Greig City Academy Magazine 2024

An absolute blast!

‘Year 7s had an absolute blast! They have memories that will stick with them for a lifetime.’ So says Ms Vithlani about GCA’s autumn residential for new students – a fantastic chance to enjoy lots of activities and make new friends.

‘It was a life-changing experience. I enjoyed making a raft and making friends with people from the other forms – it was great fun.’ Margot, 7SD

‘It was extremely good – I went on the high ropes and then got scared at the top, so I had to hold onto the ropes with dear life.’ Cheniyah, 7JA

‘I was quite brave because when I got to the top of the high ropes I let go and did a chicken dance.’ Anna, 7JA

‘One of the things I liked best was the bike ride on the path along the beach. We couldn’t go on the beach itself because there was a lot of sludge and, if we had fallen in, we would have smelled awful for weeks. We visited two abandoned towers and when we sat around the campfire one of the 6th formers told us scary stories.’ Lucas, 7TE

‘I really appreciate the support of our sixth formers, who made this trip so special. It’s no small thing to take time away from families and classes, but they did it, and it made all the difference. Huge thanks to Nehemiah, Corey, Samiya, Maksymilian, Sessil, Heaven, Grace, Rhenai, Arda, Ugur, Shakara, John-Mathews, Lisa, Rownaldo, Power, Kejdi and Christian.’ Ms Vithlani

Dear students, parents, carers and friends of Greig City Academy,

Welcome to our school magazine. As I write, Year 11 and 6th Form students are about to finish their GCSE and GCE examinations. Whatever results day brings, their qualifications will be the outcome of sustained hard work by students and staff working together with common purpose in an atmosphere of trust and respect. We are proud of their achievements and wish them the best of luck for that fateful day in August when they receive their results.

Year 9 students in our Mandarin Excellence Programme are excitedly preparing for their two-week study trip to Chengdu, China, in July. This is a once-in-a- lifetime experience, and we wish them a safe and fascinating visit and look forward to hearing about their experiences in the autumn.

In this magazine, you will read not only about examination subjects but also about the remarkable achievements of our students in a wide range of activities. Sports teams and individual students have achieved notable successes in netball, athletics, football, trampolining and dance. A Year 11 student, Obinna, who sealed a victory for England Under 16s basketball team in the Four Nations championship, will play for Great Britain in the FIBA Youth EuroBasket in Skopje this summer.

Two of our robotics teams were ranked in the top 3-4% in the world in the VEX World Championships in Dallas. Their achievements and those of the teams who performed so successfully in the National Championships are the result of months of practice and a determination to maintain exacting standards.

Our sailing programme, now in its 10th year, teaches teamwork, resilience and commitment. Students have gained recognised qualifications and both boys’ and girls’ teams continue to impress with their performance, both in training and in races. In May, Corneille, Felipe and Max took first place in a senior keelboat regatta, winning much acclaim from their adult competitors.

Many students have joined clubs where they have assumed responsibility for setting up fish, frog and turtle habitats across the school. From debating to cartoons, from enterprise to poetry, there is a club to suit all interests. My thanks go to the staff involved, whose dedication, enthusiasm and organisational skills ensure these activities are challenging, successful, safe and, of course, fun!

We have been happy to welcome back many of the school’s alumni to support our sailing, careers and robotics programmes. I thank them for contributing their experience, skills and time. It has been moving to see these ex-students passing on the torch to the next generation.

Many of the opportunities the Academy offers are supported by external partners, in particular the Greig Trust, the Tallow Chandlers’ Company and the Tottenham Grammar School Foundation. We thank them for their continued involvement, interest and financial support.

I am pleased to say that standards of behaviour, attendance and school uniform remain excellent. I thank parents and carers for their continued commitment and support in maintaining such high standards.

This magazine gives the most genuine insight into what makes the Academy such a unique and thriving community. All these activities represent new challenges and an opportunity to develop new friendships. Most importantly, students appreciate their peers for the commitment and interest they invest in extracurricular activities. Together with a strong and successful curriculum, these pages show why Greig City Academy is now, for the first time in its history, an oversubscribed school. This is something of which we can all be proud.

I wish you all splendid summer break!

Yours faithfully,

Mr P.V. Sutton OBE

Sharing our language skills

The hall was packed for our celebration of International Languages Day, when multilingual students and staff shared one or more of the languages they speak.

In the speed dating activity, we learned useful phrases in dozens of languages and practised writing unfamiliar scripts. We discovered lots about African languages and had a guess at the countries where they are spoken.

Erkhes taught Ms Onoszko how to write a few words in Mongolian script, and patiently corrected her first attempt. Here’s an interesting fact: the origin of the hamburger can be traced back to Genghis Khan and the Mongolian cavalry in the 13th century. As they were always travelling on horseback, they needed food they could eat in one hand whilst riding, and people say that they kept the meat under their saddles – would the smell have been appetising?

Euyeal speaks Amharic and Tigrinya, two of the official languages of Ethiopia. He told us about injera, a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, traditionally made of teff flour. Injera is a staple food which can be found and enjoyed at any dinner table – at home or in a restaurant.

Owen challenged Ms Colledge to pronounce these fiendishly long German nouns and to guess their meaning: Gummibärchenverkaufsautomat

Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung

Any guesses? Come on, German students!

We looked at words in various languages which can be translated in English only by using a much longer phrase. Then, we voted for the most interesting hard-totranslate concept.

The winner was ‘Goya’ which comes from Urdu and means ‘A transporting suspension of disbelief – an “as-if” that feels like reality – such as in good storytelling.’

Sixth former Samantha brought along a strategy game called Oware, which originated in Africa. The object is to capture more seeds than one’s opponent. The game is addictive, but the rules are complex. Shermaine put up a valiant fight, but Samantha was a consistent winner – practice makes perfect!

Shermaine brought in her Filipiniana – a traditional dress from the Philippines. It was not a good day to take a photo, so she kindly posed for us when the sun finally emerged.

We tried to match scripts to their languages – scripts that are radically different from English, such as Cherokee, Hebrew, Thai, Georgian and Farsi.

‘Events like this make me just so appreciative for working in such a gloriously diverse school. Thank you for giving the opportunity for kids to show off their best selves. Such a positive atmosphere and brilliantly organised!’ Ms Bullock

Celebrating the Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. This year is the Year of Dragon, which started on February 10 and lasted 15 days. Each year in the Chinese zodiac is associated with an animal sign, and the dragon is considered a symbol of strength, courage, and good fortune. It is a time to embrace Chinese traditions and wish for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead.

The Y8 Mandarin class trip to Chinatown gave students a chance to learn more about Chinese culture, practise their language skills and eat simply delicious food.

‘Dear Ms Jia, I would really like to say thank you for the trip. I had loads of fun and we got the opportunity to truly learn about Chinese culture, especially the traditions Chinese people follow.’ Yazeed

‘What I enjoyed most was that we were given independence to go and ask questions of people in stores. It doesn’t end there – I loved how we could buy anything we wanted after we had some time left. I found it considerate that they thought about everyone and everything when it came to the food. They noted everyone’s dietary needs.’ Elanur

‘The trip to was extremely enjoyable. We completed activities relating to Chinese culture and spoke to native Mandarin speakers, which was a wonderful opportunity for all of us. After that, we had some appetising Chinese dishes.’ Erin

Off to see the pandas

Y9 Mandarin Excellence students will spend two-weeks studying in Chengdu (Sichuan Province), China in July. Most of all, they are excited about:

J Developing their Mandarin skills

J Learning more about Chinese culture and its unique traditions

J The difference between UK and Chinese schools

J Traditional Chinese food

J Pandas – Chengdu is famous for them! We wish them (bon voyage) and eagerly anticipate hearing about their adventures when they return to school.

