication and academic excellence. Saiba joined the Academy in the middle of Year 9 and will now study Maths, Economics and Politics at A Level, with her long term goal being to work in the Banking/Finance sector. Saaiba said “the teachers always go above and beyond, inside and outside of lessons to give extra support, no matter how long it takes them. And the general community here fosters a really supportive environment that makes you want to do well.”

Raul Asgarov achieved top marks with four 9s and three 8s, a testament to his hard work and consistent high performance.

Deena Molokhia was thrilled with her results today, achieving 2 grade 9’s, 4 grade 8’s, 2 grade 7’s and a grade 6. Deena joined the Academy in Year 7 and will be returning in September to study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and potentially a fourth A Level, with her long-term aspiration being to work in the field of Engineering. Deena said “the relationship between me, my teachers and my peers, has built a great environment in which I feel motivated to try my hardest.”

Nadia Khan successfully passed all core subjects despite the challenge of joining the school during GCSEs from Afghanistan. She benefited greatly from the EAL support she received and her determination to succeed. We wish her well in the next phase of her journey.

Ismail Abdihakim achieved a significant improvement from his mock exams, earning a strong pass with five 5s and a 7, thanks to close collaboration between the school and his family to support personal challenges.   

Anna Alfie joined late in Year 11 after a prolonged absence from education, but despite this, Anna achieved impressive results with 5 grades of 6 and 4 grades of 5. 

Marc Meir earned strong passes in all core subjects, including a 7 in English Language, largely due to his hard work, the school’s commitment to his well-being, and support through additional academy Maths tutoring. 

 

The UCL Academy celebrates very successful A Level results

15th August 2024webadmin webadmin

The UCL Academy celebrates very successful A Level results

Students have excelled in their A Levels at the Academy this year, achieving excellent grades in some of the most challenging subjects, such as Maths, Further Maths and the Sciences; an impressive 20.3% of the grades awarded in the A*- A bracket and 14 students were awarded straight A/A*s. Small cohorts also performed exceptionally well across all five languages, including Mandarin. Art and Sociology continued the theme with achievements that were equally impressive to those of previous years.

The Academy is immeasurably proud of our students who have confirmed their places on various degree courses at some of the country’s most prestigious universities, including our sponsor, UCL, and Imperial College, with one student going much further afield to study at the illustrious Ivy League, Princeton University in Massachusetts, USA.

The results undoubtedly reflect the quality of the school’s assessment and the excellence of Teaching and Learning in the Sixth Form at The UCL Academy.

Ms A Levesque, Assistant Principal Head of Sixth Form said:

“I am exceptionally proud of all our students who have worked so hard, including those who have faced very challenging circumstances, be it the cost of living crisis, family circumstances or those fleeing conflict and persecution from their former home countries. The future is bright, with so many of our young people possessing the drive, ambition and resilience to be highly successful at university, in apprenticeships and influential in their careers and communities.”

Mr G Moore, Executive Principal said:

“It is testament to the hard work of all our teachers and students who have performed so well across all subjects, therefore achieving fantastic opportunities at many Russell Group and other high-achieving universities. We have the highest admiration for the A Level class of 2024.”

 

Some of the stand-out individual performances from Academy students include:

 

Yazdan Khasahei, an Iranian immigrant who arrived in the UK in 2020 with minimal English proficiency, has secured a place to study medicine at King’s College. Today, our Deputy Head Boy was awarded 2 A*s in Maths and Persian, and 2 As in Biology and Chemistry.

After arriving in the UK, Yazdan had to wait one year to access formal school at The UCL Academy, which COVID-19 further impacted. Despite starting his GCSEs mid-year 10, he performed exceptionally well. Forward wind to today and his A Level grades speak for themselves; they would be impressive for anyone – let alone an immigrant who spoke such little English when he arrived in the UK. 

Yazdan is an exceptional student and person who has used his life experiences to propel him to greatness in his A Level studies, making him one of our highest achievers this year. 

