Autumn 2018 Issue 20

The news magazine of Ark Burlington Danes Academy A Church of England and Ark Academy

INSIDE PAGE 7 Focus on 3 SixthForm 4 Primary Community roundup 6 Trips and of the future visits A Church of England and Ark Academy Educating the leaders SIXTH FORMERS SPREAD THEIR WINGS Results exceed expectations Year 12 climb to new heights of the future OUR year 12 BTEC Sport students enjoyed a IT is both a pleasure and an best universities and jobs. challenging outdoor adventure activity, which honour to introduce this edition A rich and rounded education introduced most of them to the future Olympic sport of The Griffin, my first since encompasses more than just of rock climbing. being appointed Principal of Ark grades. We know our students need Putting on harnesses, helmets and rope before Burlington Danes Academy. high-quality experiences that stretch climbing to vertiginous heights or abseiling down rock Our school has been beyond the classroom. Therefore, walls, the group quickly gained confidence. Thanks a beacon of academic our carefully curated programme of to some excellent coaching, the students became excellence since 1699, enrichment helps our students to increasingly competitive and began to improve their and quite rightly our develop their confidence, resilience individual technique. focus remains on our and character, enabling them to The coaches were particularly impressed with one students achieving become the leaders of the future. student’s natural ability, and suggested that Theo exceptional The summer term has been full Such could one day qualify as a Level 1 rock climber exam results of such activities, from our annual at Westway Everyone Active. to access the music festival to the teamwork, CONGRATULATIONS to our A-level perseverance and leadership students, who have achieved a full • Chloe Baldwin, A*A*AA in English demonstrated in our Sports Day. third of a grade higher in all of literature, government and politics, Trips to Normandy, Rome and their subjects. history and the EPQ – politics and cultural activities around London Our tradition of exceptional A-level international relations at Bristol have also helped to broaden our maths teaching has also continued, • Faiso Kadiye, A*AAA in history, students’ horizons. No wonder with nearly two thirds of students maths, English literature and the Ark BDA is such an exceptional achieving A* or A grades, placing EPQ – international relations at community and special place BDA’s maths results among the best the LSE to learn. in the country for students’ progress. • Gonjan Kaur, AAB in biology, Paul Bhatia, Principal As a result, a quarter of our chemistry and psychology – cohort are heading to Russell Group medicine at King’s College London universities, with the following • Mohamed Mohamed, A*AAA in students deserving particular praise: maths, further maths, physics and • Fayez Ahmed, A*A*A in maths, the EPQ – a scholarship to MIT in further maths and physics – maths the USA, worth over £300,000! at UCL • Harvey Walsh, A*AA in maths, We wish all of our students the further maths and physics – very best for their futures at university theoretical physics at UCL and beyond. A meeting of minds STUDENTS EXCEL IN EXAMS IN January, a group of year 12 students attended Grenfell remembered the annual symposium of the Royal College of WELL done to all our GCSE THE fire broke Psychiatrists, followed by the College’s Scientific students who have achieved some out on 14th June 2017. Of the FROM HOMELESS STUDENT TO MIT SCHOLAR Meeting in May. wonderful results, with particular 293 people who lived in the Organised by their Evolutionary Psychiatry congratulations to the following: building, 72 died. THIS summer, Ark BDA A-level student Special Interest Group, the visits allowed Omar Sayeed-Iqbal: The response from the Mohamed Mohamed will be moving students to go to lectures and engage with their 7 x 9s, 2 x 8s, 1 x 7, 1A* community in the hours, days to America to study aeronautical Psychology and Biology A-levels at a deeper level beyond the syllabus. Several students have Jai Patel: 7 x 9s, 3 x 7s, 1A and weeks that followed was engineering at the Massachusetts one of strength, unity and Institute of Technology (MIT), on a since used Darwinian evolutionary research in Felix Butcher: dignity. Ordinary people from full scholarship. their own Extended Project Qualification. 6 x 9s, 3 x 8s, 1 x 7, 1 x 6 ordinary families have become While being accepted to such a Ark BDA also featured in the College’s April Sadek Al-Saabari: leaders, activists and drivers prestigious university is noteworthy 2018 online newsletter, and a recording of the 4 x 9s, 4 x 8s, 2 x 7s, 1A for change. enough, Mohamed’s story is even symposium is on their YouTube channel. Ibrahim Ibrahim: The inspirational more remarkable because, just last 4 x 9s, 4 x 8s, 1 x 7, 1 x 6, 1B organisation Grenfell United year, he and his family were evicted has been founded under from their West London flat and moved James Rowley: the symbol of a green heart, into a hostel for eight months. During 4 x 9s, 1 x 8, 3 x 7s, 2 x 6s, 1 x 5 and the motto ‘forever in that time, Mohamed stuck to his study Nerjess Alfellani: 2 x 9s, 3 x 8s, 3 x our hearts’. It is working to routine, and his family were eventually 7s, 1 x 6, 1 x 5, 1 x 4, 1A* provide an independent and relocated to a new home. Jania Fernan: 5 x 8s, 5 x 7s, 1B dignified voice for all those who Mohamed said: “My mum is from survived, or lost loved ones in Usher Bigas: 4 x 8s, 2 x 7s, 3 x 6s, Somalia and my dad is Sudanese. They the fire. 2As moved to the UK because they wanted To mark the first anniversary to give me and my siblings the chance Nasra Sulub: 3 x 8s, 3 x 7s, 3 x 6s, of the tragedy, students and of a good education. Anyone can go to 1A, 1C staff wore green wristbands – a good university – you just need to put We wish our students all the best to honour the families and in the time and effort to succeed.” as they continue their educational friends of those who survived, Mohamed is now one step closer teachers, A-List Education and the journey at key stage 5. and to honour those who lost to fulfilling his dream of becoming an Sutton Trust (including his mentor, their lives. aeronautical engineer at the European Jonathan Kendall) with helping him Space Agency. He credits his parents, on his journey. 2 3 A Church of England and Ark Academy