With thanks to the DfE, the British Council and the Greig Trust for funding this amazing opportunity.

Language lovers

Ambassadors for GCA

Celebrating achievement

The Jack Petchey Achievement Awards

The Academy and its students have benefited from this award scheme for 20 years. Each year, twelve students receive an award which celebrates their achievement in an area of school life. The Foundation gives the school funds for each of the awards and winners help to choose how to spend the money to support a school activity.

Congratulations to this year’s deserving winners.

Mr Khurshid wants Rugile, Y12, to be recognised for her excellent work in the Sixth Form Council and on the newsletter. Rugile has initiated positive changes, including creating a book area in the sixth form study, and puts a lot of effort and time outside of school into editing the newsletter. Mr Khurshid praises Rugile’s work ethic, creativity, confidence and leadership qualities and says she has made a great impression in her first year in the sixth form.

Ms Bouchereau, Mr Owusu and Mr Munroe praise Miguel, Y13, for the support he gives to the PE department, coaching younger football players with whom he is extremely patient. Miguel officiates at matches and on sports day as well as volunteering with the London Youth Games and has proved he is a person on whom teachers can always rely. Miguel’s self-reliance, commitment and strong character will ensure he succeeds in his physiotherapy studies.

Ms McDonald applauds Samiya, Y13, for the way she has inspired and encouraged younger students, particularly girls, to take up sailing, compete in races and gain qualifications. Samiya has completed an impressive number of advanced courses with considerable success, qualifying as a dinghy instructor and gaining a Powerboat Level 2 licence. Samiya deserves praise for her determination to see things through and her collaborative and motivating approach whilst sailing.

Mr Ullah and Ms Ajoku want Sami, Y11, to be recognised for his diligence, his drive to succeed and his consistent reliability. Sami goes beyond expectations in everything he does, but particularly in computing for which he has a passion. He has contributed to the bee club and achieved success in public speaking in the Speak Out Challenge. Ms Ajoku applauds Sami for the support he gives his peers and the example he sets.

Ms Legowiak nominated Dominic, Y7, describing him as a shining example of dedication, and reliability, who approaches each lesson with focus and enthusiasm, demonstrating a genuine interest across all his subjects. Dominic is always open to new experiences and challenges as evidenced through the large variety of extracurricular activities he takes part in, and, through his participation and positive influence, he inspires his fellow students to strive for success.

Several teachers praise Nicol, Y10, for the contribution she makes to many GCA activities, taking a leading role in the fish and reptile clubs, supporting and encouraging younger students, engaging in debating tournaments, and representing the school in so many sports – netball, athletics and badminton to name just three. Nicol is a notable example of a student who ‘gives things a go and gets stuck in’ and she deserves praise for her focus, effort and tenacity.

Ms Bailey praised Jonathan, Y8, for his work helping to design and maintain the school’s community garden, creating wildlife habitats, looking after the wormery, and motivating others to get involved. Jonathan has been active in the beekeeping club, building hives and caring for the bees. Jonathan’s energy and passion are impressive, and he has made a positive difference to the environment and to the wellbeing of his fellow students.

Mr Coleman and Mr Bird nominated Guilherme, Y10, describing him as a role model for his peers, who constantly challenges and pushes himself. Mr Porter says that Guilherme excels in his studies and actively assist his peers, and that his character is marked by kindness and thoughtfulness. As a member of the GCA dance team, he has grown in confidence and resilience, putting in hours of demanding work in rehearsals to ensure he is best equipped to support the team.

Ms Bouchereau recommended Emmanuel, Y9, for his excellent achievement in sports. He is an enthusiastic and dedicated sportsman, who is involved in many school sports, always ready to try new activities and keen to compete on both an individual and team basis. Emmanuel’s positive and focused attitude in class, his commitment and disciplined approach to training, and his support for his fellow students all set a splendid example.

Ms Onoszko commended Shermaine, Y8, for working hard in her lessons since the day she joined the school, giving every task 100% and exceeding expectations. Shermaine makes a strong contribution to the Stemettes and many other extra-curricular groups. When she is given feedback, she takes on board all suggestions and has made impressive progress in English. Shermaine’s work ethic, ambition and resilience are commendable.

Ms Bullock and Mr Moylan praised Nomuunaa, Y9, for her maturity, inquisitiveness, creativity and drive. She treats everyone with the utmost respect and gains real respect from her peers. As a stage manager for the production of ‘From Page to Stage’, she collaborated brilliantly with her team to provide professional level backstage help, taking on responsibilities with diligence and enthusiasm. Nomuunaa puts an incredible amount of effort into all her endeavours.

Mr Chorley says that Lam, Y7, has shown amazing character since arriving in the country and at the school, and he commends her consistent diligence, perseverance, and strong work ethic. Lam goes above and beyond in all tasks and is always willing to help and support fellow students. Her exemplary punctuality and attendance reflect her dedication to academic and personal growth, as well as her determination to make excellent progress in English.

Celebrating achievement

Celebrating achievement

The Jack Petchey Foundation recognises that many of the activities young people enjoy would not be possible without the support of their adult leaders, so they created the Leader Award. Last year – too late for inclusion in our 2023 magazine – Mr Hilmi won this award and, this year, Mr Bird is our first winner.

Mr Hilmi won his award for encouraging students to take on responsibility for the tasks involved in running the beekeeping club. Students praised the way he takes care to ask them about their interests and creates and guides them to the activities they will enjoy most: ‘Mr Hilmi is so creative.’ They said that Mr Hilmi motivates them by being clear on the objectives for each task whilst giving them control as to how they carry out the work: ‘He shows you what to do then helps you do it yourself.’

Students commended Mr Bird’s determination to involve them in extracurricular clubs, encouraging them to organise activities and providing opportunities to develop teamwork skills. They praised the enthusiastic way he communicates his passion for literature: ‘He makes me go willingly above and beyond.’ Student ambassadors said that the way Mr Bird promotes the school to prospective pupils increases their confidence: ‘He gives us a sense of pride in what we are doing.’

Congratulations to our Tallow Chandlers’ Company bursary winners

Thanks to the generosity of the Tallow Chandlers’ Company, we offer bursaries to students who, at the end of Year 12, display the best combination of application and effort in STEM subjects. Bursaries are worth £500 and, if the winners take a STEM subject at university, they receive a further bursary worth £1000.

In December, we were delighted to welcome Mr Julian Hill, Master of the Tallow Chandlers, to present awards to the following students:

2022-23 Y12 students

Biology Prince Jude Ofoegbu

Chemistry Andre Luis Rodrigues De Mendonca

Computer Science

Design Technology

Tietie Ngina

Bismark Adomaku Fosu

Mathematics Loqmane Ghezal

Physics

Ashly Morillo Ramirez

Further Maths Maria Szczech-Nuro

Applied Science

Belinda Gurelden

Music Technology Fabjan Zepaj

Engineering Jaydon Owusu

Four students received a cheque for £100 as a recognition of their achievement and progress:

Music Technology Adrian Jurado Taran

Biology Alara Cotte

Design Technology Yasmin Hassan

Design – Textiles Shakara Grant-Smith

Mr Hilmi

Mr Bird

2023 bursary winners with Mr Julian Hill

2022 Y13 students who started university in 2023 collected their second award:

Alfio Selimaj Brunel University Bio-medical Sciences

Hazal Iper King’s College London Biochemistry

Patience Adediran University College London Architecture

Zhang Liu Manchester University Computer Science and Mathematics

Kacper Kedzierski Westminster University Computer Science

In May, the bursary winners were guests of honour at a lunch in the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall along with students from other schools and universities.