 

Matvii Yatsenko, a refugee who fled the war in his native Ukraine in 2022, achieved stellar A Level results: 2 As in Economics and Maths, a B in Computer Science. Matvii now looks forward to studying Computer Science at The University of Edinburgh.

Such is his level of dedication; during his first year of A Levels, he also completed his studies remotely at his Ukrainian school. He made exceptional progress in both Maths and Computer Science, and despite English being his second language, Matvii has always been one of the highest-achieving students in Economics. 

Matvii openly admits the relocation was a challenge; however, he has demonstrated outstanding determination and resilience in his studies and was duly rewarded for all his hard work.

 

Subhan Hussein, our very own Head Boy, has today achieved  A*s in 4 subjects, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics and an A in Computer Science and will now study Computer Science and Economics at Princeton University (USA). Subhan has been a student at the Academy since Year 12 and aside from praising his very devoted teachers, he said the help he recieved with applications was second to none, which crucially allowed him to devote as much time to his studies as possible.

 

Viena Muhaxheri is one of our Critchley Scholars and was today celebrating her exceptional achievements at A Level: 2 A*s in Biology and Maths and an A in Chemistry. Medicine has long been Vienna’s desired area of future study at University, and she now looks forward to beginning the next chapter of her education in September at Imperial College. Vienna said the “constant support of teachers is fundamental to achieving high grades.”

 

James Galloway is one of our highest-achieving students this year, with 3 A*s in Further Maths, Maths and EPQ, and 2 As in Physics and Economics. James will now study Physics at Bristol University.

 

Arthur Sokolov has achieved an enviable set of results, with an A* in Maths, 3 As in  Computer Science, Further Maths and Physics, and an A* in EPQ. He will now travel to The University of Edinburgh to study Computer Science and Maths.

 

Viola Muhaxheri was thrilled with her results today, securing 3 As in Art, Biology and Maths and a B in Physics, which have secured her a place at our sponsor UCL to study Architecture. Viola is another one of our Critchley Scholars and has been at the Academy since Year 7. She said “the teachers made me feel very comfortable in the learning environment, which resulted in me becoming more confident and asking questions.”

 

Ali Khairdeddine was extremely happy with their grades today, achieving 2 As in English Literature and Psychology and an A* in Sociology. Ali will resume their studies this September at Manchester University in Sociology. Ali spoke warmly of the ‘drive and passion’ of their teachers, saying how this ultimately allowed them to excel in their school and personal life.

Harvey Kong was awarded an A* in Maths and 3 As in Computer Science, Further Maths and Physics and will resume his studies at Imperial College in Maths and Computer Science.

Wonderful World Book Day Celebrations

19th March 2024webadmin webadmin

Wonderful World Book Day Celebrations

 Last Thursday was undoubtedly our best World Book Day yet! Huge thanks to Phoebe, Florie, Jade and all those in the English department who played their part in curating such wonderfully rich, diverse and most importantly, fun-filled activity days.

KS3, KS4 and KS5 kicked off the day with a ‘Drop everything and read’ session, quickly followed by a wonderfully engaging assembly from visiting author, Sally Gardner. Sally is a British children’s literature writer and illustrator. She won both the Costa Children’s Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for her book, Maggot Moon. Sally gave assemblies to Foundation and Level 1 students, conveying compelling messages that students were hugely engaged with. As always, there was a stream of questions from intrigued students, all clearly fascinated by the characters and narratives in Sally’s literature. 

More students and staff than ever dressed in costume for the day and it was an absolute joy to see the attention to detail so many had gone to. As promised, there were prizes for the best-dressed foundation students on the day. 

The student winners and their prizes were as follows:

First Prize
Antonio Cutolo Cavaliere as Mad Hatter
Kindle and 50 achievement points as their prize

Second Prize
Amber-Lily Cooke as Mad Hatter
Two books and 30 achievement points

Third Prize:
Inaya Carteron Peterson as Queen of Hearts
A book and 20 achievement points

World Book Day celebrations continued into this week with yet another visit from a prominent children’s author, Neal Zetter, a London-based comedy performance poet, author and entertainer who uses poetry, writing and performance to develop literacy, confidence, self-expression, creativity and presentation skills. Neal delivered a wonderful assembly and workshops for some of our older students at the Academy.  

