The Halley's Comment
Issue 20 - Module 5
“Our Academy values - respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience - permeate everything we do"
A message from Mr Russell, Principal
In my start of module 5 assembly, we explored how mutual respect, collaboration and resilience - all key founding values at The Halley - were central to the passing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago. We encouraged students to reflect on why these values are so important to the creation of a peaceful, harmonious and successful world, and how they could inform their own lives both in and outside of the Academy.
As captured in this edition of The Halley's Comment, we are extremely proud of how students have been applying these values in practice every day. Our Year 11 and 13 students have successfully commenced their all-important GCSE, BTEC and IB examinations. Staff have been working hard to ensure students are as prepared as possible for these, with afterschool intervention sessions, breakfast booster classes, Saturday school and additional lessons in the May half-term break. We have also enjoyed a number of sporting successes in athletics as part of our summer extra-curricular programme. Students have also benefitted from a range of workshops that have extended their learning beyond the classroom - whether the Year 8 STEM Speakers Challenge or the Year 9 Little Fish Theatre Production. Finally, a particular highlight of this module was attending the Tallow Chandlers Education Awards Ceremony, where the exemplary achievements and contributions of 8 students to the Academy were celebrated in the City of London.
Thank you for all your continued support of the Academy this module. I wish you and your families a wonderful half-term break. We look forward to all students returning to the Academy for module 6 on Monday 5th June.
“Those who can imagine anything can create the impossible”
Turing School
The summer modules culminate in the opportunity for our students to apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout the year through a variety of assessments and examinations such as MYP End of Year Assessments and Year 11 students' final GCSE examinations. Having witnessed the quality of work produced in lessons throughout the year, I am sure that our students involved will be successful in demonstrating the excellent academic progress achieved this year.
We are always keen to celebrate our students and it is fantastic to acknowledge those who demonstrate excellent engagement in and around the Academy through their positive actions. A special mention must go to Lucas (7T2), Inioluwa (7T1), Vinney (10T3) and Zilan (8T2), who have shown exceptional levels of commitment to learning this module. As well as this, it is fantastic to see so many students in Turing School awarded 'Praise Home' emails this module, with over 5000 sent so far this year to the families of our students.
As regularly stated in our newsletter article, Turing School is a leader in attendance which has a significant contributing factor towards a student's positive engagement and progress at the Academy. Our students are the leaders of this and it is important that their contributions are recognised, with 10T2 having an attendance of 96.59% for this module. It is also fantastic to see 116 of our students in Years 7-11 registering 100% attendance for this academic year.
Thank you to all those families who have attended the Academy recently to support their child in our Parents' Evenings and Year 10 Work Experience Information Evening. It has been fantastic to meet with many of you again face-to-face and establish those close relationships we have with our families. The team looks forward to meeting many more of you in module 6 for other parent/carer events.
Finally, I would like to inform you that there will be a change to the leadership structure within Turing School from the start of module 6. Mr Freeman will be joining Turing School as the new Head of School; he brings a wealth of experience to the Small School model having worked at a number of LAT Academies throughout his career. He is excited to be joining Turing School and the remarkable team we have here. Mr Freeman also looks forward to introducing himself to you in module 6.
I would like to finish by thanking you for your support and communication this year with regard to Turing School, and as always, please keep us updated with information on your child as required. 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
As we move into the warmer weather, our Easley students continue to make us all proud. The attendance of our students remains above all current national figures, which clearly demonstrates their commitment to learning. This commitment is modelled to our Easley community every day by our Year 11 students. They have embarked on a series of GCSE examinations with great maturity and conscientiousness. Our Year 11s have taken every opportunity to attend extra revision sessions and we look forward to celebrating their achievements in the summer and of course at the Year 11 Prom.
Again, we have had opportunities in this module to come together as a community in our small school assemblies. We have explored the values of the Academy and celebrated the achievements of both our students and staff team.
As always, there are many things to celebrate. Easley students have been fantastic ambassadors for the Academy, none more so than Ela and Olamide who represented us at a formal dinner at the Tallow Chandlers Hall in London. We continue to celebrate the great achievements of our students.
It was a pleasure to see so many parents of our Year 9 students at our recent parents’ evening. The conversations with individual subject staff focussed on progress and provided an opportunity to begin to explore the GCSE courses prior to the options process for the Year 9 students.
We have begun the series of summer athletics competitions, with a number of our Easley students representing the Academy at the Year 8 and 9 Cambridge Cup Competitions at Sutcliffe Park. A huge well done to all of our competitors.
