The Barton Press - Issue 1

Page 1

The

Barton Press

Issue 1 • Release: July 2021


A message from the Headteacher Dear staff, students, parents and carers

I am delighted that students with the support of Mr Wilcock have produced “The Barton Press” for publication.

It is fitting that at the end of a year that has been challenging for all something new and creative has emerged from our student body. The newspaper has offered an opportunity for our students who have a passion for writing or journalism to work together to produce something that benefits all of us. We look forward to the editorial developing in future months as more students and staff become involved.

With thanks Mr Hopkins

Cover Artwork by Jonty Race 2


Dear staff, students, parents and carers We hope that you enjoy reading the first issue of our new school newspaper, The Barton Press. Students have worked very hard to create and edit this new publication in and out of school. In addition to all of the writers listed within the newspaper, I wish to pass on my special thanks to Gracie Murray for her creative input, and Ewan Gubb for formatting the entire newspaper. Their dedication and hard work have been very much appreciated. If you would like to write articles or edit the newspaper, please get in touch by emailing me at rwilcock@bartoncourt.org. We will be looking to appoint an overall editor from the Sixth Form, as well as creative and other editorial roles for students in any year group. Years 7 to 13 are welcome. Weekly meetings will continue on Thursday lunchtimes in Room 34. Students can come along to the meetings to present and discuss ideas, and to discuss topical issues in the week’s press. Wishing you a pleasant summer holiday. Kind regards, Mr Wilcock MFL Teacher / HOY 12 / Careers coordinator 3


Year 12 Charity Run Well done to Max and Sanju! Giving to charity and taking part in charitable activities is something that, in spite of a global pandemic, we can continue to do. Our students have been able to donate to charity via non-school uniform days, and there are some fantastic examples of individual fundraising activities within our school community. On Friday 21st May and Sanju in Y12 ran 9.5 miles home into school in very blustery conditions to raise money for the Canterbury Food Bank. The work of the Canterbury food bank helps to protect families who don’t have enough to eat, and this can help to prevent anyone going hungry.

Max and Sanju set a goal of £150. They surpassed tis target with a total to date of £623. This is a stunning achievement and shows how strong our school community is, as many people from Barton Court have donated. Equally both students have realised the strain that the pandemic has put on local families and felt it important to raise money to try to ease the burden on local families. Here's the link if you would like to add to their total: Fundraiser by Max Strangleman-Sykes : Max And Sanju's Run For Food Banks (gofundme.com)

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European Day of Languages from The MFL Department QUIZ time Watch this video and answer the following questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27YMbX8fH6Y 1. How many languages are spoken in the EU? 2. What percentage of the population speaks two or more languages? 3. What has learning languages proven to enhance? 4. How many people in the EU regularly speak regional or minority languages? 5. What percentage of the world’s population does not speak a word of English? 6. How much more people using laguages in their job can earn? 7. How many aims has the EU got? 8. How many stars are there on the European flag?

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International School Award from Mr Luret

Barton Court Grammar School has been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom. The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life work in today’s world. Barton Court’s international work includes: Our exchanges with France and Spain Our international visits from Belgium and China schools Our project on festivals Our language ambassador scheme Our promotion across the school with careers Our annual European Day of Languages ...and many more activities 6


International School Award from Mr Luret Sir Ciarán Devane, CEO of the British Council, said: ‘The school’s fantastic international work has rightfully earned it this prestigious award. The International School Award is a great chance for schools to demonstrate the important work they’re doing to bring the world into their classrooms. Embedding an international dimension in children’s education ensures that they are truly global citizens and helps prepare them for successful lives and careers in an increasingly global economy.’ The award, which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year, is now available worldwide in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Over 6000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999. The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop: 

An international ethos embedded throughout the school

A whole school approach to international work

Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools

Year-round international activity

Involvement of the wider community

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The Development of Newspapers Through Time from The History Prefects Alfred Kirchin