Overall, it was two hugely successful and enjoyable days at the Academy. No doubt the English Department has thrown down the gauntlet to better this in future World Book Days!

Captivating ‘Grand Challenges’ Poster Exhibition at UCL

8th March 2024webadmin webadmin

Captivating ‘Grand Challenges’ Poster Exhibition at UCL

Last week, students from Foundation to Level 1Plus spent Monday through Thursday at the Grand Challenges exhibition in the South Cloisters at UCL, a new and exciting addition to the Academy calendar. The exhibition formed part of the Grand Challenges initiative surrounding the themes of Global Health; Sustainable Cities; Cultural Understanding; Human Wellbeing; Justice & Equality and Transformative Technology, with the focus of this particular exhibition being Climate Change, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Justice and Equality.

Day 1 – Students collected data from UCL students and staff on their thoughts about the exhibition.

Day 2 – Students were on site answering questions from exhibition visitors about their work.

Day 3 –  Professor Alan Thompson Pro-Provost (London) announced the winners at the Prize Giving ceremony.

The Climate Change Grand Challenge project poster winners were (left to right) Eric Sebastian Mihai, Zoe NioTakis and Amber-Lilly Cooke (not in image). Foundation Level students, Amber-Lilly, Eric and Zoe created a poster about how we could make the UCL Academy carbon- neutral by 2030. They included ideas such as solar panels and a vegetable garden on the roof, recycling and compost bins, and a biomass boiler. Occupying a central position in the centre of the poster was a poignant quote, ‘you’ll die of old age, I’ll die of climate change’. All pupils expressed their concern about the future state of the planet, and therefore want to find innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

 

The Sustainable Cities Grand Challenge project poster winners were Horace Worall (left) and Santiago Cardoso (right), two keen Level 1Plus mathematicians. Horace snd Santiago worked on the poster during maths club, using the opportunity to evocatively illustrate mathematics’s impact in creating future sustainable cities.

 

Level 1Plus students also worked on the Grand Challenge of “Justice & Equality”, initially looking at Protest Art to push and inform ideas.

The Justice & Equality Grand Challenge project poster winners were (left to right) Anna Ivankiv, Rahim Ali, Rahma Mohammed and Nova Goldgaber.

In the words of the students:

“Our collage is about the cost of living crisis. It is meant to show the difference in life depending on how much money you have. The pavement is made of money and jewels, and those who are rich and have financial stability get to walk and live. But those without financial stability fall through the cracks and suffer.”

Day 4 – Students once again on site to welcome visitors, answer questions and mark the end of a hugely insightful exhibition.

The collaborative efforts of students produced some awe-inspiring work, which thanks to our sponsor UCL, had exposure to a wide range of UCL students and academics as well as the visiting public. Weaving conversations about these hugely important topics into day-to-day life can catalyse far wider-reaching positive changes, something our students undoubtedly played their part in last week.

Thought Provoking AI Talk by GoogleDeepminds’ Antonia Paterson 

17th February 2024webadmin webadmin

Thought Provoking AI Talk by Google Deepmind’s Antonia Paterson 

Unbeknown to most, AI has been in existence for decades, quietly and inconspicuously used in research, mostly focused in STEM related fields.

It moved into the public consciousness largely by virtue of companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, who used it to extract, secure and disseminate information to ‘improve and personalise the customer experience’. 

Whether or not you approve of the way in which personal information is captured and used by a multitude of companies worldwide, the fact remains AI is now deemed essential across a vast array of industries, including health care, banking, retail, and manufacturing. It therefore comes as no surprise that the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies have been a talking point since its creation and have continued to escalate over the past decade.

Just before the half term break, students were enthralled by a lecture given by Antonia Paterson of Google DeepMind, Science Manager, Responsible Development and Innovation Team. Antonia spoke largely about the challenges faced by companies in ensuring the priority of safeguarding humans is upheld at all times. 

