Spring 2011 Issue 5
The news magazine of Burlington Danes, A Church of England and ARK Academy
Inside this issue: 3 4-5 6
Exam results Trips and visits BDA on the stage
Christmas tea dance
An honour to be here: Principal Miss S Coates.
A Church of England and ARK Academy
GCSE and A-level results Students make the grade
AN incredible 67 per cent of students at BDA gained at least 5A*-C grades, including English and maths, in this year’s GCSE exams. This marks an improvement of 17 per cent on last year’s figure, and consolidates our status as one of the most successful academies in the country. It is also well ahead of the national average of 50.7 per cent.
Seasonal fare: Local residents tuck in.
Our
outstanding achievements IT is with enormous pleasure that I welcome you to the fifth edition of The Griffin. I have been particularly proud of the academy this year: staying open throughout the snow chaos, our fantastic after-school events such as The Winter Concert and the Multicultural Gala,
our wonderful resources (our new AstroTurf pitch is open), committed staff producing great results and passionate students. My hope is that this magazine showcases just a fraction of all that is outstanding about the academy.
Welcome to our new chaplain BURLINGTON Danes recently welcomed Alice Hill as our new Chaplain. Here she shares the highlights of her first term and her vision for 2011. “One of the highlights of my first term here as Chaplain was seeing the refurbishment of our Chapel and being able to celebrate the first Holy Communion of the term with staff and students. I am overwhelmed by the openness of students, and their collective desires to seek truth, beauty, meaning and purpose in life. “My vision is to reflect the love of God into this school. I wish to serve the students, and to see them serve others, leading our times of collective worship, and offering their own prayers and reflections.”
Ms K Moule, Head of Religious Education
Serving our students: Ms A Hill, Chaplain.
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Miss S Coates, Principal
FIFTY local senior citizens gathered in the Main Hall recently for our annual tea dance. After weeks of planning, Ms Grainger’s Year 10 ASDAN group laid on a spectacular buffet, a round of bingo and a raffle conducted by Mr Preston,
before a festive disco brought the afternoon to a close. Ms L Grainger said: “Some of our elderly guests were former students, so they were interested to see how well our community is thriving.”
Mr S Adcock, Assistant Principal
The right results: Principal Sally Coates with Schools Minister Nick Gibb.
Principal Sally Coates said: “I am delighted with these results. To improve our pass rate by nearly 20 per cent is exceptional, and is testament to the incredible effort made by students and staff. These results, combined with our new Sixth Form, will enable us to support our students all the way to top universities.”
Mr A Moore, Vice Principal
Summer success THE academy’s record results have encouraged more students to further their studies in the Sixth Form.
Salah El-Ashaal, who gained seven A* and one A, said: “I’m proud to be part of the school’s best results in many years. I’m staying here at BDA to do A-levels in maths, physics, economics and chemistry.
Hope and opportunity THANK you for taking the time to read our bi-annual magazine. Of all the things I’ve done in philanthropy, seeing the improvements at Burlington Danes is probably the most rewarding. Great schools enrich and change the lives of their students. I have witnessed this transformation for myself at Burlington Danes: offering both hope and opportunity to the young people of West London.
Lord Fink, Chair of Governors
Burlington Danes Academy would like to congratulate Stanley Fink on his recent appointment to the House of Lords. Be prepared for requests for visits to Parliament from our A-level politics classes!
Muna Mohamed, who gained one A*, three As, three Bs and three Cs, said: “Although I was nervous about opening the envelope, my results mean that I will be staying on to study politics, English, history and media studies.”
Philip Abraham, who gained four A*, two As and two Bs, said: “Overall, I’m pleased with my results. I’m staying at BDA to do A-levels in chemistry, religious studies, biology and maths, but in the long term, I’m interested in a career in politics.”
Alaa Basha, who gained two A*, six As and one B, said: “My results will enable me to study A-levels in English, art, politics and maths. After that, I fancy a career in the City.”
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A Church of England and ARK Academy
Eco warriors THE science trip to Wales gave Year 13 biology, physics and geography students the opportunity to experience fieldwork within their chosen subjects. The biologists took part in a woodland ecology study, the geographers undertook a river study and the physicists conducted an energy survey of a solar cell and a hydroelectric turbine. Living in eco-cabins for the week at the Centre for Alternative Technology, the students had to monitor their energy consumption carefully, or suffer the consequences, which meant they were unable to charge their laptops, phones and iPods.