We first see written circulated information in Britain through the form of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. This was a written account of the events in England at the time, and was created in the 9th Century in King Alfred’s reign, and lasted up until 1116 A.D. They recorded many important items, but it was likely to be biased and one-sided, as it was meant to be read by monks, and monks alone, so the copiers only needed to write about matters concerning the religious community. Even then, different areas wrote about the same events with different viewpoints. One man’s traitor to the crown was another hero. After the Norman invasion of England, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles began to die out, until there were only a few monasteries left to carry on, but even they soon stopped when Norman monks began to replace them. This was helped by the fact that almost the entire population was illiterate, and mainly used word of mouth to pass on information, instead of the printed form. In 1440, the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg made information more accessible to people, but it was mainly used for books like the Bible, and the translations thereof instead of newspapers. The Civil War era changed all that, by printing out and circulating pamphlets aimed at convincing the people that the enemy would kill their babies and burn down their house. However, this was not very effective, as the small number that were made would not 8


The Development of Newspapers Through Time from The History Prefects have had much of an impact, and many did not believe it anyway.

However, this was important, because it allowed people to get consistent information for the first time, as the messages would have been similar because the Parliamentarians and the Royalists used the same printing presses over and over again. The Mercurius Aulicus was the Royal print, and the Mercurius Britannicus was on the side of Parliament. After the Civil war, these gradually became more informational as time went by, and allowed leaders to communicate effectively with the population. Unfortunately, they were not all reliable, as news was heavily censored to keep control of public opinion. Conor Morrissey The free press ensures that journalists can publish whatever they want, without any government censorship. In the 21st century, freedom of press is taken for granted as a human right; it wasn’t always this way. The British Free Press came about in 1695 completely by accident, as a result of bickering MPs. Before the free press in 1695, there was only a brief time in which journalists could publish what they wanted, between 1679 and 1685. During the time of censorship, only 20 printers were permitted to publish books or papers, after being appointed by both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, as well as needing the approval of government censors, the Stationer’s company. This article continues on the next page >>>

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The Development of Newspapers Through Time from The History Prefects But how did freedom of press come about? The Licensing Act 1693 - full name "An Act for preventing the frequent Abuses in printing seditious treasonable and unlicensed Bookes and Pamphlets and for regulating of Printing and Printing Presses" - expired in May 1695 purely because MPs could not come to an agreement about the terms of censorship, leading to an omission of the Act. Even after the end of the Licensing Act in 1695, there was still various duties and threats to the freedom of press that only ended in Victoria’s reign. Without the futile bickering of MPs, the free press would have likely continued for decades - or even centuries - further. Megan Stow The rise in popularity of the newspaper in Britain began in the 19th century and this was due to a number of factors. Firstly, the steam -driven ‘double-press’ was introduced at The Times in London in 1814; this allowed for an output of up to 5,000 copies per hour. Also, taxes on newspapers were lowered in 1836, meaning it became cheaper for printers to publish them every day. This was a huge change for the industry and meant there were now many more papers in circulation, especially in big cities such as London and Manchester. The actual content of the newspapers also changed in the late 19th century due to the speeding up of communication, which allowed news to be gathered instantly from distant cities via the telephone. The Daily Mail was introduced at the end of the 19th century and was aimed at lower middle-class readers because of mass education and increasing affluence. World War One was the first time media and newspapers had been properly used in a war. Never before had newspapers been used so 10


The Development of Newspapers Through Time from The History Prefects extensively and deliberately to misrepresent events and spread propaganda. During the war newspapers were the main source of information; there was no radio, television or internet so the only way to spread news was via word of mouth, the weekly newsreels in the cinema, the exchange of letters between soldiers and their families or newspapers. Out of these options, newspapers were the most reliable, frequent and quick. However, most soldiers on the front line disliked civilian newspapers because of their optimism and propaganda, so they created their own. The best known of these was the Wipers Times. These papers were more for entertainment than information, and they offered the soldiers a creative and emotional outlet. Topics covered everything from making fun of life in the trenches to the absurdity of fighting to women. In the 21st century journalism and news tends to be divided into ‘professional’ vs ‘citizen’ due to the rise of the use of social media platforms such as Twitter. Nowadays its easier and faster for anyone to report news from anywhere, which has its advantages, however this means we have to be more cautious about what we read because it’s easier for stories to be twisted and exaggerated.

