The Halley's Comment

Issue 19 - Module 4

“Our Academy values - respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience - permeate everything we do"

A message from Mr Russell, Interim Principal

In my module 4 welcome assembly in February, we explored how different communities from around the world use the period of Lent to reflect on the features of our lives that we most cherish, value and, perhaps, take for granted on a daily basis. We imagined how our lives would be different without these features, and reflected on how recent natural disasters in Turkey and Syria, or the ongoing war in Ukraine, remind us about the fragility and unpredictability of human life.

Each week I meet with students for “Tea with the Principal”, who have been nominated by their Small Schools for exemplary and unique contributions to Academy life. A recurring piece of feedback that I receive is how much students value our learning community at the school, and how its diversity, dynamism and inclusivity would be one of the founding features of the Academy that they would most miss if they did not exist.

We hope that this edition of Halley’s Comment speaks to the exciting array of activities and achievements that have been enjoyed and celebrated by our learning community over the last few weeks. Our Cultural Capital Day was a particular highlight, with over 20 different enriching trips and learning experiences outside the classroom taking place. We were inundated with positive feedback from members of the public, including Clive Efford, MP for Eltham, who commented on how students were exemplary ambassadors for the Academy, whether at museums, on public transport, or in theatres. We have also held a number of well-attended Parents’ Evenings this module, which will be the first time that many families have met with their children’s teachers face-to-face since the pandemic. Our Year 11 and 13 students continued to work hard in their March series of mock examinations, and students in Years 7-9 completed their MYP assessments, giving them important feedback on how they can continue to make progress across all of their subjects.

Thank you for all your continued support of the Academy this module. I wish you and your families a wonderful Easter break. We look forward to all students returning to the Academy for Module 5 on Monday 17th April.

“Those who can imagine anything can create the impossible”

Turing School

Turing School students continues to flourish at the Academy, playing an ever-increasing role in being ambassadors, modelling excellent behaviour and engaging in lessons. Turing Senior Team have harnessed these attributes, with all students receiving a number of assemblies tracing back to their roots as a Small School and explaining why students should be proud to have the blue stripe on their tie. It is more important than ever that our young scholars continue to recognise and reflect on what makes them special.

We are always keen to promote the celebrations of our students, so it is with pride that I make special mention of students who have demonstrated fantastic engagement in and around the Academy with their Award Cards: Oluwami (8T2), Sean (8T2), Patricia (8T2) and N’Tay (8T2) who have all been awarded over 4 cards this year, demonstrating their excellent commitment to Academy life.

Attendance is a significant contributing factor to a student's engagement and progress at the Academy, so it is fantastic to have the Turing School leading the way in their attendance this year. 11T2 obtained an attendance of 96.15% in this module, with 127 of our students in Years 7-11 registering 100% attendance for module 4.

The theme of contribution and celebration is continued with a number of students attending Tea with the Principal; this is a space and opportunity for them to share their ideas with Mr Russell on how we can support the continued growth and development of the Academy. I am delighted that: Fawaz (10T3), Bibiana (10T2), Denzel (7T2) and Nicholas (11T2) were able to share their ideas with the Principal and be outstanding ambassadors to the Academy.

I would like to conclude by thanking you for your support and communication throughout this calendar year. We rely on your openness and willingness to support us and your child during their school lives, with those firmly rooted relationships enabling each child to prosper. As always, we are here to support your child and will keep you updated as we travel through the course of the remainder of this academic year. If you would like to contact someone at any point, please email us at Turing@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.

Mr Stevens

Head of Turing School

Easley School

Easley students continue to be a source of pride across the Academy and most certainly within the Small School network. Their outstanding commitment to excellence, engagement in activities, learning and remarkable behaviour is always a pleasure to see. We had more opportunities in this Module within our small school assemblies to explore the values of the Academy and remembered why Annie Easley is such an inspiring role model for our young people and staff.

As always, there are many things to celebrate; Easley students have been outstanding ambassadors for the Academy touring new families around the school, welcoming new students, participating in workshops and taking up leadership opportunities. We continue to celebrate the great achievements of our students. Our attendance is currently above national figures; attending school every day is critical to our students achieving their target grades, making significant progress and enjoying school life. Since the start of the academic year, Easley parents have received over 4600 ‘Praise Home’ emails for exceptional effort in lessons and demonstrating kindness to others. I am sure it is a source of pride for families when you are able to celebrate successes with your children.

