STEAM Week Continues to Educate and Inspire Students

13th March 2020webadmin webadmin

STEAM Week Continues to Educate and Inspire Students

We’re nearing the end of STEAM week and as expected, its been nothing but exceptional!

 

Engineering and Drama joined forces this week, taking students who show particular commitment and interest in these subjects on two trips. Students visited the world-renowned drama school, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. They were also lucky enough to tour the building and gain an invaluable insight into studying Set Design.

We also chose 21 L1 and L1P girls to attend a trip to the London Coliseum, resident home of the English National Opera. In this most wonderful of cultural institutions, students received a talk from the Head of Pulley systems and Head of Drawing. They also had the opportunity to tour the building, seeing key working elements such as the orchestra pit and wig department.

It was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their knowledge of STEAM careers and many left inspired and eager to pursue further opportunities in the field. Our students were also exceptional ambassadors for the UCL Academy.

All in all, a great day was had by all!

Contemporary Art Lectures by Acclaimed Artists – Tuesday 3rd March

9th March 2020webadmin webadmin

Contemporary Art Lectures by Acclaimed Artists -Tuesday 3rd March

On Tuesday, our A Level Art students took part in an immersive day of Art lectures. They were lucky enough to meet and hear from four leading contemporary artists working in different areas of art and design; learning about their creative journeys, what inspires them and how they turn an idea into a work of art. Students heard from Cornelia Parker OBE RA, Simon Norfolk, Stuart Pearson Wright and Ingrid Murphy.

Cornelia Parker is one of Britain’s most acclaimed artists. Her work contains themes of gain and loss and often transforms ordinary objects into something compelling and extraordinary. She has produced a diverse range of work and collaboration features heavily in her process. She worked with a Nobel Prize winning scientist to turn fragments of Picasso paintings into new artwork. And, along with the help of the Embroiderer’s Guild and prisoners, she recreated the Wikipedia Magna Carta page in embroidery; marking the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Magna Carta.

The talk from Simon Norfolk, an award winning documentary photographer who often captures moments of war or crisis, helped students understand the link between art history, fine art and photography. Simon succinctly explained how the framing and composition of his war reportage often links back to paintings of the 1600’s.

Stuart Pearson Wright, one of the UK’s leading portrait artists, gave a superbly entertaining talk enabling students to learn about his process and inspiration. He has won both the National Portrait Gallery BP travel prize and first prize in the BP portrait awards. His paintings of John Hurt and JK Rowling were purchased by the National Portrait Gallery and are often on display. Students learned about the personal nature of inspiration and how you can use your own experience and identity to drive forward ideas.

Ingrid Murphy spoke of the connection between ancient and modern artistic techniques. An award winning ceramicist, Ingrid explained how she merges science with craft in her digital design and making processes. Students were particularly fascinated with her use of metals in glazes to produce electric switches and enabling sound and connection across time and space.

Level 2+ Students Embrace Technology as a Learning Tool

5th March 2020webadmin webadmin

Level 2+ Students Embrace Technology as a Learning Tool 

The UCL Academy recognises the role of technology in an ever-increasing digitised society. Moreover, we want to give students the edge they need to achieve their true potential.

With the introduction of two new online learning tools, we feel a significant leap forward has been made in this quest. The first of these tools is CENTURY and is currently being used by Level 2+ students preparing for their GCSE summer exams (the programme is currently available for use in Maths, English and Science). Every student is unique and has a different aptitude for learning, so one of the major advantages of this online tool is that it adapts to each student’s skill level and lets them learn at a pace best suited to their needs. The programme design ensures that individual strengths and weaknesses are noted, and learning is adjusted accordingly. From a teaching perspective, the live analysis which forms an integral part of the programme also means teachers have complete control over the workload and greater ability to give accurate feedback and suggestions.

 

CENTURY is a programme used by students, teachers and parents, all have access to the same platform and therefore have a greater insight into what each child is learning inside and outside of the school. As a result, parents have more ability to support and direct their child than ever before. For more detailed information on how this programme works, see the following link: https://www.century.tech/explore-century/parents/

As mentioned in an email circulated to Level 2+ students and parents, special classes will be available at the upcoming consultation evening in March. These are intended to help parents understand more fully the technology and the benefits to education.

The second of the tools is Adapt (https://getadapt.co.uk/), an app that helps students organise and plan for their exams. Success in exams depends to a large extent on how well a student prepares and this programme assists with developing key details such as revision timetables and techniques. The app database gives access to every exam topic in the UK, saving students precious time and energy searching for information online. It also acts as a motivation tool, tracking progress and allowing students to see their achievements on a personal online graph. All in all, Adapt will help lower stress levels and in turn allow the student to perform at their peak.

Adapt and CENTURY are both fun and dynamic tools which have been received extremely positively by our Level 2+ students. They have certainly made teaching more relatable and will undoubtedly make a positive difference in the upcoming summer exams.

 

The UCL Academy Careers Fair – Tuesday 28th January – 5.45-7.30pm

21st January 2020webadmin webadmin

The UCL Academy Careers Fair – Tuesday 28th January – 5.45-7.30pm

We are delighted to invite UCL Academy parents and students of Levels 1+, 2 and 2+, 3 and 3+ to our 2020 Careers Fair on the evening of Tuesday the 28th of January, 5.45pm-7.30pm.