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Essential Albums: 2020 by Joseph White To reflect on 2020 is a difficult and troubling task. T o be blunt, it wasn’t a very good year for many of us, being characterized by what felt like endless trials and tribulations that have pushed us beyond our comfort zones again and again, altering how we live our lives and view the world. Despite this pessimistic retrospect, it must be acknowledged that 2020 had its fair share of positives – and for me one of its strongest aspects has been all the new music that has been released. Here’s a list of some of my favorite records that have come out over the past year that you must hear if you haven’t already.

The Microphones – Microphones In 2020 Genre: Indie Folk, Experimental Rock, Avant-Folk, Lo-Fi The music of indie hero Phil Elverum has been releasing captivating indie folk for over two decades, enchanting audiences with his sparse instrumentation and heartbreaking lyrics captured in intimate and raw recordings. After seventeen years of performing under the moniker Mount Eerie, Elverum readopts his original stage name for one 44-minute composition, entitled Microphones In 2020, tracing his relationship with recording music from his teen years to the present day. A beautifully honest piece that combines the gorgeous, stripped-back guitar work and noisier lo-fi elements of the artist’s sound we’ve grown to love, Elverum has released one of the best albums of 2020.

Moses Sumney – Græ Genre: Art Pop, Alternative R&B, Dark Pop, Avant-Jazz It’s rare an artist releases something as special as Græ for their second album. Moses Sumney’s latest releases stands as one of the years most ambitious records; a beautifully fragile yet deeply effecting double album that holds some of the most rich and luxurious tracks of the year, stitching these masterpieces out of patches of multiple genres to create something truly unique and exciting. Sumney proves his potential on this pro-

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Essential Albums: 2020 by Joseph White ject, showing us that not only is he an incredibly talented musician, but an incredibly talented artist, capable of creating jarringly serene music with an individual flare unlike many other artists of his generation.

FACS – Void Moments Genre: Post-Punk, Post-Rock, Art Rock Chicago trio FACS have released some promising material in the last few years, but nothing has been exhilarating as their latest album, Void Moments. Comprised of only seven tracks and running for only half an hour, what the group creates here is beyond impressive, with winding instrumental passages and catchy vocal refrains displaying a flawless rhythm section and some of the most interesting takes on post-punk in modern years. In a saturated scene of fellow art rockers and post-punks, FACS stand out in the best way possible.

Westside Gunn – Pray For Paris Genre: Underground Hip-Hop, Gangsta Rap, East Coast Hip-Hop Leader of the Griselda collective, Westside Gunn’s prolific and relentless catalogue of work continues to grow and capture the imaginations of hip-hop fans everywhere. With his first release of the year, Pray For Paris, it feels as if Gunn is summarizing all the aspects of his music that are so appealing to fans, while improving his few blind spots. An album caked in grimy beats composed of thick, almost regal samples and lead by the jarring cries of rapper Gunn and a barrage of his contemporizes- this record stands out as one of this year’s finest hip-hop releases.

Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Lo-Fi Singer/songwriter Fiona Apple is responsible for some of the most interesting alternative pop music of the late 90s and early 2000s, and with her This article continues on the next page >>>

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Essential Albums: 2020 by Joseph White critically fawned new direction she lives up to her past ventures. Raw and emotionally potent, attacking patriarchal ideals in fractured ballads explored through a narrative voice only Apple could offer, Fetch The Bolt Cutters is an intimate recording that serves as one of the artists most emotionally potent, in a discography of impactful emotional works. The brilliance in this record does not only lie in its numerous successes, but its perfect imperfections – from voice cracks to dogs barking in the distance.