Pupils play to MUSIC SCALES their strengths NEW HEIGHTS THE children in the primary school have started to use the new creative climbing equipment in the YEAR 2 pupils have formed a main playground. fantastic choir during the past The area was developed by Infinite Playgrounds, year, led by the primary music and includes a large climbing frame, an outdoor lead Lauren McKenna. The classroom area and various dens and performing children have attended a weekly spaces. One of the most popular additions is the choir practice, as well as taking large ‘friendship slide’, where three children can part in various performances in hold hands and slide down together. front of pupils and parents. As well as being fun, using the climbing frame Next year, Miss McKenna is will help children to develop their gross motor expanding the school music offer, skills, ultimately making them better at their fine with a second choir and musical motor skills and handwriting in the classroom. instrument tuition, and will be The early years’ outdoor area has also been stocking the primary music room turned into a vibrant, inviting learning space, with You can learn new with new equipment. Children in the addition of a mud kitchen, stage, den-building year 3 will also start learning area and sandpit. We are delighted to see so much tricks and skills on it. how to play djembe drums as creative play! Primary pupil their first taste of playing a Gemma Grierson, Primary Principal rhythmic instrument. AT THE FOREFRONT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION Our primary school opens children’s eyes to new opportunities and experiences Young gardeners cultivate new skills First THE parent association in the primary school has been working hard to raise money for for arts the primary roof garden, which THE primary school took part in its opened this year. very first arts week at the end of the So far they have installed an spring term. artificial grass seating area, some The theme was growth, and pupils We used outdoor furniture and various in each class worked collaboratively to large planters. lots of create a beautiful tree sculpture using The children in gardening willow withies and papier mache. Each club, as well as in their classes, glitter, tree was a different colour, and the have been busy growing effect of all the trees coming together some beautiful flowers, plus chalk and in a gallery at the end of the week was strawberries and tomatoes. The spectacular. The tree sculptures are variety of produce will become charcoal. now on display around the school for even more ambitious next year visitors to see. as we launch the new school I was most Pupils also had the opportunity to cookery room and start preparing work on individual pieces of art, and proud of my recipes based on what we grow take part in creative writing sessions in the garden. and dance workshops. portrait. Any keen gardeners who would We can’t wait to start preparing for like to get involved, please get next year’s arts week! Primary pupil in touch as we would love more green-fingered helpers.

4 5 A Church of England and Ark Academy Dazzling display of talent

IN June, students, parents and and Trinity Allen in year 9. TRIPS GET THE THUMBS UP staff were taken on a wonderful Outside, the main ensemble trail of art and music during groups including the Jazz this year’s Summer Festival Band, Steel Pan, Strings Group, hosted by the Art and Choir and our Year 9 Super Technology faculty. Band, continued to impress The audience followed with their artistic talent and colourful bunting through the musical confidence. art department, where they enjoyed a spectacular art exhibition demonstrating the best work from across all key It was stages. Each room featured solo musical performances, amazing to be ranging from the classical able to perform guitar played by Bruk Sium in year 9 and the jazz saxophone in front of my of Josh Reid in year 8, to vocal friends and pieces from Omniya Coulson teachers. and Shakira Yearwood-Hines in year 10 and Tiyana Buckham Mariam Abdul-Essad Celebration of community THE house competition was presented by students and school year culminated from each house, who in a display of the work explained the importance produced in our annual of Ark BDA’s archives, the cross-curricular project. central role played by sports, A taste of France Key stage 3 students and their new-found links worked in house groups with community projects in IN late May, 34 year 8 students and four on the menu that evening. of mixed age and ability the local area. teachers embarked on a trip to Normandy “At the Arromanches 360 on different academic and Galatians were the eventual in France. cinema, we watched an creative projects on the winners with their visually “After a long journey, we arrived at emotional movie about the theme of community. Projects arresting ‘Community of the Chateau du Baffy, our base for the Battle of Normandy in tribute ranged from calligram poetry Future’, which focused on next three days,” recalls year 8 student to the soldiers and 20,000 exploring what it means their 2028 manifesto and Ashleen Shina-Kaur. civilians who were killed to be a Londoner to model showing how the “The following day, we visited a during the liberation of Europe. culminated photoshopped visions of school will change. We’ll be snail farm, a goat’s cheese farm and a “We also visited the Bayeux Cathedral in the Battle of Hastings. a utopian community. waiting with baited breath to chocolate factory, where we ate some and saw the Bayeux Tapestry, which “On the last day, we toured a biscuit The stunning final display see whether it comes true! of the produce – even the snails! Frogs’ depicts the events leading up to the factory, before travelling to Dunkirk to legs, another French delicacy, were also Norman conquest of England that catch a ferry back to Dover.”

