The Orion Garden – a new STEAM classroom at The UCL Academy

The UCL Academy building and its grounds provide inspiring spaces for all those fortunate enough to work and study here, and alongside the Architects’ original landscape design, students and teachers now have a rejuvenated exterior garden to nurture, learn from and bask in throughout the year.

Our Connected Curriculum encourages students to apply their curriculum learning beyond the classroom to real world scenarios. Students from year 7 to year 10 have been involved in the leadership and co-design of the Orion STEAM Garden. The project has involved learning that is both creative and interdisciplinary – from applying scientific knowledge about ecosystems and biodiversity to designing a space that meets the needs of both wildlife and humans. 

Supported by Camden STEAM, the opportunity arose to make an application for a climate Kickstart prize to the Mayor of London, with the premise of the application and funding being ‘rewilding’ at the Academy. Much to our delight, the application was successful and the academy was awarded just under £9000, an appreciated contribution to say the least.

Camden STEAM facilitated connections to commission a local charity, ‘Camden Think and Do’, which consists of gardeners and general volunteers. Over 40 students at the academy have now been trained in the principles of rewilding and sustainability and co-designed the Orion garden space. 

Since September, with the available funding, ‘Camden Think and Do’ have delivered 3 workshops to approximately 40 students from years 7,8, 9 and 10. Via these workshops, students have learned why rewilding initiatives in schools and the environment at large are so important. The discussions in the initial workshop were varied, but focussed predominantly on soil, air pollution, biodiversity, food production and the element of wellbeing. Workshop 2 centred on the co-design of the garden, alongside organisations including Camden Think and Do, Camden Clean Air Initiative and Camden Arts Centre. 

Building on the knowledge and principles already acquired,, the final workshop involved students working alongside Camden Think and Do and volunteers from Doughty Street Chambers to build pathways, plant trees, bulbs and seeds galore. Year 7 students in particular enjoyed this project, many of them embracing the collaborative design process and the opportunity to express their personal thoughts and wishes for the garden. 

Eliana (Year 7 student) said: 

“I have enjoyed the workshops we have been able to do; they have been a great learning experience for me and my peers. I have always loved nature and being able to help hit environmental problems on the head has made me even more aware of trying to save the environment”.

Once again, all materials and plants were procured through the ‘Camden Think and Do’ funding. Camden Think and Do have been an invaluable partner in bringing students ideas to life. 

The cyclical nature of the garden will offer endless opportunities to study and understand the environment, combining curricular, social and emotional benefits. First and foremost, instilling students with patience and respect for nature, offering them an holistic understanding of the various processes that occur from one season to another; while learning that urban spaces, however small, can become important areas for plant growth as well as refuges for wildlife. All of which plays a part in protecting the ecosystem on a global level.

Time Lapse cameras already placed in the garden are recording the short and long term effects of weather and time, giving tangible curriculum links in Geography and the Sciences. In addition to these, students also drew upon key elements of the Mathematics and Art curriculums when they applied their knowledge of measurement, geometry and design in order to produce an aesthetically pleasing and efficient garden. The Academy’s vision of a connected curriculum inspired by UCL’s Grand Challenges, which include sustainable cities, could not be more relevant in the case of this new space and the learning opportunities it will provide for all years and all abilities. 

Needless to say, this garden has particular resonance with some of our students who don’t have direct access to a garden or exterior space at home. We feel extremely fortunate and proud to offer every one of our students access to this garden, to participate in the maintenance of, or simply to use as a tranquil area in which to relax.

Such is the success of the newly planted Orion Garden, it has already garnered a loyal following of willing students, who will now maintain and nurture for their own enjoyment and education, and for those of future academy students.

Congratulations Year 11 – Fantastic GCSE Results 2022

GCSE results day is finally upon us and like so many before, we have ample reason to celebrate. The UCL Academy GCSE students continue to raise the bar with a high attaining set of results, with 30% of grades at 7 or above. Students achieved above national average results in a range of subjects, including some more unique to the Academy’s curriculum such as Engineering and Mandarin.

It goes without saying that all students have endured a testing 3 years, but their determination and diligence has paved the way for these well deserved results. We would like to thank all staff and parents/carers for their hard work in supporting our students’ achievements, none of this would have been possible without your ongoing help and dedication.