Those students fortunate enough to secure a seat in the full capacity library were given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk…which they did in bounds. Antonio very graciously answered a slew of interesting and inquiring questions from students across many year groups.

Antonia remarked ‘the questions were on par with those she is asked by new recruits to DeepMind when they are inducted to her course’. 

Many thanks for everyone’s part in making this event a success, especially Antonia. Her generosity in sharing her time and knowledge of this cutting-edge technology allowed our students to consider a unique perspective of a field associated with many subjects studied at the Academy, namely, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Sociology.

Exciting new exhibition added to Grand Challenges calendar

1st February 2024webadmin webadmin

Exciting new exhibition added to Grand Challenges calendar

Most of you will already know about ‘Grand Challenges’, a UCL initiative that provides our students and staff with opportunities to learn from academics relating to global concepts and ideas surrounding the themes of Global Health; Sustainable Cities; Cultural Understanding; Human Wellbeing; Justice & Equality and Transformative Technology.

Students complete multiple projects across the year and throughout their entire education at the Academy. This year, the scope of work has been broadened to include an exhibition, whereby Year 10 students will be asked to represent their findings through the medium of Art, specifically in the format of a poster.

The focus of the exhibition will be Climate Change, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Justice and Equality. This marks the debut of an exciting new way in which students can convey their understanding, thoughts and opinions on these important themes.

‘Art’ will not only allow the students to represent their thoughts in a literal manner, but will also provide the perfect opportunity to incorporate symbolic messages by using symbols and imagery that hold a specific meaning or connotation. Literature, religion, politics and personal experiences always play their part in discussions surrounding the ‘Big Themes’ and we have no doubt the work on show at the exhibition will further express the connections our students make with these matters of pressing societal concern. 

Please show your support for this wonderful new addition to the ‘Grand Challenges’ academy calendar by visiting the exhibition, where you will meet Year 10 students and hear about their work. Parents, carers, wider family members and friends of The UCL Academy are all most welcome.

The exhibition will take place at the South Cloisters, Wilkins Building, UCL and will be open to visitors on Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th February, 10am-12pm. On Wednesday 28th, the exhibition will be open from 12pm-2pm, with the Prize Giving Ceremony by Professor Alan Thompson Pro-Provost (London) taking place from 1pm onwards.

For more information on the event, please contact Sarah Beech at [email protected]

‘Futures Week’ at The UCL Academy

22nd November 2023webadmin webadmin

‘Futures Week’ at The UCL Academy

In addition to the many long-established relationships our Academy has with prominent businesses from a variety of industries, we continue year on year to review and expand the list to include those that best support our curriculum, students, and their future in the professional world. All students participate in various events throughout their education focussed on preparing them for life after the Academy, in terms of further study and careers.

One such event is ‘Futures Week’, a 5-day long array of visits from employees representing leading companies in industry, interspersed with exciting activities and tasks throughout. This time was the turn of Foundation students; Dr James Paskins, Deputy Director for UCL’s Grand Challenges programme kickstarted the week with a lecture on the major topics of the programme.

‘Grand Challenges focuses on macro-level world problems that are often very complex and rarely fall into a single academic discipline. Some of the foremost experts at UCL work on a huge range of subjects that fall into six big themes: ‘Global Health’, ‘Sustainable Cities’, ‘Human Wellbeing’, ‘Cultural Understanding’, ‘Justice & Equality’ and ‘Transformative Technology’. Dr James Paskins

After learning about the UCL Grand Challenges and how they might shape the future and inform their ambitions, students embarked upon the rest of their week, listening to and learning from a variety of experts in their field. 

An enlightening and inspirational talk by a Camden STEAM ambassador from Morgan Sindall championing diversity in the construction industry was avidly watched by many of our students. Unsurprisingly for us, many of our students interested in pursuing a career in this field are from backgrounds currently woefully underrepresented in the construction industry. Suffice to say, these visits are pivotal in ensuring all students feel they have equal opportunities in all sectors of the professional world.