It was a pleasure to see so many parents of our year 8 students at Parents’ Evening. The conversations with individual subject staff focussed on progress and provided an opportunity to celebrate the efforts and commitment to the learning of our students.

Since January, 12 of our students have had the pleasure of joining Mr Russell for ‘Tea with the Principal’. Each week the Easley Small School team nominates two students, to celebrate their efforts, achievements and improvements. This is also an opportunity to feedback to the Principal on their experiences of the Academy and share suggestions for even further improvements. The students who have attended are Gabrielus 7E1, Connie 11E3, Timmy 11E2, Daniel 8E1, David 11E1,Thienlau 11E2, Princess 10E3, Abu 10E2, Hafiza 9E1, Adeena 9E2, Junior 11E1 and Owen 7E1.

I would like to thank the Easley team; Mr Godina, the Deputy Head of School, Ms Taylor, the Director of Progress, Ms Stratford and Mr Tremain, the Small School Managers, Ms Harrington, the Small School Administrator and of course the team of Easley tutors for their care and support of every child in Easley Small School. They carry out their work every day with pride. Finally, I would like to offer thanks to our families for their continued support and communication throughout the year. The success of young people is built on a firm partnership between school and home. If you would like to contact the Easley Small School then please do so by emailing Easleyschool@thehalleyacademy.org.uk

Mrs Cronin

Head of Easley School

“You can do anything you want to, but you have to work at it”

“All that is necessary is the belief that by doing our best we shall come nearer to success andm that success ..... is worth attaining”

Franklin School

Franklin School students continue to make good progress at the Academy throughout module 4. We are proud of the exemplary attitude and conduct of our students in lessons and around the Academy. We are confident that they will continue to develop into responsible young people who are a delight to work with. Franklin Small School senior team has continued to promote the values of the Academy among our students and also ensure that the high expectations that we have set at the Academy are maintained. We will continue to work with all members of the Franklin community including parents and carers in our efforts to build an exciting, cohesive and collaborative learning community.

This module has seen some notable individual examples of success as follows:

Isla (Year 10) has been informed that she is on standby to train with the U16 Lionesses in the Easter holidays. This is a phenomenal sporting achievement.

Mariah (Year 10), following the regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, came third amongst all Greenwich schools, demonstrating great charisma and persuasion in her articulate and passionate speech.

Victoria (Year 8), through her tremendous act of courage and maturity, has demonstrated what we expect from our IB learners. Whilst on her way home from school one Friday during module 4, Victoria found a gentleman in the street having a seizure. She called an ambulance and got the gentleman to the hospital. The hospital has since informed Victoria that her quick actions saved the gentleman's life.

I would like to conclude by thanking you for your ongoing support throughout this calendar year. We rely on your openness and willingness to support us and your child throughout their secondary school careers, with those firmly rooted relationships enabling each child to prosper. As always, we are here to support your child and will keep you updated throughout the remainder of this academic year. If you would like to contact Franklin School, please email us at Franklin@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.

Mr Kamya

Head of Franklin School

Hawking School

Year 13 students are currently displaying their final exhibition pieces in the Foyer at The Halley Academy. Carefully curated and often drawing on personal reflections and experiences, the exhibition showcases students’ talent, hard work, introspection and considerations of culture and society.

Students have put together their exhibition component, including, selecting and curating the space to communicate their concept. Each student has explored different ideas in relation to their chosen artists and have written an exhibition text, explaining the focus for each piece and the media used.

Please take the time to view the exhibit in our Foyer and congratulate our blooming artists on their achievements.

Mr Harrison

Head of Hawking School

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet"

LGBT+ History Month

During module 2 we took the opportunity to raise awareness and discuss issues and inclusivity in Assemblies throughout LGBT+ History Month. Our students made us proud with their understanding of equality and diversity and the changes that have been made over the years regarding people's rights. We also reflected on the future, thinking about what more can be done to promote inclusivity.