Many of our Year 11 students will start the next chapter of their studies in our Sixth Form and we look forward to them returning in September and progressing towards university and future careers. For those leaving us, we wish you luck in your future endeavours and very much look forward to seeing your progression.

Co-Principals, Robin Street and Simon McBride said: “Today is about celebrating the successes of every single one of our students. In amongst the excellent grades achieved are so many students who have made exceptional progress from a range of starting points. That includes students who have joined us in recent years from abroad and others who faced a range of personal challenges outside of school. Results Days rightly celebrate individual success stories, but many of those are far more than just grades”.

Outstanding Individual Results:

 

 

James Galloway

As one of the Academy’s top achieving students, James was rewarded for all his hard work with a stellar set of results, 5 x 9s and 5 x 8s. James’ best grades were awarded in English, Mandarin and the Sciences.

 

 

Viola Muhaxheri

With an impressive 5 x 9s, 4 x 8s and 1 x 7, Viola was thrilled to have achieved top grades in a range of subjects, including Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Geography. Viola will continue her studies in A Level Art, Engineering, Physics and Maths. Viola spoke about the “excellent connections and opportunities afforded to her during her 5 years, specifically those of UCL (our sponsor).

 

 

Viena  Muhaxheri

Viena achieved excellent results, with 4 x 9s, 5 x 8s and 1 x 6  in a range of subjects, including all three Sciences. Viena is now looking forward to continuing her study of the Sciences at A Level. She attributes many things to her success, but specifically mentioned the “close community and the extremely positive effect it had on her studies”.

 

 

Ronita Bejtullahi 

With an impressive 10 GCSEs including 2 x 9s, 4 x 8s and 2 x 7s,  Ronita was delighted with her achievements, achieving top grades in a range of subjects including Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature and Geography. A Level Biology, Chemistry and English Literature are Ronita’s chosen A Level subjects. Ronita said “the communication between teachers and students played an important role in my ability to succeed, it really helped with the stress around exam time”.

 

Maaria Matin

Celebrating considerable success today is Maaria Matin with 10 GCSEs, including 2 x 9s, 4 x 8s and 2 x 7s. Maaria will continue her studies in A Level Economics, Geography and Maths. She spoke warmly about “the extracurricular sessions and the extra mile that teachers go to make sure all students can succeed”.

 

 

Abid Kamal

Abid excelled in his studies and has been rewarded with an enviable set of results; 1 x 9, 4 x 8s and 5 x 7s. He is yet another one of our students who has performed exceptionally well in the Sciences. Abid said “camaraderie between the students and teachers was key to the success I have achieved”. 

 

 

Rayyane Gasmi 

Rayyaane achieved superb results, being awarded 10 GCSEs and including an impressive 7 x 8s. Rayyaane is now very much looking forward to continuing his studies at A Level. Many positives about his time at the Academy were mentioned, specifically the “close community and the extremely positive effect it had on his studies”.

 

 

Lisa Hoxha

As the awardee of 10 GCSEs, comprising 2 x 9s, 5 x 8s and 1 x 7, Lisa is quite rightly proud of her achievements; she excelled in Combined Science and Sociology. A Level Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Politics await Lisa on her return to study this September.

 

 

Lina Abdulrazzaq 

Lina was excited to collect her results this morning and elated by the outcome, 1 x 9, 5 x 8s and 4 x 7s. As one of the Academy’s high performing students, Lina is now looking forward to studying for her A Levels and has many fond memories from the past few years. At the forefront of her mind is the “the atmosphere and shared desire to learn at the Academy, but also the warmth and generosity of all the teachers and students”.

 

 

 

Ethan Li

Ethan was understandably overwhelmed by his results, achieving 10 GCSEs, 8 of which are grades 7-9. Ethan said “the opportunity to study Mandarin and the sense of community at the academy were pivotal to his success”.

 

 

Arteen Babaei

A student with us since Year 7, Arteen is yet another individual celebrating phenomenal academic success today with 10 GCSEs, including 2 x 9s, 4 x 8s and 3 x 7s. Arteen expressed his deep gratitude to the teaching staff, detailing how “Teachers know exactly how to cater to specific students, which in turn helped me get high grades”.