Continuing on the construction theme, students were equally enthralled by their session with a representative from Mace. Although computers have greatly altered the construction industry over the last 20 years, improving the 2D and 3D drawing process and allowing complex structural calculations to be performed more efficiently, physical model-making clearly still offers many advantages. Not only does it result in a tangible representation of a design, but as seen in this image, it’s clearly fun to construct. Students used this exercise and medium to learn how building bridges and large-scale engineering projects are planned and implemented.

Still based within the construction industry, but leaning more towards the world of real estate, Lambert Smith Hampton (one of the UK and Ireland’s leading, and most progressive, property consultancies) encouraged our students to think about what makes a good place to live. How ‘balancing a budget’ is important in all sectors of the property industry, be it as a tenant/owner, project manager, estate agent or any of the many other roles in the private and/or commercial sectors. Learning about careers in real estate with a team from Lambert Smith was greatly enjoyed by many of our students, with many of them now aware of roles they never knew existed. 

Yet more invaluable preparation for their future outside of the Academy was given by a team of role models volunteering for ‘Inspiring the Future’. This Camden-based group spoke to students on an individual basis, encouraging them to face their fears and talk about their greatest achievements. These discussions with relatable role models with different life experiences are aimed at helping students see the relevance of classroom learning to their futures, boosting their motivation and attainment, and broadening their horizons while giving them first-hand practical advice about the world of work.

Last, but not least was the Sustainable Careers Fair by The Camden Clean Air Initiative, whose work aims to increase awareness of air pollution and educate residents, schools, and businesses on the associated dangers. 

Our sincere thanks to all those involved in making ‘Futures Week’ at the Academy the roaring success it was. All visits, as always, were greatly appreciated by students and staff alike and have already positively impacted the way in which our students are considering their futures in the professional world.

F1 Technical Director lectures at the Academy

6th November 2023webadmin webadmin

F1 Technical Director lectures at the Academy

 

Whether you’re an F1 fan or not, there is unarguably much to admire in the intricate details that make this car racing series a juggernaut in the world of Engineering and design.

Our latest and one of the most eagerly awaited lectures (part of the UCL Lecture series) featured an inspiring talk by Ben Hodgkinson BEM, MEng, FIMechE, Technical Director at Red Bull Ford Powertrains.

Ben joined Red Bull Ford Powertrains, the exciting new Power Unit (PU) division based at the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes, as Technical Director in May 2022 following more than two decades in Formula 1.

Ben achieved his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from University College London, where he is now a visiting Professor, before beginning his career in motorsport as a design engineer working on racing engines for series such as World Rally Championship, Le Mans 24hr, Indycar and finally F1. Ben helped win eight constructors’ world championships for Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains where he held various roles including Development Team Leader, Design Team Leader, Mechatronics Team Leader, Mechanical Development Team Leader, Single Cylinder Project Leader, Top End Team Leader and ICE Team Leader.

At first glance and to the unknown, F1 cars all look pretty much the same, but close-up there are differences in every single area of the car. These cars are works of art in the engineering world and as such are developed by those most proficient in their field, such as Ben. 

Ben was extremely generous with the level of information he shared during his lecture, which students and staff were clearly captivated by. As a UCL alumni, Ben’s progression into the top echelons of his profession gives not just those with aspirations in Engineering, but all students at the Academy inspiration and belief that abundant opportunities and future success lie within their reach.

UCL Academy’s exciting curriculum further enriched thanks to a unique partnership with Google Deepmind.

6th September 2023webadmin webadmin

UCL Academy’s exciting curriculum further enriched thanks to a unique partnership with Google Deepmind.

Chess as a platform to teach the importance of AI in the contemporary world.

The ancient game of Chess is played worldwide, allowing all age groups from a plethora of backgrounds to play one another in a strategic battle of the minds. It is well known for its ability to develop Mathematical, Concentration, Resilience and Soft skills, as well as Cognitive function, through forcing players to make situational decisions while planning for potential future choices, or moves in the case of chess. As a long and ever-popular element of our SDL (Self Directed Learning) programme, this year, we look forward to implementing it further via a programme provided by the partnership of Chess in Schools and Communities and Google DeepMind. With deep-rooted connections to Computer Science being taught at the Academy, the programme will use chess and its application within AI to inform students of AI-related subjects available in higher education and the ever-growing societal demand in this field, with the ultimate aim of the programme being to nurture young people towards degrees in AI or subjects that can lead to careers in AI. 