Pink Siifu – NEGRO Genre: Experimental Hip-Hop, Sound Collage, Noise Rock, Experimental Rock

NEGRO is possibly the most important album of the year; an unrelenting barrage of harsh noise, fuzzy roars and haunting yelps are stiched into hectic beats, emotional samples and an uncomfortable atmosphere that comments on racism in modern day America like very few records can – this album feels like it belongs nowhere but 2020. Sickeningly relevant, alternative hip-hop underdog Siifu replaces the jazzy influences of his previous works for that of noise and hardcore punk to display both lyrically and sonically the oppressive nature of racism. This album is not an easy listen, but this confrontational and uncomfortable album is necessary listening for everyone.

Ambrose Akinmusire - on the tender spot of every calloused moment Genre: Free Jazz, Avant-Jazz Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is undeniably one of Blue Note’s most valuable label members, and with on the tender spot of every calloused moment it feels as if he’s hit his peak. A exhilarating release filled with fantastic, jarring solos and playful compositions that present free jazz at it’s finest in 2020, Akinmusire’s latest album is almost dizzying in its un-

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Essential Albums: 2020 by Joseph White predictability – a comment on the confusing effect of gentrification the artist felt when visiting his hometown. For jazz fans, Akinmusire will be a familiar face in the scene, but for those wanting to discover some modern jazz that feels both forward thinking but true to the roots of jazz originators, this album is a must listen.

The Strokes – The New Abnormal Genre: Post-Punk, New Wave, Indie Rock The latest album from post-punk revivalists The Stokes has more than just a relatable title – it contains the best tracks the group has recorded since their debut. On The New Abnormal, the band plays with more traditional new wave sounds, reviving their catalogue with one of their strongest releases. These songs are bold and vivid, with intelligent arrangement and punchy instrumentation all lead by catchy vocal melodies, this album is one that’s likely to keep a listener coming back again and again. A triumphant album from a band that, despite their ups and downs, will forever be considered one of modern rocks most pivotal groups.

Yves Tumor – Heaven To A Tortured Mind Genre: Art Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Alternative Pop, Neo-Soul Alternative rock icon Yves Tumor has been brewing up to release an album as magnificent as their latest. Heaven To A Tortured Mind is an acidic mix of modern psychedelic, soulful alternative R&B and eclectic art rock that fully realizes the artist’s potential for the first time. Somewhat cinematic in sequence and submersing in production, this record creates an intoxicating atmosphere, a perfect summation of all things alternative in 2020.

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Student Artwork

Drawing by Eleanor Parish Colthup Year 13

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Student Artwork Drawing by Maya Danciu Year 8

Drawing by Poppy Bonfield-Hall Year 13 17


Interview with Rufus Norris by Jonah Ronder During a difficult year for the arts sector, I spoke to Rufus Norris, Artistic Director of the National Theatre in London since March 2015. He tells me about his experiences in the role, how the theatre has coped during the Coronavirus pandemic, what he looks forward to for the future of the National Theatre, and also gives advice for young people wanting to go into the theatre. How has it been different managing the theatre this year? It’s been completely different this year because the theatre has been closed for almost all of it. That’s been quite brutal, not least because we’ve had to make several hundred people unemployed, everyone else has taken radical wage cuts, and that’s not even including the freelance people and all the artists. So rather than putting on plays we’ve been cancelling them, learning how to negotiate with the government, desperately trying to save money on the one hand and raise money on the other, while taking radical measures to survive. Do you think the theatres have been given enough support during Covid-19? I think some theatres have been given enough support during the pandemic, certainly compared to other parts of society. However, the commercial theatres have had no support, and the worst part of it all is that the artists themselves, being freelance, have been the hardest hit. If you are under contract at a subsidised theatre you are most likely to have survived it and still have your job, though in many cases 18