 

 

Snapshots of the day:

 

 

Congratulations to our A Level Class of 2022

 

Staff and Governors at The UCL Academy could not be prouder of the achievements of this year’s A Level cohort. In spite of all the challenges of the past three years, so many of our students have achieved excellent grades across their subjects.

They have, as a result of their hard work and dedication, been rewarded with places at some of the country’s leading universities such as Imperial College London, King’s College London, London School of Economics, Queen Mary University of London and the Universities of Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Warwick and York.

They are moving onto an impressive range of courses in STEM, Humanities and the Arts. For example, Comparative Literature, English, Fine Art & Art History, Economics, Environmental science, History, Law, Philosophy, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering & Architectural Design, Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, Pharmacy, Computer Science and Mathematics.

We are particularly proud that currently 6 of our students have confirmed places to study at our Sponsor UCL, fulfilling the dreams they had when they first started at The UCL Academy.

Co-Principals Robin Street and Simon McBride said “Students have done so well to achieve these results and move onto these exciting courses. They worked through their A Level courses during a period of much higher uncertainty than usual and showed determination and resilience that will stand them in really good stead for their future lives. We wish them every success.” 

As always, we are delighted with the performance of all our students and they will be proud of what they have accomplished. A few highlights below:

 

 

Nayeeb Choudhury

Having achieved a fantastic set of results; 4 A*s in Economics, Maths, Further Maths and Politics, Nayeeb is one of the Academy’s highest achievers this year. Nayeeb wished to thank the Maths department for their support in achieving his desired results, stating “my teachers helped at every step along the way”. Nayeeb is looking forward to taking his place at LSE to study Economics.

 

Nora Salam

Nora joined the Academy’s Sixth Form in September 2020. With an A* in History and 2 A’s in Psychology and English Literature, Nora has secured her place at University of Edinburgh to study History. Nora spoke about her passion for history and her gratitude for the support she received from the Academy throughout her time in Sixth Form, stating that ‘they cared a lot and always helped prepare for exams’.

 

 

 

Ali Sam Nateghian 

Ali-Sam, our Head Boy, was thrilled to achieve his results; 2 A*’s in Economics and Maths plus 2 A’s in Biology and Chemistry. Ali-Sam praised the teachers who worked hard to help him reach his potential and secure his place in September at University of Warwick studying Economics.

 

 

 

Mohammad Eghbal Sobhani 

With 3 A’s in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, Mohammad has secured his place at King’s College to study Neuroscience. Mohammed spoke empathetically about the pastoral support he received, both emotionally and mentally, and the willingness of the teachers to help with his exams preparation when needed, quoting that it has been “the best 2 years of my life!”.

 

 

Hana Molokhia

Hana achieved superb results of 3 A*’s in Engineering, Maths and Further Maths plus an A in Physics. Hana will be attending our Sponsor UCL in September to study Engineering and Architectural Design. Coming in as a new student to Sixth Form in 2020, Hana warmly talked about how welcomed and supported she felt, and the motivation her teachers provided. Hana said “my teachers pushed me in my studies and to stay in Further Maths, I wouldn’t have got the grades without them”.

 

 

Olti Llapashtica 

Olti has been a student at the Academy since Year 7 (Foundation). He achieved a wonderful set of results; 2 A*’s in Economics and Maths plus an A in Politics which granted him a place at University of Warwick to study Economics. Olti found the helpfulness of all departments and the learning environment pivotal to his success and is grateful that staff pushed him to achieve his best. Olti’s main learning point from undertaking his A levels was that “hard work pays off”.

 

 

Ylli Nici 

A student at The UCL Academy since Year 8 (Level 1), Ylli excelled in his 4 chosen subjects, achieving 3 A*’s in Economics, Maths and Further Maths plus an A in Physics. Ylli is excited to continue his studies in Maths at Imperial College London. Ylli spoke about the quality and consistency of his education at the Academy, which supported him in achieving his results, concluding that “consistency is king!”.

 

Artist-in-Residence Workshops Summer 2022

 

Key stage 3 students were thrilled to take part in an opportunity to work with contemporary artist Alexander de Cadenet this half term as part of a three-day Artist in Residency programme arranged in conjunction with AiR. 

