Welcome from Candy & Emmy
At last, the sun is shining and everybody has a smile on their face, whether they are studying or taking exams. Most of the university offers have now been accepted with UCL, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh & Newcastle being the favourite destinations for academic subjects. As always Central St Martins, Chelsea and Falmouth were the most popular for creative degrees. A few students are going further afield to Paris, Madrid, Berklee and CalArts. Well done everyone!
Drama Trip to the Old Vic Theatre
On Tuesday, Year 12 students went to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Old Vic Theatre, directed by Clint Dyer. The next day, they spent the lesson analysing the play and have created this review of what they saw:
We went to watch the captivating performance of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Old Vic, directed by Clint Dyer. The performance was staged in the round, which created a claustrophobic and trapping atmosphere, giving the perfect setting to the invasive nature of the play. Each actor was dedicated in portraying their character and communicated their distinctive interpretation through unique mannerisms and attributes. These bounced off the other actors, creating a seamless and compelling performance. The clinical staging, alongside the deep red lighting and heavy bass created an unsettling environment overall that foreshadowed the fate of the characters. The predominantly naturalist style was injected with abstract interludes that gave insight to the traumatic events that led to each character being admitted to the facility. This not only provided background for the audience, but it also effectively increased the empathy and emotional connection. Overall, the play’s adaptation of the well-known and loved movie and novel, highlighted the importance of freedom in a society that is so confined yet also so separated.
Sociology Trip to AQA Grade Booster
On Wednesday, Year 13 Sociology students attended an A-level Grade Booster revision conference at Vue Cinema in Stratford City Westfield. Students found the day extremely useful and highly engaging. The aim of the conference was to help students maximise their marks across all topic areas and on all types of questions. The Tutor2U presenters were excellent and in each session students were actively involved in answering questions and winning prizes. I’ve never seen so many 18-year-olds keen to win a sticker! Wishing our sociologists all the best for their summer exams.
Year 9 GCSE Subject Choice Parents’ Meeting
On Wednesday 29th of April, we will have the Year 9 GCSE Subject Choice Parents’ Meeting at Parkhill Room 1, starting at 5pm. We look forward to seeing all Year 9 parents then, for help with this important decision.
Next week’s Enrichment Talk
Next Tuesday, top photographer and director Benjamin Lennox will give a talk about his photographic career and show images of his work. Abstract painting was Benjamin’s first art form and his use of colour and form in painting now influences his photography and film work. He has worked in fashion, advertising and editorial, with many notable clients including Nike, Biotherm and Vogue.
Cross-curricular talk – Evolution and Genetic Engineering
Next Thursday, Larry, one of our Science tutors, will give a cross-curricular talk on Evolution and Genetic Engineering, open to all students.
Larry writes: Using genetic engineering, we explore a profound philosophical truth: life survives the unknown not by being perfect, but by being different. We show how cells intentionally scramble their chromosomes to “hedge their bets” against disaster, proving that in an unpredictable world, diversity is nature’s ultimate insurance policy.
Landscapes, Real & Imagined
Next Wednesday, Year 13 Sociology students will attend an AQA Grade Booster Workshop designed to support their preparation for the final A-Level examinations. The workshop will focus on key areas including exam technique, applying sociological knowledge, developing strong analysis and evaluation, and improving responses to extended essay questions.
Alum, Bu Cuarón opens for Dua Lipa
We are delighted to highlight alumna Bu Cuarón, who studied for her A-Levels at the College and is now making an exciting name for herself in music. Bu was recently selected as the opening artist for the final show of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour in Mexico City, performing to a major international audience and marking a significant milestone in her rising career.