Geography students have a field day YEAR 11 geography students, dressed head to toe in blue waterproofs, caused quite a stir when they embarked on a study of the River Ogmore in the Welsh countryside. Although the 50 students successfully measured a variety of data at five different sites, there were one or two mishaps, including flooded wellington boots and a couple of students who got slightly wet when they lost their footing!
Outward Bound
in Snowdonia
TWENTY Key Stage 4 and 5 students spent a week in November at the Outward Bound Trust’s Aberdovey Centre in Snowdonia, where they learned about climate change and carbon reduction, as well as gaining important credits for their Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award. DofE Co-ordinator Mr Prasad said: “The wilds of Wales seemed a million miles away from W12. I was especially pleased with the way the students responded to the challenge of setting up tents on ground which had frozen solid.”
Mr R McKerrell, Extended School Co-ordinator
Cold comfort: Students pitch camp.
Insight into
Jacobean theatre
AS English literature students have been ‘Treading the Bard’ during a visit to the Globe Theatre for a tailored workshop, tour and acting sessions on Shakespeare’s Othello and Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. Students braved the snowy South Bank to explore the hidden
Beyond classroom River study: Year 11 measure data.
Ms L Stone, Head of Geography
Mr T Beach, Head of Physics
the
depths of Jacobean theatre in preparation for their extended assignment. The trip came just a few weeks after an evening at the Space Theatre, on the Isle of Dogs, where students critiqued a contemporary production of Othello.
Ms Morris, Head of English
Out-of-school experiences and activities provide a wealth of learning opportunities
Help for
children in need DURING the October half-term, Ms Grainger led a group of seven teachers and 19 students on a visit to an orphanage in the Bosnian city of Mostar. After months of fundraising, the students delivered toys, clothes and learning resources, and spent time playing and studying with the orphans. Ms Grainger said: “We’ve already booked the next visit to Bosnia so that we can build on the friendships we’ve made and the foundations we’ve laid.”
Mr L Wilson, Vice Principal
Firm friends: Our students with Bosnian orphans.
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Year 11 rise to the challenge IN October, Year 11 students made their annual, two-day trip to the PGL activity centre in Sussex. The overnight visit was packed with teambuilding and decisionmaking challenges including a zip-wire, archery, a high ropes
course and abseiling. Head of Year 11, Mr Fairbairn, said: “I was delighted with the enthusiasm of our students, not least when it came to encouraging members of staff to take part in a variety of terrifying activities!”
Ms A Downey, Vice Principal
Democracy in action POLITICS students in Year 12 recently visited Westminster where they took part in a walking tour of Parliament Square followed by a study session at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. Student Lee Libero, pictured, said: “It was great to be able to piece together all the different elements of Westminster, from Downing Street and the ministries to the old taverns where policies have been formed over the years.” Our next trip will be to Parliament itself in the spring term, as guests of our local MP, Greg Hands.
Ms N Mataria, Head of Humanities Faculty
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A Church of England and ARK Academy
Winning way with words
Key players: The school orchestra.
Nailbiting win: The Under 13 girls’ football team.
YEAR 13 student Mohamed Abubaker cemented our growing reputation for public speaking by winning the first Hammersmith & Fulham Year 11-13 Public Speaking Competition. The event took place in our very own Dennis Potter Theatre, with Mohamed defeating eloquent rivals from local schools including Latymer, London Oratory, Lady Margaret, Phoenix and Sacred Heart. Third prize went to Mahmoud Raggi in Year 11.
Performing Arts
showcase
Up for the cup OUR Under 13 girls’ football team have progressed to the fifth round of the National Cup following a nail-biting win against Haringey in the fourth round. The team, which includes girls from Years 7 and 8, bonded quickly last term and we hope for more success in 2011.
Ms L Butts, PE Teacher
Mrs K Moule, Head of RE
AROUND 70 students took part in the first winter concert to be held in the Dennis Potter Theatre. The evening showcase featured the incredible talents of our orchestra and choir, jazz band, rock bands and dancers, as well as steel pans, dramatic readings and a staff performance.