At the event, we will be joined by 40 high profile organisations representing a wide range of careers sectors. Among many others, our line-up of the evening includes British Airways, University College London (UCL), Barclays Bank, Just IT, Marriot Hotels, Transport for London (TFL), Royal Air Force, London Fire Brigade, Royal Navy, Met Police, WPP, English National Opera, Capital City Colleges, Mace Group, UKSEDS (space), University of West London, Civil Service Fast Stream and many more. So whatever career sector your child aspires to, and whether they are aiming for University or an Apprenticeship programme, there will be something for everyone.

Many of our students have imminent decisions to make about where and what they want to study next, so it’s a perfect opportunity for them to gain more information and consider their different options. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this exciting event.

 

 

The UCL Academy Winter Concert – Tuesday 10th December

4th December 2019webadmin webadmin

The UCL Academy Winter Concert – Tuesday 10th December

We are thrilled to confirm that the annual Academy Winter Concert will this year be held on Tuesday 10th December 6.30—7.30pm. It promises to be a wonderful evening showcasing a range of student work, from solo pieces and smaller groups to the larger, more established ensembles. All parents are warmly welcomed and tickets are now available on ParentPay (£4 adults, £2 young people). Doors open at 6pm – we hope to see many of you there!

Another Strong Set of A Level Results Celebrated at The UCL Academy

15th August 2019webadmin webadmin

Another Strong Set of A Level Results Celebrated at The UCL Academy

The UCL Academy is celebrating another strong set of A Level results from their largest ever cohort of Sixth Form students. In the first year that students who started at the Academy in Foundation (Year 7) finished their A Levels, the Academy is thrilled and proud to see so many students going on to study at many of the country’s most prestigious universities.

Robin Street, Co-Principal, said that “A Level results day is always a special day for the Academy as we celebrate and support our students who have worked so hard and see them head off to so many great universities”. On behalf of the Academy’s Sponsor, UCL and Governing Body, the Academy’s Chair of Governors, Professor Lucie Green also congratulated all staff and students on the excellent results and wished them all the very best of luck for their next steps, future studies and careers.

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

(Image by Kirsten Holst)

Paulina Gordina is heading to Imperial College London to study Chemical Engineering after achieving an amazing set of results; one A* and three As. Paulina had found studying outside of her direct curriculum areas hugely helpful to her studies and thanked the Academy’s teaching staff for supporting her with this.

(Image by Kirsten Holst)

Sabirin Abdirahman, the Academy’s very own Head Girl, is thrilled to have achieved three As and to be heading to Kings College London to study Medicine. Sabirin thanked all of the teachers for “going the extra mile” throughout her time at the Academy. She also thanked her incredible cohort of students who she was proud to represent and support.

With one A* and two As, Imran Sheikh is excited and proud to be taking up his place at Southampton University to study Medicine. He thanked the Academy’s teaching staff for all of the support and extra revision sessions that they provided adding that the “STEM tutors truly went above and beyond to provide amazing subject specific support”. 

Having achieved one A* and two As, Bengisu Loveridge Ozturk is looking forward to starting her Politics and Sociology degree at Bristol University. Bengisu said that it was her strong relationships with Academy teachers and their amazing support that encouraged her to stay at the Academy to take her A Levels.

With a passion for aeronautical science, Harry Softley-Graham is planning to study Mechanical Engineering at University College London. He praised the Academy’s amazing Engineering department for their “professionalism, support and fantastic facilities”. He was also thankful for the Academy’s UCL links which gave him fantastic opportunities to attend lectures at UCL and expand his knowledge and experiences beyond his immediate studies.

Of particular note is the Academy’s Maths teaching team and students. Nearly 50% of students achieved an A or A* in maths this year, in what was the Academy’s largest subject cohort.

All images by Kirsten Holst

The UCL Academy – A Year In Review 2018/19

23rd July 2019webadmin webadmin

The UCL Academy – A Year In Review 2018/19

Many thanks to all staff, student and parents for what has been a wonderful year at the Academy. We’ve had so many fantastic events, trips and concerts, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Academy community. Please enjoy our review of the year which was shared with staff and students at the end of term assemblies.

Errol Simpson, 6th Form Physics Mentor, Wins an ENTHUSE Award for Excellence in STEM Teaching

10th July 2019webadmin webadmin

Errol Simpson, 6th Form Physics Mentor, Wins an ENTHUSE Award for Excellence in STEM Teaching

We are delighted and proud to announce that our 6th Form Physics Mentor, Errol Simpson, has been given an award for Excellence in STEM teaching – Post 16 at the 2019 UK ENTHUSE Celebration Awards! The prestigious awards ceremony that took place at the Royal Society in London on the 20th June celebrates the very best in STEM teaching.

Huge congratulations to Errol who is wonderful asset to the Academy and our science department.

More information on the awards is available here.

 

School of Rock – Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th July

1st July 2019webadmin webadmin

School of Rock!

The School of Rock is coming to The UCL Academy this week! Performance are taking place at 6.30pm on Tuesday 2nd, Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July and doors will open each evening at 6pm. Tickets are still available for all parents on ParentPay at £5 for adults and £3 for children. We hope to see many of you there!

 

The UCL Academy Adventures in Arvon – Monday 24th – Friday 28th June

25th June 2019webadmin webadmin

The UCL Academy Adventures in Arvon 

On 24th June 2019, sixteen Level 1+ students and two teachers left Swiss Cottage and headed to Arvon, a residential writers’ course in Yorkshire, for a week.  During the week they had the chance to experiment with creative writing and meet professional writers, all the while exploring the beautiful countryside that surrounds them. You can read all about their adventures below!

http://www.uclatarvon.blogspot.com/