Roedean Academy 2021

THE

RO E D E A N A C A D E MY 2020-21

Roedean is delighted to run this collaborative programme of academic enrichment for talented pupils in the local area in Year 10 – the Roedean Academy has enjoyed fantastic success over the last three years, and, despite the current restrictions of the pandemic, the programme will run virtually in the second half of the Summer term.

We are very proud that the Roedean Academy is able to bring together like-minded and highly able individuals from six local state schools and Roedean. The programme includes ‘Core’ modules, which take GCSE-level skills to a higher level, along with ‘Enrichment’ modules, which provide intellectual challenge on topics which are nothing to do with examination specifications – these are designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity and high-level discussion.

The purpose of the Academy is to stimulate and challenge the most able, and help to prepare students for more detailed and rewarding study in the Sixth Form and beyond.

Who is it for?

The Academy is open to pupils in Year 10, who are working towards and have realistic aspirations of attaining the top GCSE grades.

Students from Blatchington Mill School, Dorothy Stringer, King’s School Hove, Longhill School, Patcham and Aldrington Community Academy, Peacehaven Community School, and Roedean, will be invited to take part in this exciting programme of supra-curricular extension and enrichment.

Would I need to prepare anything each week?

There may be some reading to do, but this will be sent to your schools, along with any materials which are needed in the sessions.

Additional Opportunities All students taking part in the Academy are also invited to attend, ‘virtually’, a series of lectures as part of the Roedean Symposium, and the Headmaster’s Lecture on Wednesday 30 June, at which the Guest Speaker is Dr Eugenia Cheng.

The programme will run in the Summer term, from Tuesday 15 June to Thursday 24 June 2021.

It will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 15:30-17:30, all on-line. The timings are as follows: 15:30-16:30 16:30-17:30

Core module Enrichment module

The timing of Year 10 end of year examinations in the different schools means that students from our partner schools will only be able to attend one of the weeks.

What will it involve?

The Academy will run 60-minute academic masterclasses, seminars, and workshops twice weekly, with a focus on aspects of GCSE subject content to give breadth and depth to enhance GCSE study. In addition, there will be a 60-minute enrichment programme of subject areas beyond those studied at GCSE. These will include options in Literature, Humanities, Arts, and Science.

Does it cost anything?

Dr Ross Barrand

Deputy Head: Co-curricular and Outreach

When will it run?

Click here to view our testimonials

There is no charge for the programme.

Timetable Core - 15:30-16:30

15/6

Life Drawing Ms Sarah Strachan

Mathmatical Magic Mr Stephen Fletcher

Winning Arguments, and Knowing When You’re Being Misled Ms Edith Earl

Enrichment 16:30-17:30 Language and Power Ms Helen Boobis

America’s Political Roller Coaster Mr Josh Marchant

16/6

Week 1

Greek Mythology in Art Mrs Rebecca Miller

Offender Profiling Mr Phil Harrison

Mega-Catastrophes Mrs Jane Sharp

North Korea – A Cult of the Individual Dr Ross Barrand

A Brief Discovery of Our Ancestors Mrs Nadège Andrew

Destroy a City to Preserve a Myth Miss Emily Vasquez

Physics is a Drag!

Miss Louisa Byrne

Roedean Symposium

17/6

Life Drawing Ms Sarah Strachan

Mathmatical Magic Mr Stephen Fletcher

Winning Arguments, and Knowing When You’re Being Misled Ms Edith Earl

Language and Power Ms Helen Boobis

22/6

Life Drawing Ms Sarah Strachan

Molecular Gastronomy Mr Mark Ebden

Private Life in Sictatorships: Stalin’s Russia Mrs Sarah Black

The Relationship Between Culture and Society Mr Darren Woodhouse

Literary Representations of Technology and the Self Miss Eleanor Bourne

Arts Seminars Presented by Year 12 students

Science Seminars Presented by Year 12 students

The Need for Interfaith Dialogue Ms Emma Shevah

23/6

Week 2

Roedean Symposium

24/6

Life Drawing Ms Sarah Strachan

Molecular Gastronomy Mr Mark Ebden

Private Life in Sictatorships: Stalin’s Russia Mrs Sarah Black

The Relationship Between Culture and Society Mr Darren Woodhouse

An Academic Approach to Tying a Tie Dr Ross Barrand

Great Britain: Maritime Nation Mr Guy Carter

Economic meltdown ‘Schools out for or booming Summer’ recovery? Why Dr Gemma does Economics Hannan matter?

Mr Paul Clingan

Shakespeare’s World: Understanding Texts through Objects Miss Rebecca Allen

CORE

STEM

Language and Power –

HUMANITIES

Language can be used to persuade, to entice, and to reassure, but it can also be used to oppress, to minimise and to dominate. This brief course will look into some of the ways in which language has been used by, and about, women and feminine people, and will argue that this interrogation can chart the progress of equality and the relative power of the feminine in society.