Congratulations to Sheeba Sheik Chand, winner of the Barbara Simon Award for Excellent Achievement in the Arts

Sixth former Sheeba is the deserving winner of this award sponsored by Hornsey Parochial Charities (HPC) in memory of Barbara Simon, a trustee of the charity for many years. It is presented annually to a student who has shown exceptional achievement in an arts subject. The award recognises Sheeba’s excellent achievement in English Literature.

Sheeba received her certificate and a cheque for £500 from Naomi Malone, a trustee of the charity, in December.

Well done, Sheeba, and a big thank you to Naomi Malone, her fellow HPC Trustees, and Lorraine Fincham, Clerk to the Trustees, for their support.

Speaking out

Every year, Y10s take part in the Speak Out Challenge – an interactive, public speaking workshop. Students deliver a speech from scratch and a small panel of judges selects two students to go forward to the regional final. This year, Hossa and Manuela were selected to take part in the Haringey final, where 19 contestants performed persuasive speeches on a range of topics from sexual harassment to being a nerd.

Hossa’s speech: AI: friend or enemy?

Manuela’s speech: The struggle to belong

‘The standard was incredibly high and the atmosphere really buzzing. The girls absolutely held their own and performed confidently and passionately, despite the nerves of performing on a proper stage under lights and with a microphone. Although it is, of course, about the taking part, I am also incredibly happy to say that (drum roll...) Manuela was judged 3rd Place!’ Ms Bullock

‘At the regional finals, I was scared to say my speech in front of a crowd. It was something my younger self would never think I would do. However, without all the help from my friend (shout out to Destina!), my mother, and English teachers (Ms Bullock and Mr Jones) I would never have been as confident as I was at the regionals. Before the regionals I had to say my speech in school, I was still nervous then, but it cannot be compared to the nerves that I had felt over there. Now I am much more confident and, even though I only placed 3rd, I enjoyed the process, and it showed me that I don’t need to be afraid to try new and scary stuff. That goes to show that you should always try new things because you don’t know what good could come of it.’ Manuela

Celebrating achievement

2022 bursary winners with Mr Julian Hill

Sheeba with Naomi Malone

Hossa and Manuela with Ms Bullock

The only school in London with sharks (that we know of!)

First it was beekeeping, then it was fishkeeping. It’s a big welcome this year to the Fishkeeping Appreciation Society of Hornsey, aka F.A.S.H.

F.A.S.H. members, all of whom must tackle a quiz to gain entry to this esteemed society, have been busy setting up tanks all around the school – eight at the last count, including one for SHARKS!

The work involved visits to aquatics centres to select the fish: zebra danios, red tail swordfish, Pakistani loaches, guppies, ancistrus plecos, catfish, clown loaches, pearl danios, leopard danios, orandas ... and SILVER SHARKS (aka Bala sharks). Mr Holt chose Fancy Goldfish for the sixth form tank (fancy in fish talk means they have double caudal fins and anal fins). Isaiah was keen to show them to Mr Sutton.

Then there was all the tracking down of second-hand tanks on eBay, and cleaning, furbishing and filling them – all done with a pleasing willingness to get hands and clothes dirty (sorry, parents!). The ongoing feeding and tank maintenance have tested everyone’s teamwork and organisational skills – thankfully, with a great level of success so far!

Imira, 9DE, is one of our keen F.A.S.H. volunteers, with responsibility for the tank in the Student Information Office. Jonathan, 7MH, is another eager volunteer.

‘I had two tanks and a pond in my home country, Sri Lanka, so have lots of experience of looking after all sorts of fish. When the tanks and pond needed cleaning, I would carefully take the fish out and place them in a basin until I’d finished. One of my favourites is the angel fish – it’s not aggressive like others, such as gourami. It was great having a chance to choose the fish when we went to the aquatics centre with Mr Bird. I enjoy being responsible for the office tank, but I also help with all the other tanks.’ Imira

‘Looking after fish or any other animal teaches you about being responsible for someone else and that’s going to be important when I am an adult and have my own children. I just have a cat the moment.’ Jonathan

Imira

Totally turtle

No sooner had the fish settled in, than the reptile club (aka GCA’s Herpetological Society) began their search for a large and luxuriously equipped tank to accommodate four tiny turtles. Well, it wasn’t so luxurious when it first arrived – it needed a good clean, so Year 7s set to the task with zeal – more dirty hands, more mess!

Now the tank is a mortgage-free home to be proud of for our Common Musk Turtles aka ‘Stinkpots’. Four gardeners even potted a few plants for the turtles’ and our enjoyment.

‘I have been so pleased to see the sense of wonder and enthusiasm that GCA students have displayed for all things to do with reptiles and fishkeeping. It is great to see them develop an interest in something so endlessly beautiful and wonderful as the complexity of nature. They are learning a sense of responsibility through cleaning, maintaining and feeding over 25 distinct species of fish. It is good to see students from all backgrounds and age ranges finding common ground and shared interest with one another and with teachers. There is a lot of evidence that having a fish tank is good for our mental health, so I am certain that having 10 tanks, including a massive SHARK TANK must be absolutely brilliant for our collective mental health! In the Reptile Club, our new Stinkpot Turtles, Paolo, Sandro, Franco and Mauro, are settling in nicely, quickly gaining admirers and loving cooing noises from staff and students alike.’ Mr Bird

Last, but not least, a group of Congo Frogs (aka African Dwarf Frogs), a fully aquatic species, have taken up residence in their own tank next to the Stinkpots.

Have we managed to get over the message that we have SHARKS?

Huge thanks to:

H Nicol, 10SD, for allocating some of her Petchey achievement award for the purchase of sharks.

H Messrs Bird, Holt, McGregor and Letford for searching out and transporting the tanks to school.

H The Jack Petchey Foundation and The Greig Trust for generous grants towards all the fish and turtle fun.

...now the tank is a mortgage-free home to be proud of...

Introducing Rocky and Sizla

It was good news for GCA’s reptile club when we heard one of its founding members was going to pay us a visit.

Charise is now enjoying her full-time Animal Husbandry and Zoology Course at Capel Manor, but she took time out to talk to club members about the origins of the club, her own passion for reptiles and her current studies. As a bonus, we got to meet Rocky, Charise’s ball python, and Sizla, her corn snake (she has a boa constrictor too). At Capel Manor, she likes working with ferrets, llamas and civets but reptiles are her first and forever love. Y

‘I’ve only been able to see snakes on TV before this, so it was amazing to be able to touch them and learn about their habits and what they eat.’ Isaiah, 7SD

GCA environmentalists were pleased to discover that the Alexandra Park Wetland Creation project has been awarded £50,000 from the Mayor of London’s Real Wild London Fund, in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, to begin improvements to increase wildlife in the south-east corner of the park. Fourteen students took part in a consultation workshop with Ms Ramirez as part of the feasibility study for the wetland and they are now looking forward to charting the progress of the development.

...always keen to learn about wildlife, protection of species and conservation...

Welcome back, Safari Pete

GCA’s budding herpetologists are always keen to learn about wildlife, protection of species and conservation from Safari Pete and his friends –Tallulah the meerkat, Juliet the owl, Boo-Boo the monitor lizard, Drake the snake, Lady Gaga the tarantula, Pinchy the scorpion and Jayz the crocodile.