Ten of our students have had the pleasure of joining Mr Russell for ‘Tea with the Principal’ this module. Each week the Easley Small School team nominates two students, to celebrate their efforts, achievements and improvements. This is also an opportunity to feedback their experiences of the Academy and share suggestions for even further improvements to Mr Russell. The students who attended are Lexi, Timothy, Sead, Zanya, Ela, Olamide, Holly, Mark Anthony, Logan and Kameron.
I would like to thank the Easley team; Mr Godina, Deputy Head of Easley School, Ms Taylor, Director of Progress, Ms Stratford, the Small School Manager, 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. We are excited about the next module, as we will be welcoming a new member to the Easley Team. Ms Allen will be joining us as a Small School Manager at the start of June. Ms Allen comes to us with a wealth of experience of working with young people and their families and I am sure that she will be warmly welcomed by our Easley family.
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
Module 5 and 6 is the time when students have an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned this year to their respective assessments and examinations. Years 7-9 students will be completing their MYP end-of-year assessments, Year 10 students will be completing their end-of-year assessments to prepare them for Year 11 and Year 11 students are engaged in their final GCSE examinations. I am confident that all students will make good academic progress based on the ongoing feedback we have had from their teachers and also the quality of work that we have seen produced in lessons. We appreciate the support you are providing at home as it is an integral part of the effective support that our students need towards continued good academic progress.
We are proud of our students in Franklin School who have continued to show exceptional levels of commitment towards their learning at the Academy. Many of the Franklin families have received either positive phone calls or emails from staff. A special mention must go to Liyah and Chuckwuneye (7F1) for consistently modelling the Academy values and to Lucas, Diego and Zona (10F1) for their perseverance on the STEM Green Power Project.
In addition to the above achievements, I would like to congratulate the Franklin School students and families for your continued focus on maintaining and improving attendance. Student attendance continues to be one of main contributing factors to a student's engagement and progress at the Academy. Again a special mention to 7F2 and 9F2 tutor groups who have continued to take the lead in having the highest attendance in Franklin.
Thank you to all those families who have attended the Academy recently to support their child in our Parents' Evenings and Year 10 Work Experience Information Evening. It has been a tremendous opportunity to meet with many of you as we continue to establish those close working relationships we have with our families. The Franklin team looks forward to meeting many more of you in module 6 for other parent/carer events.
Thank you for your support and communication with Franklin School, and as always, please keep us updated with information on your child as required. If you would like to contact someone at any point, please email us at franklin@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.
Mr Kamya
Head of Franklin School
Hawking School
NCS
The sixth form team has been working with Year 12 students to give them opportunities to participate in volunteering. Representatives from the National Citizen Service (NCS) will deliver a presentation to Year 12 students during module 6 regarding opportunities to develop key skills and participate in an action-service project within their communities.
The NCS is funded by the government and offered free of charge to students aged 16-17 to further their personal and social development. Georgie, our NCS representative, has been very positive about their own experiences with the programme and several of our students have expressed an immediate interest in taking part.
The scheme will run during the summer break and include team-building activities such as Go Ape or indoor go-karting, workshops to instill essential life skills valued by employers and universities, and a collaborative project in which participants identify an authentic need within their community and take steps to address it. Year 12 students who still wish to sign-up can do so by visiting the following website: https://wearencs.com
International Baccalaureate Students
Our Year 13 IB students have now completed all of their examinations and Internal Assessments, IBCP students have all completed their service-learning programmes and are submitting their reflections on their experiences. The International Baccalaureate results day will take place on Thursday 6th July 2023. We are looking forward to celebrating all of the student's successes.
Football Academy Update - Girls Team / Competition
A reminder that the Kent school's FA has announced that a Post-16s girl's only Kent schools league will start in September 2023.
Please remember that girls are very welcome to attend the after-school club on a Thursday afternoon. Any Year 11 students wishing to join the Football Academy should see Mr Harrison for trial dates.
Uniform standards
A reminder to all Hawking students of our Business Wear uniform expectations. Boys must have ties (for those needing last-minute gift ideas!). Hoodies are not permitted. Students must also wear lanyards throughout the day.
If you would like to contact the Hawking Small School then please do so by emailing hawking@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.
Mr Harrison
Head of Hawking School
"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet"
Tallow Chandlers Awards Ceremony
Mr Russell, Mr Harrison and eight deserving students received an invitation from The Master of the Tallow Chandlers, Mr Peter Cazalet, to attend the Chandlers' Company Education Awards Luncheon at the Tallow Chandlers' Hall on Thursday 11th May.