CORE

Ms Helen Boobis

Life Drawing – Ms Sarah Strachan This module consists of two life-drawing sessions, which will be supported by an exploration of the historical context of the female form in Western Art History.

We will explore four key works and discuss how they are influenced by their cultural context. This would be appropriate for any students of Art who want to develop their drawing skills and their understanding of works of art in their context.

CORE

ENGLISH & LANGUAGE ARTS

CORE

Week 1 (15 & 17 June): Core Mathematical Magic – Mr Stephen Fletcher In this session, we will look at a variety of mind-boggling puzzles and some wonderfully interesting mathematics used in magic. The aim will be for us to discover together some little-known facts about Maths, and use them to make us think!

Winning Arguments, and Knowing When You’re Being Misled – Ms Edith Earl These sessions will explore how to evaluate in Humanities’ subjects with confidence and insight – you will develop skills which will serve you well in essay subjects and tools for constructing a clear, confident, and winning argument in your writing. Warning: this session will make you very persuasive! We will also focus on the logical flaws and biases which undermine arguments. These tools are often used to make unreasonable arguments seem convincing, sometimes without the writer realising they are doing it! Once you know how to spot them, you can make sure that you don’t fall into their trap.

In this session, we will consider the influences of Classical mythology on later artists, both from the Renaissance period and modern. We will look at different media, symbolism, iconography, choices of subject matter, and the difficulties of capturing an entire story in a single image.

STEM

Greek Mythology in Art – Mrs Rebecca Miller

Offender Profiling –

Mr Phil Harrison

Offender profiling was first used by the FBI in the early 1970s. Since then the use of psychological and statistical techniques to identify and apprehend criminals has become commonplace in police forces across the world. But do these methods work? This session explores both the extent to which our behaviour leaves behind a “signature”, and the way AI can be used to enhance the performance of detectives.

ENRICHMENT

In recent years, American politics has taken many surprising twists and turns.

Donald Trump, a political outsider, unexpectedly climbed to the most powerful elected office in the world. How and why did this happen? Four years later, he was defeated in a fiercely competitive election by Joe Biden, a Washington veteran.

Why was this contest so divisive? Why did rioters overrun the Capitol Building, protesting the result? These are the questions we will ask and answer together, hoping to make sense of America’s political roller coaster.

STEM

America’s Political Roller Coaster – Mr Josh Marchant

ENRICHMENT

HUMANITIES HUMANITIES

ENRICHMENT

ENRICHMENT

Week 1 (15 June): Enrichment

Physics is a Drag! –

Miss Louisa Bryne

Not really…. But we WILL be exploring the drag force as you travel through different materials, both experimentally and mathematically. At GCSE you learn about terminal velocity, but the fun part is where the viscosity comes into it. Does it really make much difference trying to spread marmite on toast when it’s warm? Use drag to calculate the viscosity of liquids at different temperatures and compare results.

SOCIETY STEM

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE

Challenging the Status Quo through Recruitment – Abadesi Osunsade Founder & CEO of Hustle Crew. Co-Host Techish podcast. Author of Dream Big. Hustle Hard: The Millennial Woman’s Guide to Success in Tech. Abadesi was recently included in the Financial Times list of Top 100 Influential Leaders in Tech, and Tech Nation’s 50 most prominent and influential voices in Tech. She graduated from the London School of Economics in 2009, and wrote for the Financial Times before joining London’s tech scene. Prior to her current roles, she worked at Product Hunt, Elpha, Amazon, HotelTonight, and Groupon.

Controlling Malaria in Asia amid Covid 19 – Bangyuan Wang Bangyuan Wang is an experienced international public health practitioner.

He has more than 20 years’ experience in developing and managing public health programmes in Asia and Africa. Over the last 20 years, he worked for international health organisations such as Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF), Health Unlimited, and Frontline AIDS. Bangyuan has been working for Health Poverty Action as the Head of Asia Programmes since May 2019.

SYMPOSIUM

For Personal Growth and Planetary Health – Tanya Streeter Born on the small island of Grand Cayman in 1973, Tanya’s comfort in, and passion for, the ocean began very early and is a constant in her life. In the Summer of 1997, Tanya learnt of Freedriving. Within 6 monthsg, Tanya began breaking records, and between 1998 and 2005 she claimed a total of 10 World Records, including one that she still holds today, the No Limits to 160m which involved diving to 160m and resurfacing, all on a single breath.

SYMPOSIUM SYMPOSIUM

Redefining Limits:

SYMPOSIUM

STEM

Week 1 (16 June): Symposium

Are experts made or born?