Year 6 Information Evening - 7th March 2023

We welcomed over 200 visitors to the Academy on the 7th March for our Year 6 Information Evening. In his welcome speech, Mr Russell discussed our Academy's core values of respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience, which permeates everything we do; the thread that binds our belief in bringing the potential of every student to fruition. There were ample opportunities for conversations with members of staff which evoked positive experiences about the Academy. We are looking forward to building on this strong foundation when our new Year 7 students begin their secondary careers with us this coming September.

UN International Women's Day - 8th March 2023

On the 8 March we celebrated UN International Women’s Day. The theme is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. The aim is to bring women into technology which has greater potential for innovations that meet women's needs and promotes gender equality. We aim for our students to embrace the UN goal of recognizing and celebrating the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.

Blood Brothers - 22nd February 2023

On 22nd February 2023, a group of Year 9 English students, alongside the Year11 GCSE Drama students participated in a trip to Richmond Theatre to see the performance "Blood Brothers". Both year groups study this as part of their MYP and GCSE curriculum and were excited to see the play they had been reading about transformed to life on the stage. All students are to be commended on their behaviour throughout the trip, with members of the public commenting on how well they engaged and how respectful of the performance itself, as well as the other members of the public in the theatre. Overall, students had a fantastic time, with one commenting that 'it was amazing - I loved the narrator and all the songs,' whilst another said, 'the theatre was beautiful! Please can we come back again?'. The Halley Academy looks forward to taking more students to watch performances in the future and providing them with this enriching experience.

Sylvia Workshop & Theatre - 8th March 2023

On the 8th of March, Key Stage 4 Drama students participated in yet another successful workshop with the Old Vic.

This workshop centred on costume design where the students analysed the play Sylvia , the plot, themes and issues it raises. Working in small groups, they then used the information to design the costumes for the characters, where they pitched their ideas to the rest of the group and the workshop leaders. Our students were confident and articulate, generating some impressive ideas with justification for their choice of design.

A trip to the Old Vic theatre to see the musical production of Sylvia, ensued. Here, the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they were treated with exhilarating performances from the cast, including Beverley Knight.

Sylvia is a story that celebrates the life of Sylvia Pankhurst, the lesser-known Pankhurst, at the heart of the Suffragette movement, who changed the lives of working women and men across the world.

Cultural Capital Day - 29th March 2023

The whole school bubbled with excitement in anticipation of The Halley Academy's second Cultural Capital Day when every student was given the opportunity to experience learning outside the classroom. Building on our vision for learners to be equipped to take their place in wider society, many students travelled by public transport and learned how to navigate the world-famous transport system before immersing themselves in historic centres of culture, such as the Natural History Museum and Design Museum. The range of trips also enabled students to explore future careers in sports, finance and theatre, including tours of Chelsea F.C., Harry Potter Studios and performances of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Wicked. We thank all staff for their hard work and support in making this day such a rewarding experience for our students.

UKMT Intermediate Challenge Results 2023

The UKMT Intermediate Challenge, one of the most prominent maths competitions in the UK, was attended by students chosen from Years 9 and 10. This national competition encourages a love of problem-solving.

Every year, we enter our students to compete at the level that is appropriate for their age. The Intermediate Mathematics Challenge is a multiple-choice test that promotes mathematical thinking, precision of thought, and fluency when applying fundamental mathematical concepts to challenging tasks.

The Mathematics Department would like to thank all those students who participated and congratulates the following students for their stand-out performances.

Name Year Group Certificate

Aymric 9 Bronze - Best in Year

Prince 9 Bronze

Tanzim 10 Silver - Best in School

Daniel 10 Silver

Alisa 10 Bronze

Folawe 10 Bronze

Arthur 10 Bronze

Mateen 10 Bronze

Ahalaban 10 Bronze

Teagon-Rose 10 Bronze

Isabel 10 Bronze

Sara 10 Bronze

Emmanuel 10 Bronze

Aarons 10 Bronze

Rhema 10 Bronze

Year 11 and 13 Mock Examinations

Year 11 and 13 students participated in two highly successful mock examination series in December 2022 and March 2023; these examinations have been conducted in line with the Joint Council of Qualification (JCQ) requirements, providing our students with a realistic experience of what to expect in their summer examinations.