One swallow may not make a summer but seeing or hearing birds does improve mental wellbeing

‘Bird watching is good for mental health’, so asserts one of our resident doctors, but why and how? Experts agree that being outdoors, surrounded by nature, and being physically active are all good for mental health, as too is mindfulness. Bird watching involves all these aspects, even if it’s just walking to the local park and spending time watching the ducks on the pond. Mental health is improved by connectedness to other living creatures, as is felt when feeding or just observing birds. And birds don’t judge or criticise you! There is also the connectedness experienced when joining a local bird club and meeting others with similar interests. Bird watching requires a degree of personal involvement that forces you to forget your personal problems, at least temporarily, enabling you to reassess them later from a different perspective. And don’t forget to open your ears. Who can fail to be lifted by the joyful spring trilling of a wren or the melodious warble of a blackcap?

taken in Finsbury Park, courtesy of Dr Cholij, with a starring role for Fr Patrick.

A buzz of excitement

The newest members to the 185-strong Bee club are bringing a buzz of excitement to the hives! Here is Mr Bird showing them how to smoke the bees to calm them when the hive is opened.

Old and new members have been kept busy throughout the year with all the usual tasks – feeding the bees, protecting them from extreme weather (with a heavy sail courtesy of Mr Holt), extracting, bottling and selling the honey.

Under the supervision of Charles, Y11, students have built new hives to welcome a new colony as well as hexagonal units to display the tempting wares at events such as Open Day. Delicate fingers have been busy in lunch hours crocheting whole families of bees.

Mr Hilmi experimented with candle-making, testing GCA beeswax, soy wax and a mix of the two. The beeswax made excellent candles but we just didn’t have enough to produce many. So, it was over to the Y10 Young Enterprise team to start production using soy wax, with fragrances including honeysuckle, pomegranate and jasmine. On page 35, you will see some of the candles on display at the GCA Young Enterprise stall at Spitalfields Market.

Photos

Photos courtesy of Young Enterprise team members Eric and Destina.

Testing wax

Ensemble acting

We were excited to see Years 10 and 11 drama students’ assessed performances, which were all the more impressive given they were unable to use elaborate props, lighting and costumes. Ms Ajoku gives her views:

‘Y10s developed their skills and techniques in stylised ensemble acting, crafting, blocking and assuming characters in a scripted play Things I Know True, which depicts the bonds, struggles and expectations each family member experiences. I was so impressed with their varied interpretations. Each group collaborated successfully, and the process bonded them together –much like a family unit. Congratulations to all!

‘Year 11s devised a response to a brief to create a workshop performance for a museum, which would help attract diverse visitors. The performances were inclusive of those with memory loss, the deaf community, war veterans and minorities, to name just a few. The skills and techniques they used included placards, sign language, audience participation, soundscapes, choral work, repetition, call and response, and physicalised movement sequences.

‘Some of the most powerful moments were the beautiful monologues crafted, written, and delivered by our dramatists, who had taken time to include descriptive, metaphorical, and emotive language, painting verbal pictures and offering pluralistic perspectives based on an idea, action, thought or character. The audience were blown away as was I!’

‘A hugely entertaining evening at the theatre! Year 10 dramatists delivered a mature, focused and well directed performance. The high standard and nuanced delivery point to their efforts and the guidance from the drama department. It was a privilege to witness.’ Mr Horner

‘Powerful and extraordinary! Inspiring, humorous, scary, intense and thoughtprovoking! A very proud Head of Year. Well done to Ms Ajoku and Y11 students!’

Mr Ullah

Kye makes his BBC debut

After auditioning for a role in the BBC3 comedy ‘Boarders’, Kye, Y10, was offered the part of recurring character, Caleb. The story centres around five young Black inner-city students who gain scholarships to an elite boarding school. Kye plays the younger brother of one of the five.

‘It is the journey that matters, not the destination.’

The Odyssey, Homer

We asked Y7 theatre critics what they thought of the Unicorn Theatre’s musical production of The Odyssey:

‘The play is all about Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, setting off on a quest to find his father. I found it extremely entertaining because it was interactive – the characters asked questions of the audience. They also created a good atmosphere with their use of props.’ Dominic, 7LF

‘It was impressive – only four actors played every single character. They changed costumes and voices to act the various parts. The setting was Greece, but the costumes and props were all modern. They broke the 4th wall, which made it more interactive.’ Erkhes, 7SC

‘It is thanks to Ms Ajoku that I was offered this opportunity. She suggested I should find an agent and the agent put me forward for the part. I sent a self-tape to the casting director and was soon filming in Bristol. It was fun being on set and I’m keen to do more, but I’ll still prioritise my trampolining.’ Kye

Year 10 scripted play

Y11 devised piece

Kye on screen in Boarders

Romeo and Juliet

Y9s enjoyed an action-packed performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by the Box Clever Theatre Company, and some lucky students were called upon to take part, which they did with verve and animation. The performance was followed by a chance for would-be actors to get up on stage to take on the personae of Juliet, Romeo, Tybalt, Mercutio and Benvolio.

Many thanks to Box Clever – Jack, Justice, Juliet and Pip (l-r in photo).

A gripping murder mystery

‘Year 12 English students thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Agatha Christie’s gripping murder mystery Witness for the Prosecution. County Hall was the perfect venue, bringing the grand courtroom atmosphere to life with the audience a genuine part of the action. Despite enthusiastically discussing our theories as to who was really to blame, none of us quite foresaw the dramatic denouement. We were gripped until the very end.’ Ms Bullock

‘I am studying Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement for A level English Literature. In addition to its themes of love and repentance, the novel deals with false accusations, which have far-reaching consequences, and with social status – particularly the way people of different social classes are treated unequally.

‘Witness for the Prosecution has a lot in common with Atonement because it also deals with false testimony and class differences. I was able to make comparisons and links between the novel and the play, which has helped broaden my understanding of both Atonement and the crime genre. The setting, similar to an actual courtroom, deepened my understanding of the criminal justice system and its procedures and made the play and the events that took place feel more genuine and life-like, as if we were watching a real trial take place.’ Rosa, Y12

‘I shrieked at the end!’ Sheeba, Y13

The beautiful game

A National Theatre production of Dear England was a big hit with Y10 dramatists, who are studying physical theatre. This fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams explores the way manager Gareth Southgate has helped to change notions of masculinity in English football and on the England team.

‘I think the way the characters were portrayed reflected just how the players are in real life. It wasn’t only about being on the pitch because we saw what they were like in other parts of their lives. The choreography was fantastic. There were no balls on the stage but when they did kicks you could imagine them. I learned techniques for movement, eye contact and making connections with other performers, and a lot about projecting my voice.’ Ben, 10JA

‘It was a circular, rotating stage which meant they could do scene changes quickly, creating a different atmosphere by using lighting and sound effects. There was a contrast between the group scenes, which were loud, and the sentimental, one-to-one scenes where they dimmed the lighting and spoke softly. It’s made me think about how we can improvise scenes back in school.’ Blessing, 10JA

Rosa

‘Books are a uniquely portable magic.’

Stephen King (American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels)

On World Book Day, a group of Year 7s were set reading, writing and artistic tasks by three authors via webinar.

Robin Stevens talked about her latest book The Body in the Blitz, set in 1941, and showed students how to read and write like a detective. Artist Ed Vere introduced them to the Japanese art form Hirameki, which means ‘flash of inspiration’. Dr Sheila Kanani asked, ‘Can you get jellyfish in space?’ This is the name of her book, which tells us about some of the creatures sent into space to test the effects of microgravity – ants, mice, spiders and honeybees. Ana, 7NJ, dressed up for the webinar –no prizes for guessing her character. Ana

Merry havoc on World Book Day

Scarper crouched, ready to pounce on innocent, unsuspecting children arriving at school, then stole their books and made a dreadful nuisance of himself. Militant suffragettes, supported by just one elegant gentleman, reminded us of their long and tiring fight for a vote. An athletic, many-limbed dragon caused merry havoc in the playground ... and a good time was had by all.