– Natasha Sigala

Natasha Sigala is a Neuroscientist at the University of Sussex, interested in how the brain changes in response to learning and remembering. She is passionate about opportunities for all in STEM subjects, and regularly gives presentations of her work for the public and at schools.

In her symposium session, Natasha will be discussing how experts perform feats of memory, and whether their brains have special powers.

STEM

Miss Eleanor Bourne

Modern writers have tended to present machines as a troubling, if not destructive, challenge to humanity and our sense of self. Why? Is technology really the root of our anxieties or is there a deeper fear of who we are? And why should it matter if androids dream of electric sheep?

North Korea – A Cult of the Individual – Dr Ross Barand

The Hermit Kingdom, as it is often called, remains an enigma for many.

North Korea is incredibly poor, there was mass starvation and famine in the 90s, and agriculture is 50 years behind the rest of the world, yet it also has an enormous nuclear arsenal. In these circumstances, why is Kim Jong-Un still revered as the father of the people?

Is it a lack of external influences, a well-oiled propaganda machine, or just simply fear?

ENRICHMENT

Mega-Catastrophes – Mrs Jane Sharp You are probably used to hearing about volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on the news… but are you aware that a volcano significantly bigger than Yellowstone nearly wiped out the human race 75,000 years ago? Or that a huge tsunami off the coast of Norway disconnected the UK from mainland Europe?

In these sessions, we will investigate past events and their destructive power. We will also explore predicted mega-catastrophes and why we are potentially at risk of a mega-tsunami here in Brighton. This module would suit any humanities students who have an interest in the natural world and past events.

STEM

ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE

Literary Representations of Technology and the Self –

ENRICHMENT

ENRICHMENT

HUMANITIES

ENRICHMENT

Week 1 (17 June): Enrichment

Science Seminars – Presented by Year 12 Olivia – Will artificial intelligence one day make human mathematicians obsolete?

Tuhina – Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Wealth Tax. Sophia – How does Social Disparity Impact Medical Care?

Lucy – TBC

HUMANITIES

The Relationship Between Culture and Society – Mr Darren Woodhouse

The two sessions will focus on the nature of storytelling, and how it reflects the ideology of a particular time and place.

As humans we tend to feel that the things we believe are correct and that we are able to understand things objectively – whereas we might think the people of the past, or people in other places, were /are wrong. The sessions will hopefully demonstrate that this world-view is problematic and informed by internalised narratives such as capitalism, which we should try to address through understanding how ideology operates through culture.

STEM

ENGLISH & LANGUAGE

CORE

Ms Sarah Strachan This module consists of two life-drawing sessions, which will be supported by an exploration of the historical context of the female form in Western Art History.

We will explore four key works and discuss how they are influenced by their cultural context. This would be appropriate for any students of Art who want to develop their drawing skills and their understanding of works of art in their context.

CORE CORE

Life Drawing –

CORE

ARTS

Week 2 (22 & 24 June): Core

Private life in Dictatorships: Stalin’s Russia – Mrs Sarah Black In the first session we will explore what we already know about dictatorships and challenge our thinking by considering some lesser-known dictators of the 20th century and their successes and failures. In our second session we will dig a bit deeper and explore what it was like to live in Stalin’s dictatorship, using the research of historian Orlando Figes and his book The Whisperers to uncover the diversity of experiences in post-Revolution Soviet Union. By looking at a number of case-studies we will encounter the problematic nature of making generalisations and consider the wider implications, as historians, when carrying out research to uncover the ‘real’ truth.

Molecular Gastronomy –

Mr Mark Ebden

Cooking played a pivotal role in the evolution of humans (even Biologists agree on this), and cooking is Chemistry, therefore Chemistry is the greatest science of them all and this cannot be disputed. In this session, you could find out how master chefs wow you with their culinary wizardry and discover what role quantum mechanics plays inside your nostrils. [Certified barely fit for human consumption].

Destroy a City to Preserve a Myth – Miss Emily Vasquez Have you ever heard a mythical story – like the Trojan War or the lost city of Atlantis – and wondered if there was any truth to the legend? Humans have always been curious about the myths of our ancient civilisations. But one thing that defines us more than curiosity is destruction. Despite being more advanced than ever before in science and archaeology, we are actually getting further away from ever uncovering the reality of our mythical history – and it’s our fault. Why are we doing this – and can it be stopped?

HUMANITIES ARTS

HUMANITIES

ENRICHMENT

We are the only human species left but we were not always alone. How did early human-like species evolve?

What happened to our ancestors and cousins? This session will introduce you to the main events in the evolution of human species. Be ready to compare some bones and teeth and to face some of the problems encountered by palaeontologists. Are we close to discover where we come from?

