Trips and visits

Excellent exam results

Inside this issue:

Sporting success

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The news magazine of ARK Burlington Danes, A Church of England Academy

Autumn 2014Issue 12

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A Church of England and ARK Academy

THERE is never a dull moment at ARK BDA and I hope you enjoy this edition of our twice-yearly showcase of life at the academy; there have been trips, competitions won and lost, sport, drama, music, events and visitors.

I believe that great schools are more than just academic learning. We hope that the enrichment we provide teaches our students something about themselves, their place in the world and where they want to be. So join us in treasuring these memories and I look forward to helping create more moments for all of us in the coming year.

Mr Michael Ribton, Principal

STUDENTS reached the end of our ambitious house-building project last term. With a complete structural shell erected on the school’s site, former Principal Dame Sally Coates was joined by architect Roderick James for a special opening ceremony in July.

Students who have been closely involved over the year came together in celebration of their achievement and wrote personal messages on the walls – before plastering and insulation was carried out the following week.

“You have all been so important to this project,” said Dame Sally. “I can’t believe that students in any other school in London are doing what you have been doing.”

As well as a 30-strong GCSE construction class working on the project, more than 40 others, who regularly attend an after-school club, have played a key role.

“It’s nice knowing that I took part in making it. I don’t think I’d be able to do this somewhere else,” said Delilah, year 7.

The house address has been confirmed as 1 Schoolhouse Road, ARK Burlington Danes Academy. A plaque unveiled at the event reads, ‘The house that ARK BDA built’.

The single-storey timber structure is to be used as a boarding house for students to enjoy evenings of discussion, music and cooking. It will also play host to live performances for the local community.

STAFF and students came together to pose for the academy’s first whole-school photo last term.

More than 1,000 of us gathered in the field to take our positions in front of the Dennis Potter Building for the momentous shot.

It was the perfect day to commemorate the

recent success of our school, with hardly a cloud in sight.

The photograph will serve as a reminder in years to come of what has been, and will continue to be, a wonderful period in the illustrious history of ARK Burlington Danes Academy.

ARK BDA students have been enjoying a variety of trips, from camping close to home to exploring different countries and cultures.History trip to BerlinARK BDA historians travelled to Berlin at the end of last term to learn more about the Weimar Republic, the Nazi period and the Cold War. The itinerary for the three days included various walking tours and visits to Sachsenhausen concentration camp and the Reichstag Building, as well as trips to the Jewish and DDR museums. Trip lead Ms McCartney said: “It was a pleasure to take year 13 to Berlin over Easter. It enabled them to see the impact the ideological divisions of the Cold War still have on the landscape of the city.”Active break in the Brecon BeaconsFifty-nine year 9 students visited the beautiful Brecon Beacons, enjoying a wide range of outdoor pursuits, including canoeing, raft-building, assault courses, archery and fencing.Languages trip to NormandyTwenty year 10s spent four days in Normandy putting their French GCSE studies into practice. They had a number of French-speaking challenges to complete, including buying ingredients in a French market, interviewing French people in the street, making crêpes and visiting a goat farm, where the cheese-making process was explained in French.

Other trips included a tour of the First World War battlefields in Flanders, a visit to Disneyland Paris and a camping expedition in the New Forest.

MEMBERS of our Oxbridge Project have enjoyed numerous talks from inspirational speakers, including a human rights barrister, Google’s director of communications, academics, teachers – and parents.

Over the summer term, places were once again thrown open to our highest achieving students, with those already involved having to work their way through the rigorous interview process for a second time.

Designed to mirror the experience that applicants to the UK’s top universities are likely to face, students from years 7-10 were tested on their ability to analyse an unseen text, their knowledge of current affairs and their understanding of their preferred subject.

Congratulations to the 35 interviewees who were offered a place on the project for the coming year.

