UCL & UCL Academy
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Celebrating 7 years of partnership UCL & UCL Academy UCL and UCL Academy work in partnership to support the educational visions and values of our two institutions. This report showcases much of the exceptional work already completed, and also sets out a clear pathway for what more can be achieved as we continue our journey together. 02 Welcome from Anthony Smith, Past, present and future Vice-Provost (Education and of the partnership Student Affairs), UCL, Robin From day one, our two institutions have Street and Simon McBride, collaborated to support the education of Contents all of our students. 05 Brightside Co-Principals, UCL Academy At the heart of this partnership was the visionary work UCL students mentor UCL Academy of Geraldine Davies, UCL Academy’s founding principal, students alongside the leadership, commitment and inspiration of the then Provost Professor Malcolm Grant, Vice-Provost 06 Grand Challenges UCL Academy students complete Professor Michael Worton, Dr Clare Goudy and our In 2012 UCL was the first university Since UCL Academy opened in projects aligned with UCL’s six Grand founding Chair of Governors Vice-Provost Professor in England to become the sole September 2012, UCL has provided Challenges themes David Price. sponsor of an academy school: a range of unique opportunities to UCL Academy. support its development. Serving Seven years on, the Partnership Board is now fully 07 UCL Volunteering Services Unit UCL students lead volunteering projects at a diverse, comprehensive student established to oversee the strategic collaborative This year we celebrate 7 years of UCL Academy population in Camden, UCL work of UCL and UCL Academy. Staff from both partnership and the achievements Academy’s curriculum has organisations continue this work, thanks to the of staff and students so far. This 08 Guest Lecture Series been inspired by the vision exceptional stewardship and commitment of UCL Vice- UCL academic staff deliver guest lectures at Anthony Smith, report presents a number of of its sponsor, UCL. Provost Professor Anthony Smith, Chair of Governors UCL Academy to raise student aspirations successful initiatives that have Vice-Provost (Education Professor Lucie Green and Professor Becky Francis, emerged from the partnership. We are delighted to bring together in and Student Affairs), UCL Director of the UCL Institute of Education. 09 Staff masterclasses The continuing success of the this report examples of the activities, sharing subject expertise and partnership is evidenced not only programmes and projects that UCL Alumni, such as Elizabeth Critchley, also offer pedagogical practice through the range of projects and have provided, and will continue to unique support to the Academy. The flagship Critchley activities which take place, but provide, thousands of students and Scholarship programme, inspiring our female students, 10 UCL Academy Middle Leaders also the increasing number of UCL hundreds of staff with the chance to has now been established. Development Programme Academy students receiving offers learn from and be inspired by one of understanding school leaders’ needs and Going forward, we will build on our successes to date supporting the progression of UCL Academy to study at UCL. This year 40 UCL the world’s leading universities. and continue to grow networks across both institutions middle leaders Academy students received offers UCL Academy and UCL work to ensure we offer the best opportunities for our for undergraduate study at UCL, a in partnership to support the students and staff. 11 Maths Project Robin record number since the partnership educational visions and values of an academic intervention designed to raise Street, began. This evening we invite you to Maths attainment at UCL Academy our two institutions. This report join us in reflecting on the excellent Co-Principal, showcases much of the exceptional UCL Academy work which has taken place to date, 12 Research work already completed, and ideas of the future in young people’s as well as on the opportunities also sets out a clear pathway for educational decision-making by Professor to develop and enhance the what more can be achieved as we Richard Sandford, UCL partnership for the future. continue our journey together. Anthony Smith Robin Street & Simon McBride Simon McBride, Co-Principal, UCL Academy 03 04 Brightside Grand Challenges UCL students mentor UCL Academy students at key UCL Academy students engage with UCL’s transition points in their secondary school journey six Grand Challenges What is Brightside? How do UCL Academy students engage Brightside recruit and train UCL student mentors to deliver a with UCL’s Grand Challenges? mentoring programme for pupils at UCL Academy. Mentors