The results of the mock examinations were shared with students on mock examination results day, with students also provided with a series of Question Level Analysis in key subjects. QLAs provide students with an overview of their strengths and areas for improvement in specific papers, giving students a fantastic guide on where to target their revision in preparation for their summer examinations.

Key Dates

The Year 13 IB examination series commences on Tuesday 2nd May until Friday 19th May.

The Year 11 GCSE examination series commences on Monday 15th May until Wednesday 21st June.

Year 11 intervention

All Year 11 students have been provided with a bespoke intervention timetable, providing them with additional sessions in key subjects in the build-up to their summer examinations.

Year 11 intervention runs from 3:15pm to 4:00pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Please find the subject breakdown below:

Monday: Art, English, French and Spanish

Tuesday: Science and Spanish

Thursday: Art, French, Geography, History and Mathematics

All attendance is recorded through the Academy’s SOCS programme, with a student's individual timetable accessed through this platform.

Humanutopia

Since the start of the academic year, a number of students in Year 10 have gotten involved with Humanutopia. Humanutopia runs motivational and empowering courses that encourage young people to begin to care for their peers and the community.

During Module 2, these became our Halley Heroes and started a mentoring team with students from younger year groups. These Heroes sacrificed a break time once a week to work alongside younger students, talking through their fears and encouraging them to start thinking about their dreams and aspirations for the future. Both the Heroes and their mentees worked together and created incredible bonds which, despite this initial programme being over, are still in touch all these weeks later.

Now the heroes are working on a community project. They have divided themselves up into smaller groups and are figuring out ways that they can fundraise for the local community, helping to build and develop a partnership between The Halley and the people in our local area. One team is working tirelessly to fundraise for a local homeless shelter, considering different projects that could take place around the school to help support this charity.

These students started to become Halley Heroes over a year ago and are still just as enthusiastic about working for our school community and the wider community as they were then.

STEM Club

STEM club continues to gain in popularity. In this module, members measured trees as part of the BiF or Citizen Science Project. We looked at how tree growth is being affected by climate change, made and tested a device to make a ball travel as slowly as possible from a high place to a lower one, made chromatography flowers and finished the module off with some "eggciting" "eggsperiments". The older members of STEM club prepared an entry for the Ceres Reimagine competition which involved making a 3 minute long animated film on a way of making the modern demand for energy greener. Next module we will begin recruiting teams for The Halley Academy STEM quiz - watch this space!

The Halley Comet Greenpower Racer

The Greenpower racer is now mechanically complete, and the body work panels are going on! We are hoping that we will be ready to enter races later this year - new volunteers to help with the project are always welcome.

Farm News

As the days grow longer, the chickens are beginning to lay eggs more frequently again. The girls are still confined to their attached run due to the bird flu restrictions - hopefully as the weather improves they will be able to go back outside into the large run.

We sadly lost our bee colony over the winter - this has been a common occurrence nationally this year (reported at around 20%). The Halley Beekeepers are currently looking over the hive parts, cleaning and repairing equipment and getting ready to start off with a new colony later in the season. We aim to purchase a nuc of bees as a starter colony. A nuc (or nucleus) is a small colony of 5 frames of bees, eggs and larvae with an active queen which can be used to start off a new hive. We are also registering with a local Apiarist Society for any swarms of bees that become available later in the season. If you find a swarm of bees, please do not be scared; swarming bees are usually nonaggressive. If you do see a swarm, you can contact your local Beekeeping Society for advice - often a local beekeeper will come and remove the swarm free of charge.

EcoSchools Project

Miss Needham-Bennett and members of the Student Voice restarted The Halley Academy EcoSchools project this module. The Eco-Schools project is an international scheme that encourages students to look at their own environment and take action to help improve it. Our students are currently busy on the first stage of the project (an environmental audit of the Academy). Once the results are in, students will use the information to formulate an Academy Action Plan. They will also begin three environmental projects before the summer holidays, and apply for the Green Flag Award. As part of the project, eco-tips and advice will be posted in future copies of The Halley Comment. New members of the EcoSchools Committee are welcomed from all year groups - contact Miss Needham Bennett or Miss Milligan for more details.

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