STUDENTS were treated to a special tour of Downing Street, during which they enjoyed a private Q&A with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

The Chancellor was particularly impressed by the performance of ARK BDA students at a schools’ debating event, in which his son was competing. In appreciation of their efforts, he invited them on a trip to the Prime Minister’s residence and the Houses of Parliament.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for both students and staff to experience what lies behind the iconic black door of Number 10,” said Mr Ribton. “George Osborne was the perfect host.”

The group, comprising a mix of sixth form politics students and the school’s debating team, talked to Mr Osborne about his time at school, changes to the curriculum and how he manages to maintain a relatively normal family life.

In response, the Chancellor said: “You all go to a great school. Everyone here is talking about ARK Burlington Danes all the time.”

An education for life

Snapshot in time

From cheese-making to the Cold War

An enriching year

Invitation to Number 10

The house that ARK BDA built

Live from the Barbican!

MUSICIANS from ARK BDA performed at the Barbican Centre last term, entertaining a full house with a contemporary and classical repertoire.

Our rising stars joined students from 25 academies across the country on stage at the prestigious venue for the sixth ARK Schools Music Gala. It was the largest music event in ARK’s history, with more than 750 students taking part.

“We know that music plays an extraordinary part in our students’ lives,” said Bryan Welton, director

of music at ARK. “We believe every child can be a musician and that, through music, students become curious about what the world has to offer.”

The evening’s programme included adaptations of hits by Pharrell Williams and Adele, as well as takes on classical favourites such as Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Marking 70 years since the Normandy Landings and 100 years since the start of the Great War, students also performed a moving rendition of John Williams’s Hymn to the Fallen.

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A Church of England and ARK Academy

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This year’s results at GCSE are significantly higher than national averages across the board, while outstanding results at A-level enable our students to access fantastic opportunities at top-end universities

Excellence across the curriculum

Record-breakingresults!

I got an A in chemistry, an A in geography and an A in biology. All the hard work, all the extra hours, all the Saturdays I came in, all the pass papers I did, all the cue cards – it really paid off.

Zeinab Ali

SIXTH form students at ARK Burlington Danes Academy have achieved perfection, breaking their own A-level results record with 100% of grades awarded at A*-E.

A massive 84% of exams were graded A*-C, while an impressive 58% scored A*-B – well above current national averages.

Every student who applied for university secured a place, with 30% of applications accepted by top institutions, including Cambridge, Manchester, Southampton and the London School of Economics. Adekunle Awodele, who sat his exams aged just 17, is

set to study architecture at Trinity College, Cambridge, having achieved an A* in art and design, a B in maths and a B in RE.

“This is another fantastic set of results, for the school and for our students,” said Principal Mr Ribton. “Many are going off to the country’s best universities and I wish them every success in the future.”

Director of sixth form Laura Megaw said: “Our results show outstanding A-level and vocational achievement with a huge increase in grades at A*-B and A*-C. I am very proud of our students’ achievements.”

OUR GCSE students are celebrating yet another excellent set of results, with a record-breaking 80% achieving A*-C in at least five subjects, including English and maths. This makes us the first ARK transition school to break into the 80s and the results are once again significantly higher than national averages.

ARK BDA Principal Mr Ribton said: “Testimony to the hard work of governors, staff and students, the school continues to make a huge difference to the local White City community.”

High-performing student Cassandra Macrae, who picked up five A*s, five As and a B, said: “It’s taken willpower, but the school has been amazing in the way

they have supported individual students’ needs. Teachers use their own time to help students, which in itself really pushes them because they know it’s much easier to achieve good or great grades when they are being fully supported and encouraged.”

Despite offers from other schools, Cassandra wants to attend ARK BDA Sixth Form and hopes one day to be a writer.

Mr Ribton continued: “I am delighted with this year’s GCSE results. The students’ hard work and perseverance has really paid off. They have made incredible progress over the past years and I feel confident they will go on to make the most of their potential.”

Top-end achievement

I’ll be studying English literature at Exeter. One day, I’d like to

be a writer. I thought I might get straight As, but I didn’t think I’d get an A*, especially in philosophy. When I got to A-levels, I realised I had a shot at going to university, so I worked hard. My family are so pleased for me.