Students in Level 2 (Year 10) and Level 2+ (Year 11) are use their own knowledge and experience to work with asked to complete several Grand Challenge ‘projects’ groups of Level 1 (Year 8) and Level 3 (Year 12) students, across their two year GCSE course. The Grand Challenges supporting them at key transition points in their journey allow students to make interdisciplinary connections through education. Mentoring is delivered over four in- between their GCSE knowledge and big problems facing school sessions for each year group, and through extended our world. Students complete a range of creative products one-to-one online mentoring for Level 3 (Year 12) students. and are awarded Grand Challenge certificates dependent Brightside supports UCL student mentors to be inspiring on the quality of product. For example, students produce role models, enabling young people to develop skills, grow academic posters based on the challenges of urbanisation in knowledge and awareness of their future options, and that are then presented at UCL. supporting them to make confident and informed decisions about their futures. How do both institutions benefit from “[Brightside mentoring is] this initiative? “Feedback from UCL’s How do both institutions benefit a wonderful opportunity for UCL Academy has used the Grand Challenges to design senior leadership team and from this initiative? both mentees and mentors a curriculum that aims for academic mastery, personal Grand Challenges team on Brightside’s UCL Academy mentoring project works to interest and creativity. Students are more engaged when support and maintain strong links between UCL and UCL to learn valuable knowledge they can relate academic content to real world issues. Grand the quality of work students Academy. Brightside gives UCL students an exciting and and gain important skills Challenges allow UCL Academy to develop a clear internal produced was excellent. challenging volunteering opportunity; engaging with framework of ‘big questions’ built around themes associated students in UCL’s sponsored school, and developing for our academic and with each Grand Challenge. Through the projects, students Several students were able their skills and experience. personal goals.” create and present work to real audiences at UCL and to articulate the importance Supporting the Academy’s curriculum ethos and 17 x 17 beyond and engage with excellence e.g. through programme, Brightside matches Academy students with UCL Student Mentor, April 2019 interactions with UCL academics and students. of applying their learning to mentors from a world leading university. UCL mentors are real world problems. They role models and sources of advice and support for Academy students. Mentoring gives them an insight into post-16 highly value the importance and post-18 options, increases their human and social of speaking in front of real capital, and supports them to make confident and informed decisions about their future options. audiences.” Richard Donnelly, Director Engagement: Engagement: of Connecting the Curriculum and Grand Challenges, UCL Academy Total number of UCL Total number of UCL Total number of UCL 1440 UCL Academy Total number of students Academy Level 1 Academy Level 3 student mentors involved Students have engaged involved across Level 2 (Year 8) students (Year 12) students from 2013-14 to 2018-19 with Grand Challenges (Year 10) and Level 2+ involved from 2013-14 involved from 2013-14 issues and themes (Year 11) each year to 2018-19 to 2018-19 since 2015 05 06 UCL Volunteering Services Unit Guest Lecture Series UCL students lead volunteering projects UCL academic staff give lectures at UCL at UCL Academy Academy to raise student aspirations How do the VSU and UCL Academy What is the Guest Lecture Series? work together? In 2015, UCL Academy began a very successful Guest UCL students have led projects and activities at UCL Lecture Series for Sixth Form and KS4 students. Guest Academy over the course of the partnership. Historic lectures are delivered by UCL academics, including Anthony projects include an Environmental Justice Project, Smith (Professor of Pharmacy) David Price (Professor Shakespearience and a Model United Nations Project. of Mineral Physics), Lucie Green (Professor of Physics), Subhadra Das (Curator, UCL Culture Science Collections), In 2018-19, examples of projects and activities included: Mark Ford (Professor of English), Stephen Fossey (UCL • Royal Free, University College and Middlesex Medical Physics and Astronomy) and many more. Students are Schools (RUMS) FC providing football coaching open exposed to a wide range of academic topics through to all students at UCL Academy the series, with lectures traditionally taking place late on Thursday afternoons at UCL Academy Lecture Theatre. • UCL students teaching