Emmanuel, Arthur, Aisha, Jack, Olamide, Ela, Rebecca and Jonathan were chosen from their Small Schools due to their excellent attendance, commitment to learning, and involvement in extracurricular activities to represent the Academy at this prestigious event. They are a wonderful representation of The Halley's core values of respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience. This wonderful experience gave our students the opportunity to meet with employers, University lecturers and other scholars.
Mr Russell also spoke at the Luncheon about how the ongoing financial support of the Tallow Chandlers was supporting a range of extra-curricular learning opportunties at the Academy which benefit all of our students.
STEM Speakers Challenge
On Friday 19th May, 60 specially selected Year 8 students took part in the STEM Speaker Challenge. This practical project involved teams of students working together to design and construct a loudspeaker that will amplify the sound produced by an external device. The students used design, woodworking and soldering skills in the construction of their speakers as well as working within budgetary and availability of materials constraints. Once the prototypes were completed, the teams made a Dragons Den style presentation to decide which team's speaker would win the investment. All students judged to have successfully completed the challenge will receive a CREST Discovery Award - a nationally recognised award from a scheme run by the British Science Association.
Climate Kick Start
The geography department, along with a group of enthusiastic and passionate geographers, began planting vegetables at The Halley Academy this module. Students enjoyed themselves and showcased collaboration and communication skills whilst working in groups of three or four to distribute the soil, plant the seeds and water the plants. Since that day, a group of caring geographers have consistently nurtured the plants by watering them throughout the school week. We are happy to announce that the plants have begun to grow. We are hoping to harvest the vegetables at the end of module 6 and donate them to a local food bank. This will help ease the hardships local families are experiencing due to the cost of living crisis.
At the start of module 6 the geography department will also be organising a second food bank appeal. We will be collecting the following items to donate to local food banks to support local families: cereal, soup (canned), pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes, pasta sauce, lentils, beans and pulses, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tea/coffee, tinned fruit, biscuits, long life milk and fruit juice.
The Cost of Living Crisis and Sustainability Project at the Academy will continue throughout module 6. Reusable water bottles have been chosen by the group of geographers involved in the project and will shortly be arriving. Every student from Year 7 - 10 will receive a reusable water bottle.
Little Fish Workshop
On the 25th April, Year 9 students participated in a presentation from the Theatre Company "Little Fish" on the topic of Sexism & Misogyny as part of their RSE curriculum. The performance was to a high standard, with the actors conveying their emotions in a realistic and serious way. Our students engaged enthusiastically with the production.
The Q & A was a highlight as it provided students with the opportunity to reflect on the examples of sexism and misogyny which was apparent in the play. The students asked mature and thoughtful questions which were well-received by the actors and actresses and came away from the production having thoughtful discussions about the play.
Year 11 Climbing Trip
On Wednesday 25th April, the Year 11 Sport Studies Group went to the Reach Climbing Wall in Woolwich as part of the practical element of their outdoor activities unit; part of the course requirement is that students demonstrate their skills and understanding in climbing.
All students engaged well with the activity, and despite the nerves initially from some, many confidently tackled some of the more challenging routes and climbs. Students attempted auto-belays, bouldering and single-pitch climbs learning lots and for many trying out new experiences. They collaborated well, demonstrating a good understanding of the safety and care for equipment and supported each other throughout the session. Students' excellent performances made the trip hugely rewarding; they represented the Academy admirably.
Parental Workshop
As part of the Academy’s focus on working with families to support your child’s learning, our Lead Practitioners facilitated a Parental Workshop on the 25th of May. The workshop introduced Google Classroom to families and gave them an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of our curriculum expectations and homework schedules. The learning platforms which we now use as our online teaching practice were introduced to parents/carers. The workshop was incredibly well attended and emphasised how parents/carers can help to support the homework, which is set on a daily basis for all of our students, as well as introduced parents to the new literacy platform, Bedrock.
Our Lead Practitioner team has been further strengthened with Amanda Fay, (English) and Mohamed Alhmali, (Maths) joining us at the start of module 5. These two members of staff have already been integral in strengthening the teaching and learning across the Academy. Firstly, our Lead Practitioners have led CPD sessions within the Academy and across the LAT community focusing on Literacy, Metacognition and Teaching to the Top. They have opened their doors for the Lead Practitioner Drop-In Week and have led the modular parental teaching and workshop in the final week of this module.
Year 11 Saturday School
In preparation for their summer examinations, our Year 11 students have participated in a four-week Saturday School throughout May. Over 100 students attended the Academy each weekend to participate in a range of subjects including; Maths, Design and Technology, Food and Catering and History. The feedback from the sessions has been extremely positive, and thank you to all staff involved in supporting our Year 11 students in the build-up to their final examinations.