Interview with Rufus Norris by Jonah Ronder that isn’t true. The government support for the arts has been very welcome, but with all these things there are people and organisations who miss out and it’s a cruel and divisive truth that the very people the whole industry relies on – the actors, directors, designers etc – have been the hardest hit. What are the future plans for the National Theatre? I hope that in 12 months’ time all three theatres at the National Theatre will be open again and full, so we are building towards that. In the meantime it’s really important to keep activity going, so we have adapted our biggest theatre to play to a sociallydistanced audience, and adapted another one into a film studio so that whatever happens we can keep making work, keep supporting our audience, keep employing artists. At the same time we are doing a huge amount of digital work, both for the public and on the educational front. We’ll keep building that up and keep taking whatever opportunities we have to fulfil our mission. Have you gained any new insights into the potential of the National Theatre during 2020? The biggest opportunity that has shown itself during this time is certainly digital. During the first lockdown we played to 15,000,000 people with the broadcasts that we put out, we are making films now, we are streaming into 2700 schools around the country and many more around the world and we’ve just launched a large digital platform. It’s not the same as live theatre, but it’s proved to be extremely popular and can happily sit alongside it. Right now, it’s all that many people have got to remind them of the art form that they love.

This article continues on the next page >>>

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Interview with Rufus Norris by Jonah Ronder What has been your favourite play to direct during your time as Artistic Director? It’s a tricky question. I really enjoyed making Threeppenny Opera, as I love the music and we worked very well to make it fit the Olivier Theatre. I also really enjoyed Mosquitoes, a new play by Lucy Kirkwood, who is a brilliant contemporary playwright. Olivia Colman was in that cast, and working with an artist that transformative was completely inspiring. She is also very, very funny so it was a great room. How have you done rehearsals and with actors and actresses over lockdown? Rehearsing during lockdown has been really challenging, with two metre distancing between everyone, at all times. The first big play we put on after lockdown was a monologue which obviously made it easier, but the pantomime is much more complex with lots of scene changes, plastic chickens being thrown around, and gloop being dropped onto performers so we have had a very strict Covid19 system throughout. All the choreography, all the costume changes, every aspect of it needs to be planned beforehand to make it as safe as possible. If you’re not safe and one person gets ill the whole thing grinds to a halt immediately, so we have a strict testing regime and Covid-19 monitors in each rehearsal room. So far, touchwood, it’s worked. Why did you originally decide to take up the role of Artistic Director in 2015? In theatre and in film we are storytellers, but by taking on the job of leading the National Theatre for up to 10 years, you become part of a bigger story. There is a lot more stress and pressure, a lot less time for anything else, and there’s been many times when I’ve 20


Interview with Rufus Norris by Jonah Ronder thought I’m not good enough, or the cost of it on my life is too great. But it is a privilege and, in a way, an amazing opportunity. If I think that we should be more national, or more representative, that we should focus more on comedy or political events, I can to an extent make that happen. In some areas there has been subtle progress made culturally – and already about 130 productions - because of decisions that I have been part of, and I’m very lucky to have been in that room. What would you say is the most important thing to focus on when directing a play or film? There are so many things to focus on when you’re directing a play, and film is completely different again, but maybe the most obvious and simplest thing is the storytelling. Some people go to theatre or cinema to be intellectually stimulated, or to be wowed by the visual effects, but for most people they go to be moved, to be emotionally affected, entertained or excited by what they’re seeing. They want to get lost in the story, so as a director your first task is to make sure that the story is being told well and truthfully. The story itself is the responsibility of the writer, and the performance ultimately the responsibility of the actor, the look and feel the responsibility of the designer or the cameraman, etc. As a director you have to bring all of these together so that an audience member will leave their disbelief behind and lose themselves in the story you are telling. Do you think there could be more encouragement for young people to go into the arts? I’d always be slightly wary of advising anyone to go into the arts. It is quite a tough way to live, though also with huge benefits as it is a real privilege to enjoy your work. This article continues on the next page >>>