All students received a £1 World Book Day voucher, with which to buy a book specially created for the day or to use as a discount from any bookshop or supermarket. Seven trainee librarians visited Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop to choose their own books and a selection of novels for the library.

Guess these characters and the books in which they appear...

Many thanks to Yasin, Nisa, Lily, Giovarnni, Triumph, Ayira and Jonathan for their sterling work.

A thrilling tale

As a way of celebrating World Book Day and International Women’s Day (with an added STEM/STEAM/ TECH focus), Mrs Arhagba arranged for three groups of students to take part in a lively, interactive, and thought-provoking session with Maria Motúnráyò Adébísí, author of Kòkú Àkànbí and the Heart of Midnight.

Maria’s novel is a thrilling tale of ancient, magical tribes, dangerous demons and vengeful mermaids set in an imaginary country in West Africa – complete with themes of fantasy, quests, danger, and horror. It is also a tale of friendship between three young people with quite different superpowers finding their identity and overcoming difficulties. The novel is full of fast-paced action scenes and eye-catching comic book illustrations.

science-fiction, history and fantasy to explore the African American heritage experience through art, literature, cinema, music, fashion etc. The focus is on works that create a vision of a technologically advanced and optimistic future for Black people.

‘Maria expanded my understanding of Afrofuturism and the mythical legends within it. The interactive nature was amazing, and I loved getting to ask and answer questions.’ Kenya, 7LF

‘In a book, normally the boys are the heroes and the important ones, but in this book the girls are the strong ones who take care of the boy, and this shows a sense of girl power.’ Misha, 7MH

Portable magic

The groups were fascinated to hear and ask questions about Afrofuturism — a movement that combines

Thumbs up for Jack

‘Maria taught us how Afrofuturism is important because it shows the liberation and power of Black civilisation. She spent three years making this book and put all her efforts into it, following what she truly wanted to be – an author.’

Elisabeth, 8EO

Author Jack Meggitt-Phillips has won several awards including our local Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award and The Beast and the Bethany series is soon to be on the screen. Jack introduced Year 7 to his latest novel in the series with the aid of a parrot and lots of audience participation. He asked students to write a few lines about their ‘happy place’ and then to write about the same place which had become bad in some way.

‘Jack is a real character; he has lots of personality. I’m a huge fan and I have two of his books. When I was writing my happy piece, he came to talk to me and said my writing was highly creative’ Louis, 7NJ Margot took on the challenge of designing a new cover for the novel.

Larks in the Park

In the autumn term, Mr Coles’ lunchtime reading club in Priory Park offered Year 7 bibliophiles an opportunity for peaceful reading –until, that is, the dismal weather set in.

Meggitt-Phillips and parrot

Margot with Ms Swinyard

Encouraging a budding author

Thumbs up!

Portable magic

Biblio-Buzz

Keen GCA readers had an entertaining day at Biblio-Buzz, the Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award, where they had another chance to meet Jack Meggitt-Phillips, the host for the ceremony.

Biblio-Buzz challenges young people to read the novels of six shortlisted authors, whilst taking on a series of literary challenges. Participants then vote for their favourite book before attending the awards ceremony at the Alexandra Palace Theatre, where they meet the authors, get their books signed and take part in workshops.

GCA readers enjoyed a workshop with S.J. Wills, author of Bite Risk, who asked them to help her create her next werewolf story. She had written the bare bones of a scene, with pieces missing for them to choose and then vote on the werewolf’s appearance before and after transformation, the sights and smells of the scene, and what might happen next. GCA students were fully engaged!

Ms Swinyard is one of the founders of this award, along with librarians from Fortismere, Highgate Wood and Chestnuts schools – we thank them for creating such a buzzing event.

‘Big shout out to 7LF and Mr Jones who had a special visit in their library lesson from writer Ivor Baddiel and were a great audience and ambassadors for GCA. Ivor has written 20+ books for children but he mainly writes scripts for live TV e.g. X Factor. 7LF created their own fictional characters and thought about how different characters react to the same situation depending on their background, personality, life situation and social skills. Let’s hope we will be inviting one of them back to GCA one day to talk about their own writing! Thank you to Ivor, who gave his time for free as part of the Jewish Literary Foundation’s Authors in Schools programme.’ Ms Swinyard

‘It was exciting seeing an author who has inspired so many people come to our school to work with us.’ Hizen, 7LF

A massive thank you...

...from Ms Swinyard to Jerica and Debishi in Year 11, who have worked consistently in the library since Year 7 and have been a reliable source of joy and inspiration in helping other students with their book loans and recommendations.

‘They will be sorely missed, and the next generation have a lot to live up to. They and Arman, Y10, have been spending their free time between revision sessions training a younger team. Over 25 applied, most of whom joined the spring term training programme. Student librarians volunteer once a week on a rota, and those who have stuck to this commitment are moving on to hone their skills in customer service and organisation, as well as enjoying other aspects of library life such as helping on trips and with author events. Without them, the library would not be able to function as well as it does.’

We asked new librarians Hizen and Mert why they took on the role.

‘I like to organise. When I’m on a shift, I work at the desk issuing

books. If it’s not my shift, I check with Ms Swinyard if there is anything she wants me to do, for example shelving books or bar coding. I enjoy reading of but also drawing, debating and robotics.’ Hizen, 7LF

‘I applied because I like to help people find the book they want. I enjoy comics and graphic books that are action packed.’ Mert, 7TE

An equally massive thank you to the Hornsey Parochial Charities and the Jack Petchey Foundation for generous grants to purchase books and run activities in the library this year.

Mert

Hizen

‘You can find poetry in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart.’

Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, 2009-19

We asked two GCA poets where they found inspiration for the poems you can read here.

‘Originally, I wrote this poem for an English assignment. It was just homework I wanted to be over with, but I soon realised that it was much more than that. It was much more than a PowerPoint; it was writing about lives that had been lost and lives that are lost. I wanted to research this topic and use my poem as a vessel to bring more light to the situation. I wanted to let people know about Abdullah and his family, and Daria who faces a difficult path ahead. I wanted to let people know that young girls like Daria shouldn’t have to face such difficulty, and men like Abdullah shouldn’t have to worry about losing his family. This was my inspiration for ‘To all the refugees’. Nomuunaa.

To all the refugees by

Nomuunaa, 9SC

To all the refugees, who have risked everything, from France to England, from Turkey to Greece. Who cross stormy waters that leave sailors in fear, all for the glittering hope of a new world – one of peace.

To Abdullah, who left with one wife and two kids and arrived with none.

To Abdullah, whose dreams of a life in Canada capsized along with the dinghy that drifted them ashore.

To his son, Aylan Kurdi, washed ashore in a state of peaceful sleep, Although, he deserved to stay awake for the years that he lost can never be given back.

To Daria, who walks a path alone at an age where we would hold our mother’s hands as we cross the road.

I hope as you heal, your parents beam down at you and smile.

To all the refugees, Who are constantly shone on and left ignored, not knowing when the media will get bored.

To all the refugees, both not known and in the grim light.