Mr T Prout, Director of Performing Arts
BDA sets the
stage alight
AstroTurf in the
spotlight
‘Dream’
OUR sports facilities were transformed in September with the addition of a full-size AstroTurf football pitch, together with three tennis/netball courts. The AstroTurf pitch is a third generation ‘rubber crumb’ surface, which minimises the risk of cuts and grazes as well as providing an authentic grass-like feel. Within weeks, Ashley Cole filmed a TV commercial on the pitch and we’ve also received enquiries from local football teams QPR and Brentford. More importantly, it is an ideal surface for hockey and football PE lessons, and the floodlights mean that matches can take place after school throughout the winter.
performance
TO quote Shakespeare himself, the performance by BDA students at ARK’s Shakespeare Schools Festival was “such stuff as dreams are made on”. In a packed West End theatre, BDA competed against three other academies, who each gave a 30-minute performance of a Shakespeare play of their choice. Under the direction of drama teacher Matthew Rowlands-Roberts and English teacher Emma Harwood, BDA opted for a 1970s version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The BDA students lit up the stage, with boys and girls from Years 8-11 delighting the crowd with their audacious outfits, flamboyant dancing and impeccable comic timing. Principal Sally Coates said: “I am so incredibly proud. Every single student delivered an accomplished performance. Simply stunning.”
Mr N King, Head of Sport Faculty
Rugby stars: Year 7 pose with Bakkies Botha.
Springboks invade the pitch THE South African rugby squad took time out preparing for a Twickenham fixture with England by training with our Year 7 team. The Springboks were training on Latymer’s playing fields, next door to BDA, before the cold weather forced them into
Ms E Harwood, English teacher
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Back to the Seventies: BDA students Feyi Adenegha, Jadon Guthrie and Rami Lewis, Year 9, stage ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
our sports hall. The following week, the Barbarians rugby team also invaded our sports hall. Rumours that BDA staff were more excited than students about meeting these stars of rugby are unconfirmed.
Mr B Jennings, PE Teacher
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Burlington Danes Academy Wood Lane, London W12 0HR Tel: 020 8735 4950 Fax: 020 8740 5659 Email: bda.school@burlingtondanes.org Website: www.burlingtondanes.org Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/burlingtondanes
Editorial team: Mr S Adcock, Assistant Principal. Produced by Words&Pictures. Tel: 01943 854800.
Friends reunited
FORMER students of Burlington School for Girls – otherwise known as the ‘Burlington Berties’ – met for a reunion at the academy in mid-October. After a meal in the school restaurant and speeches by Ms Coates and friends of the school, our guests recalled past lessons and teachers during a nostalgic tour of the school buildings.
Mr M Ribton, Senior Vice Principal
Top100 students Great debate: Yohannes Umelo, Year 8.
FOLLOWING detailed submissions from staff across the academy, BDA has published a list of our top 100 students. Students in the 100 Club will be invited to special events throughout the year, while staff will seek to stretch them in the classroom with especially complex tasks. These students in Year 8 are currently working on their debating skills for a forthcoming competition.
Ms A Clements, Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator
VIP visitors
SINCE the last issue of The Griffin, the academy has played host to a steady stream of VIP visitors. In July, the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, dropped in to play table tennis against this year’s Man Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson. Meanwhile, on GCSE results day in August, we welcomed Schools Minister Nick Gibb, together with several film crews.
In the autumn, we hosted QPR chairman Gianni Paladini, Conservative hopeful Shaun Bailey, Amnesty International’s advocacy director Steve Crawshaw and chef and food writer Allegra McEvedy. Allegra is the brains behind the Leon restaurants and cookbooks, and she was here to open our new food technology suite.
Mr G Moore, Vice Principal
Year 13 aspire to aim higher
STUDENTS in Year 13 have submitted their UCAS applications for Higher Education courses. Our new Sixth Form means it is the first time in a generation that we have seen students through to university, and we’re confident that Year 13 will achieve good offers in what promises to be a very competitive year for applicants. Student Ryan Walters has applied to read Economics at five Russell Group universities. He said: “Our Sixth Form classes are small, which means we get lots of individual support. This has given me the confidence to apply to the top universities.” Ms K Moule, Head of Year 13
University challenge: Joshua Nwafor and Farhan Ahmed, Year 13.
War memorial: Ms Bedford, with Thomas Moran and Iziah BarnettShakespeare, Year 8, pay their respects.
Lest we
forget…
REMEMBRANCE week at BDA began with 100 students and staff gathering in the main hall for a solemn service, remembering loved ones who have passed away. Meanwhile, students wrote postcards about family and friends they have loved and lost. As the week progressed, students were reminded that BDA has been affected by war, for example 27 former students were killed in the First World War. The week culminated at 11am on Armistice Day (11th November) when lessons were suspended for ten minutes while Ms Coates, Mr Ribton and Head Boy Philip Abraham read poems and prayers over the tannoy system. This was followed by drama teacher Mr Rowlands-Roberts playing The Last Post on his trumpet.
Ms R Bedford, Head of History