Spring 2020 Issue 23 The news magazine of Ark Burlington Danes Academy A Church of England and Ark Academy INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 6 Helping the 3 homeless 4 Living Ark BDA’s Winning way core values 6 An audience with words with Disney A Church of England and Ark Academy So much AIM HIGH BE BRAVE BE KIND KEEP LEARNING to celebrate! IT has been an exciting term at Ark BDA. Three highlights for me have been our school musical, our year 11s, and our recent SIAMS inspection. I attended our production of Beauty and the Beast last OUR VISION half-term, which was an outstanding showcase of the talent AT Ark Burlington Danes at Ark BDA and the enrichment opportunities on offer. I have come Academy, we believe With the full support of our staff and wider community, that everyone deserves to our year 11s have been working hard for their summer that you may be accepted, included and exams, and their ambition is an inspiration to us all. empowered to live a life that Finally, I was delighted to receive our latest SIAMS report have life, and is purposeful and fulfilling. following our inspection in January. We were graded ‘Good’ Through learning to our overall, with areas of excellent practice. The report, which is have it in all fullest potential and living a available on our website, highlights the great progress the life filled with kindness and academy has made over the last 18 months. its fullness thankfulness, we can be the John 10:10 ones to make the world a better place. Paul Bhatia, Principal Awards for achievement WE were pleased to work group, who recognised their with the Jack Petchey embodiment of our school’s Foundation recently. Christian values. BRILLIANT TUTORIALS As part of the Foundation’s Rayan has chosen to spend achievement awards her money on a science TWENTY-FOUR students from years 8 project based on their research. programme, three deserving workshop, Jamire on a school and 9 are taking part in the prestigious The year 8 students are looking students received £250 trip, and Joy on resources for Brilliant Club Scholars Programme. at literary theory, while year 9 are each to spend on the the sixth form library. After taking part in a trip to discover studying neuroscience. school community. We are incredibly proud university life, which Rayan in year 8 After successfully completing their The winning students – of all the students who were described as “eye-opening”, the students mini-dissertations, the students will visit Rayan Elawad, Jamire Dobbyn- nominated, and look forward to are now working in university-style tutorial another top-ranking university for their Scott and Joy Alalade – were more of our wonderful young groups alongside a PhD tutor on a graduation trip. elected by the rest of their year people being recognised. Shark stories AN integral part of our vision here at and bake sale. The donation of 600 Ark BDA is that our students should items of food and warm clothing makes a splash be able to go on to make the world a to The Upper Room was also Action on better place. gratefully received. Since the beginning of the Our tutor programme has also AT Kritikos, we the dinosaurs! Claire school year, they have been living explored the importance of young welcomed PhD also talked us through out this aim through charitable and people campaigning for structural researcher Claire her research into why homelessness social actions. change by studying activists such as Collins, who talked to people illegally fish xxxxxx During non-examined curriculum Greta Thunberg and Mari Copeny. us about her work with for sharks. sessions, students across key And, with the support of year 12 sharks in India and The students were stages 3 and 4 have been studying students, every student from years 7 Sri Lanka. really engaged, and Jesus’s actions as an advocate for to 11 wrote or contributed to a letter She began by it allowed them to the dispossessed. Based on His to a local MP, business or politician. finding out what we see a different side actions, the school body has worked In the letters, they shared facts and knew about sharks – to marine life – one together to improve the lives of the statistics, and called the recipients to and asked us to feel that focused on the local, homeless community. action by suggesting simple our ear lobes. Did sociological and Their campaigns took several and manageable plans to improve you know that sharks economic motivations directions, and a visit to The Upper the life of homeless people in don’t have bones? behind shark fishing. Room, a local homelessness our local area. Also, the oldest shark One year 11 student charity, showed the importance of Watch this space as Ark BDA’s is thought to be 500 also revealed that they fundraising to the everyday lives of courageous advocacy makes a real years old, and they’ve have ambitions to be a rough sleepers. These included a difference to the local community in been around since marine biologist! charity Christmas card competition the coming months. 2 3 A Church of England and Ark Academy AS part of the primary academy pharmacy, tech start-up, nursing and assembly programme, pupils hear education leadership. Class about 12 different careers every year. Our parent community is When we BDPA is part way through the first, tremendously supportive, and have annual series of ‘Meet the…’. So far, offered to be interviewed whenever they they have listened to interviews and have a role or skill set that we would like potential grow up! asked questions of people in our pupils to learn and think about. PUPILS are demonstrating their full potential at our class assemblies. Blyton class has recently showcased their reading, speaking and performing, and taught the school about one of our core values – leadership. Being part of a class community teaches our pupils what inclusion feels like. Working together as a team to produce an assembly over a few weeks also empowers them to speak up and rise to the challenge. From a young age, pupils at our primary school are encouraged to live their lives according to Ark BDA’s core values – and Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE It was fun learning about YEAR 4 ECO-WARRIORS the Amazon IN Spring 2020, year 4 are learning about the Arising from their interest in the climate, and rainforest, and Amazon rainforest. after hearing speeches by Greta Thunberg, the As part of their studies, they have decided to pupils are founding an eco-committee to drive its impact on the express their own commitment to our planet and environmental awareness and change within world’s climate charitable work by organising a fundraising day our school community. Go, year 4! You are for victims of the Australian bushfires. They are already working purposefully and making the also demonstrating kindness and thankfulness by world a better place! presenting to the other children in assembly, and explaining how to give to charity by taking part in a non-uniform day. Democracy in action PUPILS running for school in the hope of winning their vote. councillor first had to write a The BDA School Council is speech to explain why they would working on making the world a be good at the role. They then better place, starting with our spoke persuasively to their peers, school and our school playground. 4 5 Students A Church of England and Ark Academy BONJOUR PARIS! hunt for the LAST November, 40 students from years 10 and 11 set off on the French trip to Paris. perfect story A packed itinerary began with a boat trip along the River Seine, where STUDENTS from year 9 entered the Young students were able to spot many Writers Competition in December. historic buildings and monuments, The theme was ‘Hunted’, and students including the Assemblé Nationale and spent the week preparing by investigating Notre-Dame Cathedral. They then had surveillance techniques, reading famous their first taste of French cuisine in a mystery stories and planning their story with local restaurant. help from Mrs Davies. A visit to the Louvre Museum the The students were interested to know how SIX of our year 12 students – Fatima, President of the UK Public Sector for next morning enabled students to the government uses surveillance, and there Rumysah, Lougane, Anas, Ahmed and Dell, Richard Rawcliffe. study some of the most famous were some interesting debates on privacy In Shusuke – attended the ‘Dell – Powering The students also took part in a tour paintings and sculptures in the world. versus safety. Potential’ programme. of the software engineering suite at Dell Other highlights included shopping The winners, together with other schools in Counselled by Dell mentors, the EMC, and had the chance to try out in the Champs-Elysées, a visit to the west London, will be published in a paperback touch intensive, four-day workshop explored some of their new products. Arc de Triomphe and breathtaking book called ‘Hunted’. employability skills and career mentoring In future workshops, students will views from the Eiffel Tower at night. with within the technology industry. create and pitch their own ideas on how The next day, before embarking on Students successfully completed two to make technology more sustainable in the journey home, students visited the tech of their workshops, and met the Vice public use. Sacre-Coeur Basilica in the Montmartre area, and bought souvenirs and postcards to take home. One student Applause for ‘Beauty even commissioned a street artist to draw a caricature of his brother.