Yasin was inspired by Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem The British, which takes the form of a recipe in which the ingredients are people from many different ethnicities. The poem concludes that justice and equality are needed for all: ‘An unequal spread of justice will damage the people and cause pain.’ Yasin liked the idea of using the same recipe form and chose wealth as his focus, showing that wealth can be achieved through unjust means.

Wealth by Yasin, 8VG

To create the perfect recipe for wealth is quite a long process. The ingredients must be of the highest quality available to ensure a successful dish.

First, melt some private education into a pan, this is the foundation of wealth.

To have an easier time creating your dish, add a good amount of inheritance.

Next, take some chopped exploitation and stir vigorously. Sprinkle in a pinch of cunning.

Blend some lies and truths together until they are indistinguishable and add to the pan.

Dice some political power into the mix.

Warning: Though fame seems like a favourable ingredient, it can attract unwanted attention that may ruin your dish. Stir the mixture and place into a preheated oven.

Note: If the education is not to a good quality, the entire dish will collapse in on itself.

Finally, leave your mixture for as long as you desire and, to make the most out of your food, don’t share with anyone. Enjoy!!!

Taking creativity to the next level

GCA students are regulars at the Courtauld Gallery. This year, it was Y10s who visited the permanent collection and the Claudette Johnson exhibition. A founding member of the Black British Art Movement, Claudette Johnson is considered one of the most significant figurative artists of her generation. Y10 artists also had a chance to learn new techniques in a workshop.

‘We learnt a different variety of pencil techniques and took our creativity to the next level. Tour guides took us through the gallery, teaching us about Claudette Johnson and many other fantastic artists. In the workshop, we used graphite pencil and drew one of Claudette’s pieces to the best of our ability. We looked closely at the detail of the mark making and the different tones and highlights and pressed hard to add darker tones. This was extremely good fun – a chance to learn new things and have fun with my friends, and it is one I will never forget.

‘In class, we have been looking at similar techniques to mark making, tones and hatching as well as printmaking and pen drawing. Now we are moving on to self-portraiture and the meaning behind the portrait.’ Jessica, 10SD

Frameless – where art breaks free

This immersive exhibition introduced Y9 artists to great works of art presented in a fresh way. Major works by artists such as Seurat, Dali, Kandinsky, Bosch and Rembrandt twist and animate on screens in four galleries, each devoted to a distinctive style and period. Did they spark the imagination?

‘The exhibition was intriguing and exciting with immersive graphic screens all around the rooms.’ Chaomel, 9LC

‘I thought it was magical and beautiful. I am most used to three types of art –Pop, portraits, and black and white pencil drawing, but this has introduced me to new styles across different periods.’ Daniely, 9DD

Young cartoonists

Ms Kendrick’s cartoon club has been a popular activity this year and members had a chance to enter the Young Cartoonists of the Year competition.

Congratulations to Louis Chang, 7NJ, who won a Highly Commended award. Here, you can see Louis with Ms Kendrick alongside his winning cartoon and four more cartoons for you to enjoy by Isabela, Albert, Ana, and Phoenix.

‘I took a surreal approach to the design. The teacher and the student are talking about different meanings in relation to people growing, so maybe they misunderstand each other. I was surprised to be a winner –I didn’t expect it.’ Louis

Let’s hear from one of the talented GCA artists who has submitted a piece to the Royal Academy Young Artists Summer Show 2024.

Josie, 7TE, is a regular in Ms Kendrick’s art club, where she created her collage for the show.

‘I started with a spider diagram, jotting down things that interested or related to me. I decided to focus on cats and the punk genre. Cats are my favourite animal by far, even though I don’t have one. I like punk music such as Daisy and the Scouts because it’s energetic and it boosts my mood. I chose collage as the medium because I am good at it, and it was a way of putting all my thoughts together in a free-spirited way to represent who I am.

Doodling for Red Nose Day

Mr Chorley and Ms Kendrick posted scores of red noses outside the art rooms and invited us to create faces around them – all in a bid to raise money for Red Nose Day. So, we let our imaginations run riot.

Express your creativity

‘I used newspaper as the backing. I made squiggles with markers and paints to represent the energy of punk and I dressed the coloured paper cats in punk outfits to fit with the theme.’

Good luck, Josie – we are just as eager as you to know if your collage will be accepted for the show.

Isabela, 8HM

Ana, NJ

Albert, 7LF

Phoenix, NJ

Louis, NJ

Louis with Ms Kendrick

A very happy 10th birthday to the GCA Sailing Programme!

From those who take to the water the first time to those who put in trophy-winning performances, GCA students continue to astound with their passion for sailing.

At the West Reservoir centre, younger students are coached by sixth former Samiya, a qualified dinghy instructor. Many have embarked on a series of three-day trips on our yacht Scaramouche, coached by experienced GCA sailors, including alumni Montel, Kayin and Azat.

‘It’s always great to see the beginners out on the reservoir. Very quickly, we can see those who will make it – doing the basics well, unconcerned by the cold (it’s colder than it looks!) and asking, “when’s the next time we can go?”’

Mr Holt

Y9 students Callum, Alphie, Kristof, Shyne, Anelka and Kevin have made such rapid progress that they are being fast tracked to sail with our regular coaches on the Solent and at the King George V Sailing Club.

‘I have been sailing Picos on the West reservoir since Year 7 and one of our mini tonners Riot on the Solent since Year 8. I sail alone in the Picos but with a crew on Riot – we share all the roles. You need a lot more strength and energy for Riot and good teamwork is vital.’ Kevin

‘We’re keen to be able to compete at the same level as the more experienced sailors and the rapid progress we are making is due to intensive coaching from national level coaches.’ Anelka and Shyne

Felipe, Corneille and Max are showing they can ‘make it’. All three sail lasers (a single-handed dinghy) and are so motivated that they race and train at the King George V’s Sailing Club every weekend, where they have achieved several podium places.

Over Easter, they battled it out against 300 competitors at the RYA Youth Nationals in Weymouth.

‘The conditions were ferocious. Just getting to the start line was a mighty effort in tiny dinghies for six hours a day every day – freezing cold, very windy and soaking. All three had individual successes finishing in the top half of the fleet in races. They competed well and did our school proud!’ Mr Holt

Corneille and Felipe also sail Etchells (keelboats), and, with senior crewmates, they have achieved podium places in the Etchells Youth Academy trials, beating university crews. Corneille finds competing in the laser class helps him learn a lot about tactics, which he can transfer to his Etchells training.

On Riot

Talking tactics with national coach Matt Reid

RYA Youth Nationals

Corneille on a laser

Felipe sailing an Etchells

An inspirational day

Felipe, Corneille and Max, along with Joshua, Y11, and Samiya, Y13, were thrilled to meet Sir Ben Ainslie, one of the most successful sailors in Olympic history, and double Olympic Gold Medallist Hannah Mills at the Athena Pathway initiative, a new pathway for female and youth sailors which aims to bring diversity in the sport at its highest level both on and off the water.

‘I was overwhelmed – it was awesome to meet the best in the world. The advice Sir Ben gave us was extremely valuable.’ Max

‘I showed Sir Ben footage of me sailing and he gave me some tips and has offered to coach us this summer.’ Corneille

Thank you to the Athena Pathway team for such an inspirational day.

Keen to return

This is the first year GCA has partnered with the Rona Sailing Project (RSP).

In April, with the support of the Royal Thames Charitable Trust and the OCC Charitable Trust, a group of girls from Years 9 to 13 sailed on the Donald Searle, the largest of the boats in the RSP fleet. Despite challenging weather conditions, no-one was daunted, and all the girls are keen to return.