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Interview with Rufus Norris by Jonah Ronder But I do feel very passionately that there should be more arts available for young people, particularly in schools, by which I mean actively taking part in arts. Creative self-expression, confidence-building, learning how to work with other people, all these things are fantastic whatever you do with your life. Of course, in the process some people will think this is for me and that’s great. But I’m more interested in what the arts can do for everyone, not just for other artists. What would you say to a young aspiring director or actor? I would advise a young director or actor in two ways. The first is to be aware of what you are afraid of and go towards it. If you get into the habit of taking risks when you’re young, by which I mean artistic risks in the choices you make and the way you make work, you will broaden your insight and experience exponentially. You’ll also make more mistakes - which are the surest way to learn and get better. It’s also good to be known as someone courageous. You get offered better work as a result! But I’d also advise people on a really pragmatic level to keep your overheads as low as you possibly can. The simpler your life is, the more art you can afford to make, particularly before you start getting paid for it.

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Weightlifting, but for your brain from Ms Croft I’m sure, like me, you spent a lot of lockdown listening to everyone telling each other to “Look after yourself!” It’s easy to ignore, but in these weird times it’s not bad advice. Normally, we’ve got routines to keep us on track. We wake up and go to school early in the morning, we eat at lunch time, take part in P.E. and after school clubs. We don’t normally sit in front of the TV scoffing digestives all evening… right? To “look after yourself” when all of those routines had been taken away required a lot more motivation and self-control. We all received lots of good advice about getting outside, doing some exercise, and in general staying fit, healthy and happy. It really doesn’t help that there are pictures of people all over social media who are “livin’ their best lives” (ugh), but there’s no need to be hard on yourself if you’re not yet “livin’ your best life”. Exercise should be personal to you and above all, make you happy. It does take a bit of effort and dedication to form a habit, though. You need a simple plan of what you’re going to do, how often, for how long, and then you need to stick to it. If you manage that, the rewards are enormous. Exercise releases endorphins, which improve your mood and leave you feeling good about yourself. There’s also a huge sense of accomplishment when you beat a personal best or do something you couldn’t before. We all fall off the wagon from time to time, but when you remember how good the exercise made you feel, you’ll soon want to get back into it. Learning a new language works in exactly the same way. The bad news is that requires a level of dedication and regular practice. It can’t be crammed at the last minute. Ever seen a marathon runner This article continues on the next page >>>

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Weightlifting, but for your brain from Ms Croft laze around until the day before the race and then suddenly cram in a 100mile run? Didn’t think so. The good news, though, is that just like exercise, language learning really pays off. You’ll have a huge sense of accomplishment that first time you order in a foreign restaurant or when you experience something you couldn’t before, like visiting a new country or making a new penfriend. Your language teachers didn’t learn their languages because they just love verb conjugation so much, although I know that must be hard for you to believe. It’s that sense of satisfaction from achieving something that drove us all to keep improving. We want to pass that love of learning on to you. It’s not just your self-esteem you’ll boost, either. By learning a second language, you’re actually improving how your brain works. According to a study in Sweden, learning a language actually makes your brain grow! The researchers conducted the study on two groups of scholars: one that studied languages and another that studied equally rigorous non-linguistic subjects. The MRI scans showed that the brains of the participants studying languages increased in size, while the brain sizes of the other group remained the same. Language learning really is like weightlifting for your brain! There are cognitive scientists who have dedicated their working lives to understanding the benefits of language learning on the brain, so I’ll list just a few here. All that vocabulary learning results in a better working memory, meaning you can keep more information in your mind at one time. You’ll also become better at 24