Artistic practices were explained, with students learning how inspiration can come from a variety of sources. Alexander de Cadenet spoke about how meditation and reflection are key to his art practice and encouraged students to reflect on the minutiae of what they see and hear around them. Students listened to a film of blackbird song and contemplated the idea of portals before commencing with a range of experimental works. Students had access to a range of diverse materials, including coffee filters, food dye, and spray bottles; highlighting the way that art can be made without access to traditional and often expensive art materials.

Further inspiration was gleaned from a presentation of the kinetic sculptures of Alexander Calder. Students then worked collaboratively, using the components made in earlier workshops, to create a moving sculpture of their own; generating an installation where space and the flow of air became part of the work.

 

 

 

Working directly with an artist gave students first-hand experience of how an artist thinks about their work. Students embraced the cycle of inspiration, experimentation and reflection, embracing both control and risk-taking. More than simply an exercise in creativity, the workshops also enabled students to show the learning attributes of resilience and collaboration.

 

The final artworks are beautiful, displaying an array of mark-making, colour and compositional choices. They lend themselves to both careful scrutiny and at-a-glance appreciation. The dream-like quality of the outcomes are reminiscent of the work of Joan Miro and El-Anutsui. The 96 students involved should be very proud of themselves and the excellent work they have created which is currently on display in the Art Room.

International Evening and Parent Summer Party!

 

On Wednesday 6th July, our amazing Academy community came together to celebrate culture, cuisine and conversation at our International Evening. What a fantastic event and evidence of the amazing strength that a community can have when they work together. Under the guidance and organisation of Miss Cannoli, we were inundated and overwhelmed by the support we received from families and students. You cooked amazing dishes from Kosova, Somalia, France, Ukraine, Slovakia, Mauritius, South Africa, Congo, Korea, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Hungary, The Philippines, America, Japan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Austria, Syria, Nigeria and many more! It was an absolute treat to the senses. Students (and Mr Hillage!) provided some wonderful entertainment too, so a huge THANK YOU to all of our parents who cooked, to those who came and to all the staff who supported us!

See you next year!

 

 

 

UCL Drama Students Collaborate with the Donmar Warehouse on ‘Take the Stage’ Project

 

Our partnership with the Donmar Warehouse, a not for profit theatre in London continues to be a particular favourite amongst our students, especially those with an interest in Drama.

Most recently, our Level 2 Drama students worked in close partnership with Donmar facilitator, Jordana Goldbourne, contributing to a piece entitled ‘Fight, Flight or Fight’, part of a project entitled ‘Take the Stage’ which began in late November 2021 and culminated in a performance at the end of January this year. Students worked closely with Jordana in weekly workshops at the Academy and were initially introduced to the play ‘Force Majeure’ starring Rory Kinnear, from which the main theme for the following workshops was loosely based upon.

Prominent questions arising from ‘Force Majeure’ included: 

What would you do when faced with a disaster? 

Would you stay or flee?

The Donmar Warehouse very kindly allowed our students, accompanied by Mr Maculkin and Ms Verity, to attend an evening performance of the play.

During the workshops, Level 2 students proactively collaborated, passionately discussing the many complex and sensitive themes anchored within these questions. Tasked with producing some ‘free writing’ based on these themes, they drew upon a spectrum of life experiences; some personal, some family, others of friends and/or strangers. This prompted many deeply thought provoking conversations from which they constructed their response; a shared decision to focus on the ideas of Fight, Flight or Fight.

Over the course of the project, particular attention was also paid to the techniques involved in producing such a piece: research; establishing the aims and objectives; genre, style and form; and structure, to name but a few.

The end product is a wonderfully evocative piece of writing that guides us through the landscape of the contemporary world, as seen through the eyes of a generation facing challenges not of their own making. Touching on so many current social, political and environmental themes, the piece undoubtedly resonates with every one of us on some level, if not many.

Upon finishing, our students’ hard work and dedication received the ultimate commendation when specific extracts were chosen and embedded in the performance ‘Take the Stage’. Seeing their contribution come to life was a truly wonderful achievement. 

Huge congratulations to all you Level 2 Drama creatives who made this happen! 