Loreto and Catalina, Y12, tell us more:

‘We worked together in two teams and got a huge amount of practice in tacking, gybing and helming. We learned how to winch on big boats, how to fold and hoist both sails, the main and the gib. The first two days it was a bit cloudy but fine, on the third it started raining and, on the last two days, there was a storm. It was more tiring with the storm, and we couldn’t sleep so well as the boat was moving a lot. We did things around Cowes, which was fun, but it felt way longer than when we sailed. We took turns cooking, if one team made breakfast and washed up the other team did lunch and washed up, and the food was fine! There was a great team atmosphere and we were supported enormously well by the fantastic RSP crew and volunteers.’

Many happy returns

All the girls achieved their RYA Start Yachting Certificate and received an RSP Scott or Amory award for giving of their best during the voyage and being a ‘keen and reliable member of the crew’.

Well done to: Salsabil, Makda, Baileigh, Elayra, Istarlin, Ashley, Loreto, Catalina, Simran and Samiya. Huge thanks to the RSP crew and volunteers and to Bríd from the Scaramouche Sailing Trust for making this such a safe, enjoyable and rewarding voyage.

...despite challenging weather conditions, no-one was daunted...

News from Cowes Week, August 2023

Cowes Week is one of the U.K.’s most successful sporting events and our senior teams have long been involved in the week, racing and learning from professionals.

We are tremendously proud that, last August, Christopher-Joel Frederick was named the first winner of the Cowes Week Youth Trophy, which recognises outstanding commitment and achievement amongst young sailors competing during the week.

Christopher-Joel completed his first Fastnet Race aboard Scaramouche. In the weeks leading up to Cowes Week, Christopher-Joel really showed his true potential, according to Mr Holt: ‘He was completing his day skipper course when an opportunity to take part in Fastnet came up with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. The timescales were so tight that on the last day of his course a RIB intercepted his day skipper boat and transferred him straight onto Challenger 2. When he finished the race, he disembarked, jumped on the ferry, and arrived in the Isle of Wight for the start of Cowes Week. Returning from Cowes to Haringey, triumphant (but modest!), Chris had just 12 hours before heading back to Southampton to complete an RYA Radar course. Amazing commitment and ambition!’

‘I feel very privileged to have won this award, it came as such a surprise as I thought everything I was doing was completely normal.’ Christopher-Joel

Regatta Director Laurence Mead said: ‘This new trophy will recognise young sailors who have done something notable in the sport in the past year, irrespective of whether they won first place or not. Christopher-Joel is a very worthy inaugural winner.’

It was a double for our seniors at Cowes when Kai Hockley, competing in the Etchells class, took the Musto Young Skipper Trophy after becoming the highestranking under-25 helm in the entire regatta. Another worthy winner!

Yachtmaster qualification for Jaydon

Jaydon Owusu left the sixth form in 2023 to take up a Superyacht Cadetship course with the UK Sailing Association. In January, he qualified as an RYA Offshore Yachtmaster, a major professional qualification, for which he had to skipper a 40ft sailing yacht across the Channel to France and back again – in freezing weather! Congratulations Jaydon, another success to add to the many achieved in your sailing career. Good luck in your next step as a crew member of the superyacht Seawolf.

An Internship for Kai

When the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team took part in the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix on the iconic Sydney Harbour in February, they invited Kai to join them as an intern, working with the shore crew.

This fantastic opportunity came about after Mr Holt explained to Emirates GBR how difficult it is to find long-term paid internships in the marine industry for young people. The team were keen to help change this, so they created a programme that is more accessible to young people.

As the first lucky intern, Kai joined Emirates GBR in Sydney, where he gained experience in boat handling, maintenance and all that goes into preparing an F50 for racing.

Emirates GBR CEO Sir Ben Ainslie said: ‘We are all excited at the potential of our new internship programme and it’s great to have Kai with us in Sydney. We want to make these development opportunities much more accessible to a wider group of people and we hope this internship programme will help level the playing field for young people accessing the industry.’

From Sydney, Kai went to New Zealand and then to Bermuda with the Emirates GBR team. The next step will be Halifax, Canada. Kai is also hoping to be a member of the shore team for INEOS Britannia, the Challenger of Record for the America’s Cup 2024 in Barcelona in August.

Exciting times!

For more news about GCA sailing, please check the website of the The Scaramouche Sailing Trust: https://scaramouchesailing.org.uk/ The Trust was set up in 2019 to support GCA’s Sailing Programme. Its remit covers fundraising and communications for the school sailing activities, but they also work with many stakeholders in sailing to break down barriers to participation.

Many happy returns

Kai (second left), Christopher-Joel (right) with teammates Jessye (left) and Jaydon

Christopher-Joel

Our ninth Arkwright Scholar

Darius, Y12, a mainstay of our robotics teams, is our latest Arkwright Engineering Scholar, one of the most prestigious accolades a talented student can receive. The scholarships consist of an annual financial award to the student and another to their school, support for university visits, and a range of enrichment activities that enhance a student’s experience of engineering in a real-world context.

Scholars are selected for their potential as future engineering leaders by assessing their academic, practical and leadership skills in STEM, gauged through a rigorous selection process. Congratulations to Darius on his welldeserved achievement.

‘I am very grateful to the Tallow Chandlers for their generosity; I have been offered many opportunities at university workshops and open days as well as well-known firms related to engineering which I would otherwise have been unable to consider. I am looking to stay on the engineering path and do chemical engineering at a London university, my dream university would have to be UCL, or Imperial due to its excellence and world ranking for my chosen degree.’ Darius

In May, we were delighted to hear exciting news about our 2015 Arkwright Scholar, Michal Wensierski, who achieved a lifetime ambition – to reach the summit of Mount Everest (also known as Chomolungma or Sagarmatha).

At school, Michal displayed an unwavering determination to seize every possible opportunity, gaining bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, designing and building a fully functional Formula 24+ racing car, and taking part in many outdoor education activities from canoeing the length of Lake Windermere to climbing Scafell Pike. In 2016, with fellow students and staff, he took on a World Challenge Expedition to Nicaragua, where they built roads to enable children to get to school in heavy rainfall. Michal was a Jack Petchey Achievement Award winner and a Tallow Chandlers’ bursary winner before going to Loughborough University to study Product Design Engineering. Outside school, Michal was British Schools Judo Champion in 2014 and was selected for the GBR Judo Squad in 2014/2015.

Since leaving university, Michal has travelled the world, taking in over twenty different countries, working on yachts in various engineering roles to fund his love for adventure. Last year he trekked to Everest Base Camp where he reignited his childhood dream to climb Everest. Just over a year later he worked hard to raise the funds to tackle his biggest and most challenging expedition yet.

Many congratulations, Michal. Please stay in touch and let us know your next challenge. Ms Frewin

First trial

At the summit

World-class roboteers

It has been a highly successful year for our robotics teams, two of which competed in the VEX international championships in Dallas, Texas.

ATORE competed in the High Schools tournament for the second time. Congratulations to Loqmane, Darius, Vincent and Jia Bei, who ended their world championship run in the top 4%.

Error 404 competed in the Middle Schools tournament for the second year running. Congratulations to Nicholson and Lucas, Year 8, on ending their world championship run in the top 3%.

GCA was the top-performing UK state school in both tournaments.

The head referee was so impressed with the professionalism and reliability of Nicolson and Lucas that she asked them to support the High Schools tournament every day by assisting the judges and re-setting the fields.

In the national championships, ATORE won the Amaze Award, which recognises a consistently high-performing robot and achieved 2nd place in UK Skills. LADE –Emmanuel, Ade and Lekai – took the Judges Award, which recognises special attributes, exemplary effort, perseverance, teamwork and professionalism.