I got an A* in maths, an A in further maths and a C in physics, so I got into my first choice of

Sheffield University, where I’ll be studying maths. Eventually, I’d like to teach. I’ve been at ARK BDA since year 7, and they supported me so much that I decided to stay on in the sixth form. There are so many opportunities here. I had a great time.

I got three As: in history, geography and politics, and I got into my first choice,

LSE, to study international relations and history. My plan is to become a freelance journalist. At ARK BDA, they would say to us ‘Are you willing

to put the work in?’. If you said yes, they would say ‘Okay, then you’re going to a good university’. If you’re willing to play your part, then they certainly are. I’m massively in their debt.

Fred Gill

Zwan Mahmod

Jemma Smith

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A Church of England and ARK Academy

A GROUP of year 9 students, who have been studying the Holocaust in their history lessons, welcomed concentration camp survivor Zigi Shipper to the school last term.

Mr Shipper, who was born in Poland in 1930 and later settled in London, spoke movingly about his life during World War II, which included a spell at Auschwitz concentration camp, before he was liberated in 1945.

Mr Shipper regularly tours schools, sharing his inspirational story with today’s youngsters and raising awareness of the dangers of prejudice. An article about his remarkable life is available to read in the latest news section of our school website.

YEAR 8 students attended horse-riding lessons at the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre last term. Afterward, at a special prize-giving ceremony at the stables, they received awards and

commendations in recognition of the skills they acquired during the course.

Competing against four other schools,

the ARK BDA students achieved second place overall and, in a traditional London ceremony, were presented with their awards by the Pearly King and Queen of Newham.

Mrs Schulkes said: “The students were all really well behaved and they did extremely well in the lessons. They all had great fun at the centre.”

THE ARK BDA Careers Department is always helping students prepare for their next step.

In addition to experts coming in to talk to students as part of our World of Work Speaker Series, the Careers team secured 160 work experience placements last term for students in year 10.

They included roles in the fashion industry, marketing, public relations, visual merchandising and even special effect makeup. This year, there was particular emphasis on social action, so students also worked at charity shops, children’s centres, care homes and primary schools.

THE summer term at ARK BDA is always a busy one, and this year was no exception.

This year’s Summer Fayre was bathed in glorious sunshine. Packed with a vast selection of diverse stalls – ranging from bric-a-brac to henna tattooing – there were also plenty of refreshments and games to enjoy. An exceptional line-up of talented students entertained the crowd on the main stage throughout the afternoon.

A special thank you to everyone who ran a stall or performed on stage, and, of course, to Mr Prout and Mr Goorah for organising another memorable occasion.

The combined Summer Art Exhibition and First Story anthology launch was also warmly received by an enthusiastic audience. With so many impressive artworks on display, the atmosphere was perfect for students to read extracts from their latest work, Concrete.

ARK BDA students have thrown themselves into all three of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards this year, overcoming countless challenges along the way.

The year 10s involved in the Bronze Award completed a practice expedition in Epping Forest, ahead of the real thing in Ashdown Forest. Fifty-two students split into groups and put their compass and map-reading skills to the test for a 12-mile hike to the campsite, before the trek back the next day.

Those students who did the Silver Award undertook their final, three-

day walk in the New Forest, having warmed up in the Chilterns. Mr Lawrence said: “I’m very proud of all the students involved. They have shown great commitment and resilience.”

The Gold Award sixth formers completed their challenge in the harsh wilderness of the Brecon Beacons, displaying exceptional standards of teamwork and endurance.

Our Duke of Edinburgh students have also been volunteering in the local community and taking part in regular, out-of-school activities.

Life beyond the Holocaust

Year 8 ride high

Students step up to the world of workSummer fun and games

Culture at first hand

Spirit of adventure

Here’s what some of the students thought of their experiences:Ali @ NW London Hospitals NHS Trust: “I’ve found my work placement exciting and have enjoyed giving back to the community.”Dareen @ Shepherd’s Bush Families Project: “I love making a difference to the children. I’ll keep volunteering here, I love it so much.”Kevin @ RNB Building Co: “I’ve woken up each morning really looking forward to going to work.”Mrs Finnett said: “The most rewarding thing for me is seeing so many of them really flourish in a new environment.”