Please scroll down to read the piece in full:

 

 

Art Students Barbican Conservatory Workshop

 

Level 2 GCSE Art students visited the Barbican Conservatory, in the heart of the City of London on Friday 21st January, to take part in a workshop with the current Artist in Residence, Sam Winston. Sam Winston’s artistic practice often combines visual culture and literature and he has exhibited his work in museums and galleries around the world. Tate Britain, the British Library and MoMA NYC hold his artist’s books and his projects have taken place at institutes such as The V&A Museum, The Courtauld Institute of Art and The Whitechapel Gallery. For this project, ‘following the breath’, Winston investigated the relationship between the urban environment and our breath.

Students were first introduced to the maze that is The Barbican, with its homes, galleries and music and theatre venues. Sam Winston worked with the students, explaining his artistic process and guiding students in some mark-making exercises. Students then explored the conservatory itself, with its lush vegetation and moving water, before viewing the work that Winston had made during the residency and a video illuminating the concept behind the work. 

Students learned about the process of making ink from the particles that surround us, with sources as diverse as aquatic plants, engine fumes, plant soil, tree bark, cigarette butts and wasp nests. For the exhibition, Winston created artwork using inks he made from particulate matter collected within a 3 km radius of the Barbican.
The mark-making created by our students will be displayed with other student work at the Barbican as a response to the Artists’ prompts, and alongside Sam Winston’s own work. 

More information can be found on the Barbican Website:
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/event/following-the-breath

And on Sam Winston’s website:
https://www.samwinston.com/

 

UCL Academy Students Invited to Screening of Racism in Football Drama

 

 

The children’s TV series ‘Jamie Johnson’ is well known for not shying away from important topics and since it was first broadcast in 2016, has tackled compelling storylines centred on bullying, sexism, cheating, blackmail, relationships, diabetes, homelessness, multiple sclerosis, racism, crime and homophobia.

We need look no further than the game of football to know that racism is an ongoing societal problem; Members of the Mens’ England Football team were recently subjected to overt racist abuse during one of their games in the European Cup competition. And sadly, this abuse transcends all areas of the football world, proving that racism is both present and alarmingly pervasive.

The writers behind ‘Jamie Johnson’ have used these poignant events to promote awareness, specifically amongst the children that watch the series. A recent storyline centres on one of the main characters, Freddie 500, and the fact he is racially abused by opposition fans during a cup tie. Facing the same dilemma as the England team during their European Cup game, the fictional football club and it’s players have to decide whether to continue playing or to abandon the game. Scenes from one of the two episodes show the players in the dressing room, discussing what each believes is the appropriate response. What becomes quickly apparent are the differing thoughts and reactions amongst the players, which ultimately make a unified response difficult and team camaraderie vulnerable. 

 

 

By using the awareness and momentum gathered by media coverage on the England Team, the writers have cemented this storyline as a poignant and timely reminder; not just of overt racism and its many guises, but the many complexities that can and do arise for those involved, both individually and collectively.

20 of our students were lucky enough to attend a special preview screening, alongside Mr Robin Street (Co-Principal), Ms Cosima Davies (Assistant Principal) and Ms Katrina Potter (Head of PE). After the screening, UCL students asked a series of considered and thought provoking questions to a panel, comprising; Lianne Sanderson (former England international and broadcaster and recent visitor to the Academy), Troy Townsend (head of player engagement at Kick It Out), Keaton Edmund (the young actor who plays Freddie 500), Iffy Onuora (head of diversity and inclusion at the Premier League) and Edleen John (international relations, corporate affairs and equality, diversity and inclusion director at the FA).

 

 

Yet more exposure for ‘Jamie Johnson’ came in the form of a news feature on BBC Newsround, which included the incredibly thoughtful and interesting contributions our students made to questions and discussions at the event. Suffice to say, we’ve immense pride in the way every one of them showed the utmost respect and consideration throughout the day.

 

 

These episodes of  ‘Jamie Johnson’ teach us that popular culture can indeed have a positive role in illuminating and helping to combat racism. And that whenever possible, we should embrace every opportunity to subvert the negative events that remain a part of everyday life for many children and adults alike.

Over the past 18 months, Academy staff, spearheaded by Ms Cosima Davies, have been leading work across Camden Primary and Secondary schools in developing anti-racism policies, building curriculum content and training teachers and support staff. The experience for our staff and students on this visit builds on this vital work and we are grateful to the team from ‘Jamie Johnson’ and of course the BBC for giving our students the opportunity and the platform to share their thoughts and to be part of such an important panel discussion.