Weightlifting, but for your brain from Ms Croft multi-tasking, as your improved attention span gives you better concentration and makes you harder to distract. You’ll score higher than your peers in reading, verbal fluency, and intelligence tests according to a study by Edinburgh University. You’ll become more confident and a better communicator, even in your mother tongue. It’s true, language students actually become better at English as a result of their improved grammar understanding! You’ll do all of this for longer, too. One surprising fact is that by learning a language now, you can ensure you have a healthier brain right into old age. In another study by Edinburgh University of 650 dementia patients, they found people who spoke two or more languages experienced “a later onset of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia.” There’s one last piece of research I need to mention: “individuals exposed to language at earlier ages consistently outperform individuals exposed to language at older ages for first and second languages of both signed and spoken languages.” Just like physical exercise again, it’s easier when you’re younger. Time to put down those digestives, then. Languages aren’t just another school subject, they change your life and they change your brain. Reach out to me or any other teacher in the MFL department if you want any help or guidance on how to learn or what resources to use. Remember: French croissants, Spanish churros and German stollen are all tastier than digestives anyway, but they taste even better when ordered in the right language. Look after yourself! 25


24 Hours With… Successful Entrepreneurs Kim and Charlotte by Niamh Smith To kick off the first segment of this series of “24 hours with…” articles to help inspire future careers, I interviewed founders of Gato and Co, Charlotte Dauzat and Kim Lamza about life as successful businesswomen. We talk about all things London, Dragon’s Den, and the day to day roles involved with operating a rewarding business. First things first, what time do you usually wake up? What’s the first thing you do in the morning to prepare you for a busy day of work ahead, and do you have a go-to energy boosting breakfast? We usually wake up at 6am and go to the gym for either a spinning, HIIT or yoga class. Then, Charlotte usually has coconut yoghurt with fruit and granola and Kim likes peanut butter on toast. In non-Covid times, what time would you usually travel to work, and what’s it like to work in central London? We usually get to the office just before 9am, and we love working in Camden- there’s always something going on and so many amazing food options for lunchour current favourite is a hummus and falafel bowl!

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24 Hours With… Successful Entrepreneurs Kim and Charlotte by Niamh Smith Can you explain what you roughly do each day?

Charlotte is in charge of marketing and operations, and Kim is in charge of product and sales, but we discuss all big decisions (especially since we sit next to eachother in the office) so we both know everything that’s happening in the business. We usually have a couple of big projects to work on at any one time, and the rest of the day is normally dedicated to running the team, talking to buyers and suppliers etc. When you get home, how do you try to ‘switch off’ from the business mindset? We usually cook dinner as soon as we get home since we leave the office quite late- and after tuck into a bit of Netflix or reading a book is amazing to unwind before bed. What was it like being on Dragon’s Den? It was amazing- even though the episode only showed 15 minutes, we were actually in there for an hour. It was a bit nerve-wracking at the start but then we got into it, and at the end of the day we got an hours free advice from 5 amazing millionaires/ successful people we’d been watching since we were kids- when does that ever happen? To get 2 offers was just INSANE and such an amazing feeling that the hard work was worth it.

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24 Hours With… Successful Entrepreneurs Kim and Charlotte by Niamh Smith How do you stay motivated when running your own business?

It’s actually pretty easy to stay motivated- we love what we do so it’s fun coming to work each day! The best part of running your own business is being able to create something you care about and not having anyone telling you what to do ;) It also helps that we’re great friends. We want everyone to enjoy our plant-powered cookies and we won’t stop until that’s possible! It’s impossible to stay 100% motivated at all time- we learnt the hard way that it’s super important to take time off, for example enjoying holidays with friends and family to avoiding burning out. Finally, what advice would you give young entrepreneurs who want to follow in your footsteps? Enjoy every second! Work hard but be kind to yourself-it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You can find the delicious Gato and Co plant-powered cookie range at Boots, Wholefoods, Planet Organic and Holland and Barratt, to name just a few.