Geography is really cool! CULTURAL CAPITAL Year 9 explore the Eternal City IN early July, students in years 7 and 8 set off to explore places of cultural interest in London. DURING May half term, 26 year The day was filled with 9 students had the opportunity exciting experiments at the to visit Rome. Natural History Museum, maths Over the course of four days, investigations through history they saw some magnificent at the British Museum and architecture and historical exploring ecosystems at Kew. sites such as the Colosseum. The students also climbed Here students dived deep into on board the Cutty Sark and the history of the 2,000-year- YEAR 8 and year 9 geographers recently headed learnt about the historical old landmark, and listened off to Betws-y-Coed in North Wales for three days development of Shakespeare’s to immersive tales of bloody of glaciation study. Globe, where many of the gladiator battles featuring An hour after they arrived, students were Bard’s plays were performed. wild animals. making the exhilarating climb up a freezing cold At the exquisite Pantheon, river gorge. Later that evening, they orienteered which now serves as a church around the field centre in the dark to put their but was a former pagan temple, map-reading skills into practice. students were amazed to Over the next couple of days, the students learn about the unique hiked to the glacial cirque of Cwm Idwal, where architectural features. they were able to spot a wide range of glacial Last but not least, no trip features, and completed a field sketch of the to Rome would be complete scenery. Other activities included an evening without a visit to the Trevi quiz, during which they had to name the Fountain and the Spanish Steps. glaciated landmarks, and a morning spent building shelters. 6 7 Ark Burlington Danes Academy Wood Lane, London W12 0HR Tel: 020 8735 4950 Fax: 020 8740 5659 Email: [email protected] Website: www.burlingtondanes.org Follow us on Twitter: @burlingtondanes Editorial team: Ms S Khan, Assistant Principal. Produced by Words&Pictures. Tel: 01943 854800.

Sporting champions, one and all ALL six house groups went head to head to perform at their best. The excitement during Ark BDA’s annual Sports Day – grew throughout the day, and some I loved winning my and final house event of the year. races were referred for a photo finish! Students took part in activities ranging The day came to a close with the races and encouraging from volleyball to tug of war, cheered on 4 x 100 relay, which resulted in a by their fellow house members. significant shift in the final standings, all of my friends. As usual, the events were fiercely and the coronation of Galatians as Shenice Dyer competitive and pushed students Sports Day Champions 2018.

Athletic achievement IN May, 48 Ark BDA students from years 7-10 competed in the annual Howzat! Hammersmith & Fulham Athletics Competition at Linford Christie Stadium for a chance to be part of the borough athletics team. Twelve West London schools took part and we had 48 students representing FOR once, the dry summer allowed all cricket the academy. fixtures to be played without any postponements Ten students from year 10 and due to ‘typical British weather’! eight students from years 7 and 8 In the Hammersmith & Fulham and were selected to compete in the & Chelsea cricket league, the London Schools’ Championship under-12s started with a top-of-the-table clash in Battersea Park in June, while with our neighbours, Latymer. Mr Johnson the following students came close was particularly pleased with the team’s to making the national finals: bowling accuracy. Neon Richards, third in 100m The under-13s secured wins against hurdles; Madeeha Turay, 100m Hammersmith Academy and Kensington in 13.39 secs; Jamie Levinson, Aldridge Academy, while the under-14s narrowly long jump at 4.89m; Paige Lewis, lost the play-off against London Oratory, who 100m in 13.6 secs (personal best); eventually went on to win the championship. John-Lloyd Territorio, long jump This winter, we are planning some additional at 4.70m (personal best); Jalan indoor cricket training and competitions. Woods-Bell, 200m in 28 secs.