ENRICHMENT ENRICHMENT

A Brief Discovery of Our Ancestors – Mrs Nadège Andrew

ENRICHMENT

STEM

Week 2 (22 June): Enrichment The Need for Interfaith Dialogue – Ms Emma Shevah In a world fractured by opposing religious beliefs on one hand, and which is increasingly secular on the other, it’s time to talk about what we do or don’t believe, how it affects our lives, and how we can ensure respect, dignity and empathy for all. Diversity is our strength, and our identities, faiths and cultures are enriched and deepened by learning about those of others. What do you wish people knew about your faith?

How can we make schools more inclusive places and how might religion build bridges instead of barriers.

Arts Seminars – Presented by Year 12 Cherry – TBC Molly – Do the Olympic Games Do More Harm Than Good?

Megan – Why has Aubrey Beardsley been so influential for artists since his death in 1898?

Thea – Women in the Music Industry.

Jemima – Death of Philosophy: an exploration of postmodernism.

Jane – TBC

STEM

It’s time for Dragons Den:

Mona Shah is a Director of Stonehage Fleming Investment Management; she has 14 years’ experience in portfolio construction and manager selection across all asset classes, and she is a member of the Investment Committee. Mona is responsible for the Stonehage Fleming Global Sustainable Investment Portfolios, and has developed expertise in helping clients reflect their values in their portfolios, whilst also maximising returns and positive impact.

SOCIETY

Following a (very short!) career as a university teacher, in 2006, Sarah Wood co-founded a tech start-up called Unruly, launching a Viral Video Chart, an advertising platform, and growing the company from 3 to 300 people around the world. She sold the company to News Corp in 2015 and stayed on to lead the business until 2019. Since then, she has been a board member of Superdry plc, and currently sits on the boards of Tech Nation, City Ventures, and The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, which campaigns for young people’s mental health. She is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust Women Supporting Women Programme, has been named Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year, City AM Entrepreneur of the Year, and was awarded an OBE for services to technology and innovation.

Can investing be a force for good in the world? – Mona Shah

SYMPOSIUM

What kind of dragon are you?

Could you be an angel? And why do we need more female investors? – Sarah Wood OBE

SYMPOSIUM

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE

SYMPOSIUM

Week 2 (23 June): Symposium

American Race Relations in the Era of George Floyd: Lessons from History, Action for the Future – Richard Follett

Professor Richard Follett is Associate Vice President and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at the University of Sussex.

He is responsible for developing, coordinating, and driving the University’s internationalisation strategy, and provides leadership to Sussex’s international activities worldwide. He is also Professor of American History and a specialist on the history of slavery and emancipation in the United States and Caribbean.

In this session, we will be investigating how children spent their summer holidays during the 20th Century, when they cast off their term-time schedules and found themselves in long, unscheduled days. Was it really like the ‘Famous Five’ adventures for all, or did the youth of 1930-1980 experience many of the same feelings and holiday activities as young people today?

We will also consider how much we can learn about attitudes through diary accounts and oral history, and the extent to which historians create pictures that shape or distort our understanding of the past.

HUMANITIES

ENRICHMENT

Dr Gemma Hannan

ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE

‘Schools out for Summer’ –

HUMANITIES

Covid recession, BREXIT, poverty, environmental doom - are we living in a successful economy or not? What is a ‘successful’ economy, why does it matter and what does the future hold? You’ve seen it in the news and know it’s important so come along and begin to discover what it’s all about. Start to develop your own views on what is the best way forward for us all!

HUMANITIES

ENRICHMENT

ENRICHMENT

Mr Paul Clingan

ENRICHMENT

Economic meltdown or booming recovery? –

ENRICHMENT

STEM

Week 2 (24 June): Enrichment

An Academic Approach to Tying a Tie – Dr Ross Barrand The shapes, angles, and forms which surround us every day have an incredibly strong influence on us – this session will focus on the 85 possible ways to tie a tie, and we will examine the reasons behind the success and failure of the different ways.

Shakespeare’s World – Miss Rebecca Allen This session will focus on how to explore material things and build narratives around them, just as a museum curator would when mounting an exhibition. It will explore objects that have a connection to some of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, and explore the links between the stories they each have to tell!

Great Britain: Maritime Nation – Mr Guy Carter Our country’s relationship with our surrounding seas and global oceans has defined our nation. We will discuss both how our weather and climate is controlled by the sea, and the factors in our history which led to small nation becoming such a global influencer.

Roedean School, Roedean Way, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5RQ T: +44(0)1273 667500 | E: schooloffice@roedean.co.uk | W: roedean.co.uk facebook.com/RoedeanSchool | twitter.com/RoedeanSchool