The one-year programme will pilot the delivery of a bespoke 30-week course in AI and chess at UCL Academy that will include academic study, practical exercises, and guest speakers on subjects from machine learning to AI ethics and creative applications. Starting later this month, the AI and chess programme will also include mentoring for the cohort to assist them with university applications and offer them opportunities to volunteer with the Chess in Schools and Communities charity.

Malcolm Pein, CEO and Founder of Chess in Schools and Communities said:

“We are excited to be working with Google DeepMind and UCL Academy to deliver an innovative AI course to students. Delivered by teachers at UCL Academy and CSC, the course will go beyond the standard A-level computer science curriculum and connect state school students with AI experts in academia and industry to help them build knowledge, skills and confidence to follow their passion for AI at university.”

Obum Ekeke, OBE, Head of Education Partnerships at Google DeepMind, said:

“At Google DeepMind, we have a long-term vision to support the next generation of AI creators, ensuring they truly represent the wider world. This vision starts with education. By focusing on education at an early age and making science and AI feel relevant and accessible to all, we can help break down the barriers that are leading to underrepresentation in this field. We hope that through using chess as a vehicle to learn more about AI and develop relevant skills, this education programme can help instil confidence in students from all backgrounds, and eventually play a part in creating a more inclusive and accessible global AI ecosystem.”

Robin Street, Co-Principal of UCL Academy said:

“Everyone, everywhere is rightly talking about how AI will change education and indeed the wider world. Schools work hard every hour, every day to provide the best education they can to prepare their students for the modern world. For us to be working with CISC and Google Deepmind on such an important and innovative project is a game changer. We believe the work we will all be doing will help not only a generation of our own. Students be inspired by AI, but also create a programme that can be shared more widely across many schools as a way to build this vital content into their curriculum.”

Chess is a game of perfect information and has been described as a ‘petri dish’ for AI research. Google DeepMind’s involvement in Chess dates back to 2017 when the research lab introduced AlphaZero, the first computer chess entity to use the AI technique of reinforcement learning. By playing itself 49 million times, AlphaZero created its own data and surpassed the playing level of any previous chess engine based on brute force calculation or software. AlphaZero has since inspired new research breakthroughs and AI applications.

Google DeepMind is collaborating with a number of education partners to tackle school-level barriers to underrepresentation in AI and develop the next generation of AI creators.

To learn about this exciting programme and our wider curriculum, please join us at one of our upcoming Open Events.

Foundation Open Events: 22nd & 29th, September, 6th October (morning events), 25th September (evening event).

Sixth Form Open Event: 6th November (evening event).

Click here to book.

Many Reasons to Celebrate on GCSE Results Day

24th August 2023webadmin webadmin

 

Many Reasons to Celebrate on
GCSE Results Day

 


The UCL Academy is delighted to announce another excellent set of GCSE results. 

We are once again extremely proud of the students whose hard work and diligence have been rewarded. This cohort in particular has been deeply affected by Covid and all that it presented, with many of them returning to begin their GCSEs as the pandemic was first announced. However, their stoicism has carried them through, and today all their hard work has been duly rewarded.

A large number of students arrived early this morning to collect their results and as the day progressed, they were joined by friends and family members to celebrate their achievements. Many of these students have now also enrolled; the process that signifies the next part of their education and journey with The UCL Academy is beginning.  

