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Introduction from Mr O’Donnell, Head of LAB16
Autumn term is always a whirlwind of activity for LAB16! We started the year with an incredibly busy day enrolling our third cohort of year 12 students. This followed with our dedicated induction programme culminating in the induction residential where students had the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones by embracing an array of adventurous activities. It’s always so heartwarming watching students, many of which have only known each other for a week, supporting each other to overcome their fears. I say it all the time, however, I have never known a school with such a strong and wonderful inclusive sixth form community! Our year 13s, on the other hand, have been incredibly busy working on their Internal Assessments, mock exams and UCAS applications. We are all very excited about their prospects as they’re demonstrating extraordinary scholarship and ambition in their assessments and applications respectively. It really is a joy leading a sixth form that is so invested in promoting the holistic nature of an IB education where students achieve so much more than just grades. On that note, last month we were excited to see the International Baccalaureate publish a video that we had been working on showcasing the impact of an IB education at LAB - if you haven’t already seen it, you can watch it here.
We hope you enjoy reading about some of the insights into life in LAB16 from the first term. Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and we look forward to another exciting term!
Wear Yellow for World Mental Health Day / Young Minds / Wear Yellow [CGE]
On Friday 10th October, we celebrated World Mental Health Day. LAB16 students were invited to donate £1 to wear a yellow item of clothing or accessory. We raised over £250 for the Young Minds charity which supports young people with their mental health. At lunchtime, we hosted a “Mindful Lunchtime” in the LAB16 hub. All LAB16 students and staff were invited to put their phones down and play games, build lego, make bracelets or do some colouring whilst having a chat - and a bit of cake! There was a lovely buzz and it was great to see so many students (and staff!) getting involved.
Learning from each other at the Community Cafe
We were honoured to be approached by the Clinical Director for the Blackheath and Charlton Primary Care Network to support their new primary care intervention - the Community Cafe. This has been an amazing opportunity for our IB Career-related Programme students to connect their CP pathways (Business, Art & Design, Sport and Medical Science) to a real life community need. The patients attending the cafe have an array of social needs and therefore the intervention is designed to bring them together to talk and join in with different activities. Four of our wonderful students (Lolah, George, Tamara and Leah) have been working with the Clinical Director to design the activities to meet the needs of the patients. One of the things that the students have most valued from this experience so far is how much they learn from each other. Below you’ll find a photo of the Community Cafe in action!
UCAS Update
Students have been busy with their university applications within this module with many students receiving excellent offers. Some interviews for Cambridge, Medicine and Veterinary Science will be next week, so we wish those students all the luck. Wednesday January 14th is the UCAS deadline for applications, leaving just seven days for the students to submit these before the UCAS deadline. Please ensure your son/daughter has made the necessary adjustments to their applications.
Metro Sexual Health
Year13 students participated in sessions relating to fertility, menopause, pornography and safe sex ran by Metro health services. Students fed back that the sessions were impactful and informative, with most students willing to share and ask questions within sessions. Year 12 will receive their sessions in January relating to consent, healthy relationships and practicing safe sex. We look forward to welcoming the Metro team into school once again for their invaluable guidance and support.
Mayor of London Future Leaders Programme
This year we have a record number of students who have secured a place to participate in this fantastic opportunity. It’s a year-long leadership programme that helps young people build confidence, gain real-world skills and make a positive impact in their community. Participants also have access to workshops, university residentials, work experience, and apprenticeship placements.
‘Two months into the Future Leaders programme, I’ve really enjoyed the chance to explore new topics and reflect on how they connect to everyday life. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, especially how important self-awareness is in developing as a leader. The activities have helped me build confidence in sharing my ideas, and I’ve started to understand how small actions can make a big difference in creating positive change. I also feel like my perspective on leadership has grown, as I’m beginning to see how values and responsibility play a role in shaping the future. It feels exciting to be part of something that’s preparing me not just for school, but for the wider world.’ - Albira
LAB16 Student Ambassadors Programme
LAB16 Student Ambassadors are passionate advocates for our student body, dedicated to enhancing the LAB16 experience. They represent student interests, sharing valuable insights and suggestions to drive positive change. As ambassadors, they also play a crucial role in showcasing the unique benefits of LAB16 and the IB programs to prospective students and the wider community. Ambassadors participate in activities within and outside of the academy including open evenings, academy tours, information events, presentations and assemblies, community events, transition days and inductions days as well as mentoring and tutoring of younger students.
We wish to congratulate the following on their successful application to be an ambassador: Semi, Tamar, Victor O, Alexis, Mikolaj, Tequan, Luna, Erin and Albira. A special well done to Semi, Erin and Mikolaj who were given the roles of ‘Senior Ambassador’. We look forward to working with them all over the next year! On behalf of the LAB16 community, we would also like to thank the year 13 ambassadors for their contributions as they step away from their roles to focus all of their energies on their internal assessments and examinations. They will, however, be continuing work on the end of year 13 celebrations and LAB16 prom.
One of their important jobs takes place at the end of each module when the ambassador team selects who will receive the ‘Student Choice Awards’ in the celebration assembly from a long list of nominated staff and students. LAB16 students are asked to make nominations in order to recognise a fellow student who is a highly valued member of the community, embodying the LAB values, as well as staff who go above and beyond to create profound and positive educational experiences. The module 1 winners were River, Victor V, James P, Mr Tingle and Miss Galvin. For module 2, the team selected Annaiel, Favour, Ms Shilito, Mr Olofodun and Mrs Gilmore. Congratulations to them all!
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