Sporting Fixtures
The Physical Education Department has had a successful module 5. The students started their athletics season of competing against other schools in the borough in the Cambridge Cup Championships. All participants represented the Academy fantastically well, demonstrating many of our core values of resilience, integrity, achievement, collaboration and respect. We had many great performances but our most noteworthy was that of Yassin in Year 9. He won his high jump by a significant margin and as a result has now been selected to represent the Greenwich team in the forthcoming London Schools Championships. We wish him the very best of luck.
The PE team are looking forward to continuing their success in athletics during module 6 for the LAT Sports Day, Greenwich Schools Championships and our very own Halley Academy Sports Day!
Junior Mathematical Challenge
On 26th of April students from Year 7 and 8 sat for the UKMT challenge at the Halley Academy. The UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge is a prestigious national competition designed to challenge and inspire young mathematicians. Through its challenging problems and engaging format, the competition fosters critical thinking, problem-solving skills and intellectual growth. Students can unlock a world of opportunities and embark on a rewarding mathematical journey that extends far beyond the boundaries of the competition itself. We are looking forward to receiving the results and will keep you all appraised once received.
STEM Club
STEM club members have made paper models of famous spacecraft and celebrated the discovery of the structure of DNA. Our members constructed a model of the DNA double helix using sweets and cocktail sticks. Rope sweets were used to represent the sugar-phosphate backbone and jelly babies the 4 different bases: different coloured jelly babies were used to represent adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine, and the students had to follow the rules regarding pairing the bases. The whole model was held together with cocktail sticks. Some really good models were produced, and everyone (except Mr Brennan) resisted the temptation to sample the jelly babies!
Bug Hotel
Students assembled a bug hotel near to the apiary and chickens. This is now a home for all sorts of insects, molluscs and spiders. Providing suitable spaces for invertebrates like these to live in is vital to establishing and maintaining a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem: it will also provide evidence for our application for a Green Flag Award (more news of that later!).
The Halley Comet Greenpower Racer
Very exciting news from team Halley Comet! We have finally taken the car outside onto the tennis courts for a test drive. Everyone involved in the project had the chance to have at least one complete circuit of the courts in the car - it actually produced a fair turn of speed, and there were some very impressive driving skills on display. The team is currently working on finishing the bodywork, and then we are looking forward to our first official race entry.
Farm News
Our chickens were finally released back into their large run on Tuesday 18t April after 6 months of confinement due to the avian flu restrictions. They were nervous about the wide open spaces at first and stuck to the area just outside the inner run door, but within a very short time, they were back to exploring the whole area, hunting down anything edible, and enjoying the sunshine and rain. The number of eggs being laid is also on the rise as the days get longer - egg laying is triggered by day length, so having access to the outside for longer periods helps. We are expecting a new consignment of 7 chickens to arrive towards the middle of June.
Our apiary is currently being tidied and the hives made ready for our new bees. These should be ready for collection towards the end of May. We also received a collected swarm, which was reported by a member of the public and collected by local beekeeping volunteers. Swarms are then offered to local beekeepers. We collected the swarm late in the evening of Saturday 20th May, which appropriately enough was World Bee Day. Late evening collections are preferable as all the bees need to be in the hive for the night. The bees were transferred into their new hive on Monday 22nd - fingers crossed they will settle in quickly. Late spring / early summer is peak swarming season as the colonies expand quickly and the hives become overcrowded. If you find a swarm of bees, please do not be scared; swarming bees are generally very gentle and are unlikely to sting you. Contact https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-a-local-swarm-collector for advice and safe removal of the bee colony where possible.
EcoSchools Project
Our Eco Schools committee members have now completed the Environmental Audit. We would like to thank all of the staff members that helped to answer some of the questions, especially Mr Russell who took time out of his busy day to meet with three of the committee members and answer some of the more challenging questions. The committee is now using the answers from the Audit to prepare both an Action Plan and an Eco Code for the Academy. The first projects chosen are: planting a new fruit tree hedge, preparing posters to encourage staff and students to turn off lights and projectors when rooms are empty and developing the number of habitats available by building a bug hotel and a mini pond.
The fruit tree hedge will be planted along the fence between the playing fields and the outer quad. The trees are all native fruit bearers: hazel, blackthorn, dog rose, elder, rowan and crab apple. These will provide food, shelter and a corridor for movement for wildlife, act as a windbreak, help to prevent flooding and help to absorb both air and noise pollution. The trees will provide early nectar sources for insects and will make an attractive backdrop as they all bear flowers as well as fruits.