Robin Street and Simon McBride – Co-Principals of the Academy said: 

“Results day must always be about celebrating and supporting individual students in equal measure. In the midst of an ever-changing national picture, for students and their year group, it is about celebrating the progress they have made from a range of starting points. For this cohort, individual achievements such as those outlined below are rightly celebrated. Just as much though, we must all celebrate the students who have overcome individual barriers and managed personal challenges. This year group has been a huge support for each other and have epitomised our motto of Learning to make a difference together. We are delighted to be welcoming many of them back in September. For those moving on elsewhere, we look forward to hearing about their future successes and welcoming them all back in years to come as UCL Academy Alumni.”

Some notable achievements:



As one of the Academy’s top achieving students, Junyou Zhang attained a high set of grades including 5 9s, 2 8s, 1 7 and 1 6. Junyou joined the Academy in January and spoke of how important the support of teachers was considering her late arrival. Moreover, how they were imperative to her success, enabling her to ‘quickly progress and prepare for exams’. Junyou will return to study at the Academy, although not completely decided, she is considering studying 4 A Levels in Economics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Psychology.

 

Another top achieving student and the sister of Junyou Zhang, Junyi Zhang achieved an equally impressive set of results, 7 9s, 1 8 and 1 6. Junyi also joined the Academy in January and spoke equally highly of the invaluable support and resources given to her by teachers, thus allowing her to ‘catch up’ with other students and be ‘exceptionally well-prepared for her exams’. Junyou will also return to study at the Academy for 3 A Levels in Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.

 

Oscar Worrall has been awarded a hugely impressive 10 GCSEs, comprising 7 9s, 2 7s and 1 8. Oscar has been a student at the Academy since Year 7 and we are delighted all his hard work has come to fruition. Oscar is moving on to study for 4 A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Economics. Oscar said ‘The maths department has been excellent and has really helped me achieve my grades’.

 

Ruqiya Hussein was delighted to achieve 11 GCSEs, including 2 9s, 3 8s and 5 7s. Later this year, she will continue her studies at the Academy, returning to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Ruqiya spoke warmly of all those in the Mathematics Department who had helped her achieve her grades, saying ‘her hard work and their help had allowed her to succeed’.

 

Dario Velazquez – With 1 9, 8 8s and 1 7, Dario was quite rightly thrilled with his results. He spoke passionately about the diligence of Academy teachers, who he believes worked equally as hard as he did to ensure he reached his potential. Dario praised the student-teacher relationships he experienced throughout his A Levels, crediting his teachers as being ‘extremely approachable, friendly and professional’. Dario will continue his studies at the Academy in September, returning to take 4 A Levels in English Literature, Mandarin, Mathematics and either Further Mathematics or Spanish.

 

Aya Alzhmad was thrilled to collect her results this morning. She was awarded 10 GCSEs, including 1 9 and 6 8s. Aya will be joining us in September to study for her A Levels.

 

As one of the Academy’s high-achieving students, Edmond Hakaj worked exceptionally hard to attain his grades. With 10 GCSEs including 6 8s and 3 7s. Edmond expressed the importance of House Time each morning throughout his time at the Academy, specifically concerning ‘the help he received with revision and dealing with exam-related stress’. He will begin his A Levels later this year, studying Mathematics, Politics and Economics.

 

Harvey Nightingale has been awarded an impressive 10 GCSEs, including 6 8s and 3 7s. He will return to study in September for 4 A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Mathematics. Harvey said he’d ‘absolutely loved his time at the school’ and that ‘there wasn’t any one thing that stood out, as it was all excellent!’.



Kwan Warner was delighted with his results this morning, having been awarded 8 GCSEs, including 2 9s, 2 8s and 3 7s. Kwan will begin studying 3 A Levels later this year,  in Economics, Mathematics and Psychology. Kwan singled out his Mandarin teacher for praise, saying how they’d helped him significantly improve his grades in the subject over the last year.

 

Jun Chen was extremely happy with his results today, after being awarded 10 GCSEs including 2 9s, 4 8s and 3 7s. Jun has been a student with us since Year 7 and we are absolutely delighted all his hard work has paid off. We are also very pleased that he will return to the Academy in September to study 4 A Levels. Jun said ‘the Maths and English department had been pivotal to his success’,. In particular, Mr Adamson and Ms Wintle, who he said were ‘excellent teachers’.