DURING the penultimate week before the summer break, the whole of key stage 3 explored the wonders of London as part of our Cultural Capital initiative.

Over two days, students enjoyed visits to St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, Kew Gardens, Barnes Wetland Centre, the Tower of London, British Museum, Royal Observatory, Churchill Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, Museum of London, Science Museum and Natural History Museum.

Next came our Cross-Curricular Project. This year, we dedicated the two days to researching and celebrating the amazing range of countries that took part in the 2014 World Cup. As well as soaking up as much information as possible, each team was tasked with creating a display to go on show in the Sports Hall. We also held the first ARK BDA Football World Cup.

On the final day of the week, students took part in our annual Sports Day, which showcased the impressive depth of athletic talent we have at the school.

ARK Burlington Danes AcademyWood Lane, London W12 0HR Tel: 020 8735 4950 Fax: 020 8740 5659 Email: bda.school@burlingtondanes.org Website: www.burlingtondanes.orgFollow us on Twitter: @burlingtondanes

Editorial team: Mr T Cooke, Communications Manager.Produced by Words&Pictures. Tel: 01943 854800.

QPR and former England football star Jermaine Jenas launched a new training programme at ARK BDA before the summer break. The scheme was aimed at improving students’ academic performance as well as their football skills.

“I’m really pleased to be working with the staff and students at ARK Burlington Danes. All of us at QPR have a great relationship with the school and are proud to support our local schoolchildren,” said Jenas. “Education is very important to me. When I was growing up, I always enjoyed school.”

WE have been fortunate to boast a wealth of athletic talent over the years.

Triple jumper Lia Stephenson has continued on her path to sporting stardom this year, winning her first international call-up having jumped to glory at the Indoor National Championships. Since then she has been crowned the Welsh International champion, come second in the Sheffield nationals, won the South of England Championships and was awarded the best athlete award at the Middlesex Track and Field Championships.

With Lia set to head off to university, her shoes will be difficult to fill, but Riannah Audain, in year 9, is looking every inch a star of the future. Back in June, Riannah ran the 100m in 12.6 seconds, making her the fastest girl of her age in London over that distance.

Teaming up with QPR

STRIVE to succeed

RUGBY has become a key ingredient in the sporting diet of our students over the past two years, with the boys racking up the silverware as a result of their hard work.

Year 8 students from Isaac Newton, Bolingbroke and ARK Putney came together on our field to compete for the coveted ARK rugby 7s title. At the end of an afternoon of quality rugby, the ARK BDA boys were

victorious for the second year running.Mr Thornton, our specialist coach, said: “It’s

great to come together with other ARK schools for some friendly competition. It’s plain to see that

a lot of time and effort has gone into training over the last year.”

Our talented year 7 boys also had a great year, which included taking home the Middlesex Plate.

Rugby rules!

MEMBERS of Virgin’s STRIVE Challenge team dropped in at ARK BDA last term, where students were carrying out their own character-building crusade.

In partnership with the charity Big Change, the Challenge involved ten fundraisers who ran, rowed, cycled and hiked from London to the summit of the Matterhorn, with our very own Ms Cartlidge joining them on the final leg of the journey.

Inspired by the initiative, staff and students set out to run, row, cycle and hike 1,305km during the last five days before the summer break. In fact, they exceeded 1,500km. Year 8 student Aadarsh said: “I think if we were doing what the STRIVE Challenge team are doing, we wouldn’t last very long. It’s great they came here and encouraged us to do more.”

Visiting ARK BDA were project founders Sam Branson and his cousin Noah Devereux, and their teammate Karl Lokko, a former gang leader who has turned his life around.

The Virgin STRIVE Challenge aims to raise £750,000 to support young people in the UK to develop the life skills they need to reach their potential.

On track to stardom