Autumn Term Lecture Programme
The Lecture Programme continues to be a significant part of Sixth Form life at the Academy thanks to the tremendous support of our community and a range of organisations. Our students where not only exposed to an array of interesting speakers and topics, they also worked this term on developing their reflective practice; a vital skill to enable lifelong learning and success.
We are especially grateful to the Walpole Schools programme and Making the Leap who connected us with some outstanding speakers. Highlights include guests from: Greenpeace, Aiveen Daly, Southbank Centre, Morgan Stanley, Snapchat and G.F Smith
Paired Reading Programme
Since October, a group of Sixth Form students have been volunteering to work with Year 7 and 8 students in our Paired Reading programme. These sessions take place for about 10-15 minutes each week, and as well as giving additional literacy support also provide an opportunity for students across different year groups to work together and continue to build relationships between year groups.
University Applications and Interview Prep
This summer, 35% of our Year 13 students gained a place in a university which is part of the Russell Group, a group of 24 research led universities including Imperial College, Durham, York, Cambridge and Oxford. This year we have had 20 students submit early entry applications for Medicine, Veterinary Science and courses such as Economics and Languages at Cambridge or Oxford. Several students have already visited universities for their interviews, and we were delighted to be offered practice interviews at Facebook’s UK head office and Queen’s Gate School in South Kensington. The final UCAS deadline for applications is 15th January 2020, and we wish all our students the best of luck in their applications to universities and apprenticeships.
Oppidan Yr 12 Mentoring Programme
Oppidan Education was founded in early 2016 to support schools, parents and children through one-on-one mentoring programmes. As part of their schools programme, Oppidan Education have started working with a group of 20 students in Year 12 to train them to be mentors for Year 7 students later in the academic year. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Sixth Form students to develop their mentoring skills and gain more confidence, as well as supporting younger students. The Sixth Form mentors will then received mentor themselves later in 2020 when they start to put together their UCAS applications. We look forward to growing this partnership.
Livery Academy Awards – Chelsea students win the heats!
The Livery Academy Awards is an innovative programme designed for City livery companies to engage with state schools to help stimulate business and entrepreneurial skills among their sixth-form students. The school teams are given a brief to develop a business idea and present it to an industry standard to a distinguished panel of judges and an audience of company members. The companies provide each team with mentors from the finance and marketing / advertising / creative sectors, ideally drawn from their membership. This vibrant
programme continues the livery’s ancient remit to encourage and nurture young people, giving them key skills which they can carry into the world of work. The programme originated at the Worshipful Company of Grocers in 2013, when three schools competed for a trophy and a prize of £5,000 for their school. From 2015, other livery companies have joined the programme and hosted their own events. The winners from each company event are then invited to compete at a Grand Final at Mansion House to decide an overall winner.
This term Mr Henry has led a group of seven students in Year 12 and Year 13 to develop a business idea to improve adult care, working with business mentors from M&C Saatchi and Dalton Strategic Partnership LLP. The students presented their business plan at a dinner at the Grocers’ Hall in November and won their heat. We now look forward to them taking part in the final at Mansion House in January 2020.