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Year 9 History Film Club by A Member of The Year 9 History Club The Imitation Game – rated 6/10

Alan Turing, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is employed by army generals to help crack top secret German enigma codes that could win the war for Britain. Working with a team of high level mathematicians, Turing builds a revolutionary machine called a Bombe. The machine is ahead of its time and is a massive success. The Imitation Game is a great film to get an insight into the unspoken secrets about the War. It highlights specific mathematicians who built the device that becomes revolutionary. Not only does the film dig deep into the War’s hidden secrets, it also proves the role of women. Many females took part in the breaking of the enigma code and worked manually at Bletchley Park. Not only did Alan Turing’s machine break the essential German codes, but the film also shows the uncovering of a Soviet spy. Homosexuality was also a plot twist and the film showed useful insight into the mistreatment of gay people, and how they had to hide their sexuality. By including Turing’s hidden homosexuality, we discover that Turing’s record is wiped clean of any government information. Turing’s job was so top secret that even after years of the War there was no record of his work at Bletchley which shows how high security the enigma code-breaking was. The film uncovers forgotten heroes. Year 9 History Film Club meets in room 28 on Thursdays at 1.15pm

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Careers Update by Mr Wilcock Students have engaged in a wide variety of careers-related learning during this academic year. Year 11 and 13 have been a key priority, especially after lockdown. The school has new external CXK careers advisors, Rachel Jury and Bridgid Parr, who have delivered careers appointments throughout the year. A new careers library has been launched in the Learning Resource Centre for Key Stage 3 and 4 students. A major development has also been the introduction of Unifrog, a fantastic careers, university and apprenticeship resource which is accessible in school and from home. For more information, please visit our school website. We now have a whole-school approach to careers education in form time. As part of the A Level Mindset VESPA, students focus on one strand of it throughout the year: Vision in Year 7, Effort in Year 8, Systems in Year 9, Practice in Year 10 and Attitude in Year 11. Tutors deliver a fortnightly session from five-year scheme of work. Sessions focus on employability skills and increase understanding of the world of work. As part of PSHEE during lockdown, Year 8 completed a careers session on Stepladders, a tool to analyse their subject choices and their career plans. Year 8 also received group careers appointments virtually from Rachel Jury at CXK in the week prior to their GCSE options deadline. Students remarked that this was a useful opportunity to discuss how their GCSE options can link with their future career aspirations. 30


Careers update Students in Year 9 have been learning about the topic of finance, focusing on credit and debit cards, loans and interest, as well as understanding refunds and legal rights relating to money. Year 9 students registered on Unifrog during PSHEE on 10th March as an opportunity to explore the platform and learn about different career pathways. In Year 10, students have explored how to manage money and how to budget, and have analysed the cost of growing up. They also registered on Unifrog as part of the last Enrichment Day in Term 6, which will be a very useful resource when planning their futures in Year 11. Year 11 have explored Unifrog in a lockdown session guided by their tutors, giving them an opportunity to relate their future A Level and BTEC options to careers. Year 11 students also received careers appointments via telephone appointment and face-to-face in school. Students have been very positive about the impact of these discussions. All students in Year 7-10 and Year 12 received a careers talk from the Kier group, the construction firm building the new Free School. Students were motivated by the range of possible career pathways that they could explore in the construction industry. Year 12 continue to receive personalised guidance for their personal statements and careers, as well as weekly Employability Tuesdays sessions. The vast majority of Year 12 students have also received a careers appointment from CXK during Term 6. 31


Important dates for academic year 2021-2022 Autumn Term 2021 Start:

7 September 2021

Finish:

17 December 2021

Half Term:

25 October 2021 to 31 October 2021

Spring Term 2022 Start:

04 January 2022

Finish:

31 March 2022

Half Term:

14 February 2022 to 20 February 2022

Summer Term 2022 Start:

21 April 2022

Finish:

22 July 2022

Half Term:

30 May 2022 to 05 June 2022

Staff Development Days:

Monday 06 September 2021 Friday 22 October 2021 Monday 25 July 2022 Tuesday 26 July 2022 Wednesday 27 July 2022

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