Error 404 led their division for the entire competition, ending their run 3rd overall in the UK but narrowly missing a win in the final match.

UnKnOwn – Laura, Jessica and Noah – had a tough Middle Schools tournament but never wavered in their determination and effort.

Sub Zero – Rayan and Harrison –competed in the High Schools category with great focus and professionalism, reaching the quarter finals before being knocked out.

‘This was my first time reaching the nationals and I found it inspiring. It’s a tough competition and the robots can become unreliable due to so much use. It was an eye-opening experience getting to see the competition from so many teams, all focusing on the same challenge but adopting very different solutions.’ Rayan, 11PM

‘All the teams worked extremely hard to develop their robots and their engineering expertise. They used CAD to design and redesign their robots and perfected their design work through rigorous testing and programming.’ Mr Knappert

Other achievements throughout the year include:

ATORE: Excellence and Tournament Champions trophies

Error 404: Teamwork champions

UnKnOwn: Judges Award

‘The regional tournaments held at GCA offered so many opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. There was a huge mix of people, including teams from the Czech Republic, Italy and Turkey, with the very best and many new teams looking to qualify for the nationals. It was rewarding to see two of our Year 7 teams competing for the first time. Well done to Team Dave – Zenon, Ben and Evan – and to Team

The Cube – Milo, Gerrard and Hammad – on your exceptional performances. I am sure you will continue to excel next year.’

Mr Knappert

Robotics and engineering

LADE with their Judges Award

Never wavering UnKnOwn

Raring to go in Dallas

Error 404 at the Worlds

Tension

ATORE with their Amaze Award

CERN – Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire

Thanks to the Greig Trust and the Tallow Chandlers Company, sixth form scientists deepened their understanding of particle physics during a visit to CERN. They also took in the sights of Geneva and visited the picturesque streets of Montreux and the Château de Chillon, with chess, swimming and fishing added to the mix.

‘The visit offered unparalleled opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the world of particle physics. In the Proton Express workshop, they gained insights into the structure of protons and other hadrons. We explored the exhibition area, delving into the energy produced when particles annihilate each other. Using 3D VR glasses, students had a virtual tour, experiencing the facilities in an innovative and engaging manner. During a guided tour to the French side of CERN, experts explained the construction, purpose, and ongoing research at the particle accelerator. Highlights included observing detectors and the control room, providing students with firsthand exposure to the groundbreaking work being done at CERN.’ Dr Hassan

‘Embarking on a journey to CERN was nothing short of awe-inspiring. From the moment we entered the facility, we were immersed in a realm where groundbreaking discoveries are made every day. The guided tour took us behind the scenes, offering glimpses into the intricate machinery and technology powering the experiments. Engaging in hands-on activities such as seeing the beginning of the universe through VR allowed us to grasp the complexities of particle physics in a tangible way, leaving a lasting impression on my understanding of science and its limitless possibilities. My experience at CERN was not just educational; it was a journey that ignited a passion and a deeper appreciation for the wonders beyond Earth.’ Cody, Y13

‘Beyond the awe-inspiring technology, it was the people of CERN who left the most indelible impression on me. From Nobel laureates to young researchers, everyone I encountered was driven by a shared sense of purpose – to push the boundaries of human knowledge and to unravel the mysteries of the universe. As I explored the various experiments and facilities at CERN, from the ATLAS and CMS detectors to the Antimatter Factory, I gained a newfound appreciation for the collaborative nature of scientific inquiry. Across nationalities, cultures, and disciplines, scientists at CERN come together in pursuit of a common goal, transcending borders and bridging divides in the name of science.’ Fjornest, Y13

Drone club

When the robotics season came to an end, Evan, 7SD, was keen to try something new. Mr Hilmi suggested a drone club, so Evan recruited fellow students to form five teams. Evan designed a logo and, together with team members, designed hoodies incorporating the logo, ready for entering competitions. The teams have been flying drones that are pre-programmed but programmable ones have just arrived – check out our website to see the teams at work.

Stemgineers

Groups of students this year have had a chance to sail in Zahara, a fast Cruiser Racer, thanks to the efforts of Mr Letford, Jaydon Owusu and 12 students, aka the Stemgineers. Mr Letford set up the Stemgineers project to restore this badly neglected sailboat with financial support from the Tallow Chandlers.

New challenges

You may have a had a go at a steady hand game – trying to get a metal wand from one side of a wavy wire to the other, without the two touching –but have you ever designed and built one yourself?

This was the challenge Year 7s took on. They learned about the design process, then looked at materials and selected the appropriate ones for their own design. They developed their graphic skills, working with 2D and 3D techniques, and learned about the importance of accurate CAD drawings.

Here you can see Shaphan and Benjamin, 7TM, assembling components for the game, and Serafim, 7NJ, with his completed game.

‘I feel great about this because I have something I can show my family and friends. I enjoyed all the work – fitting the components together, connecting the wires and doing the spray painting. I designed how I wanted my name to be cut into the wood then Mr Law cut it with a laser.’ Serafim

Stemgineers spent several weekends refurbishing the boat in the Isle of Wight. The exterior work included hull preparation as well as raising the mast and standing rigging. The interior was completely rebuilt from the array of parts left by the previous owner. Then came the engineering part. Alumnus Jaydon, who is qualified in marine engineering, advised on the changes that needed to be made.

The Stemgineers set sail to test all systems to ensure sea worthiness and, during the latter half of the 2022-2023 season, Zahara made several Solent voyages and took part in club racing out of Cowes. She is now used by both boys and girls for sailing expeditions and club racing, and they are looking forward to another summer on the water.

A quick look at some more of the clubs running this year...

Debating club members have competed in the Urban Debate League throughout the year, and have worked impressively well together, generating lively discussions, organising their points, and responding to rebuttals. Ms Bullock and Ms Stevenson saw a real improvement over the year, with the teams taking on the advice of the judges and acting on their feedback.

‘In April, our top debaters competed in the London Debate Mate Cup at SOAS. It was an energetic and challenging day and the teams enthusiastically and diligently competed in three full length competition debates with the following motions:

1. This house believes that social media makes it more difficult to become a successful musician.

2. This house believes that celebrities should receive harsher punishments for their crimes.

3. This house believes that the UK should introduce a three-day weekend.

‘We watched a pretty spicy show debate of former Debate Maters, teachers and Debate Mate mentors on the motion: This house would pay students for good exam results. A lot of very vocal responses from the crowd, as I’m sure you can imagine!

‘It was super inspiring to see the students work together so well and humbly take on the improvement feedback given to them. We won a few and lost a few but it genuinely was about the taking part – they were up against some pretty terrifying competition. Overall, a massively enriching and engaging day and a lot of fun was had! Congratulations to Diya, Francesca, Dami, Nomuunaa, Olaoluwa, Onyinyechukwu, Anayah-Hazel and Emmanuel A. ‘Many congratulations to all the other students who have represented GCA so well in the Debate Mate rounds: Gulsu, Yasin, Triumph, Jacob, Hizen, Amine, Mert, Elliot, Isaac, Erin, Nisanur, Arman, Ivan, Harrison, Elanur and Martin. We are proud of you all.’ Ms Bullock

Every Thursday lunchtime, volunteers flock to the library for the Paired Reading Club, where they support students who have English as their second (third, fourth etc.) language with their reading skills.

During the last session of Debate Mate, students voted for members of the Debate Mate Committee for 20242025. Say hello to your committee:

President: Diya

Vice President: Emmanuel

Secretaries: Nomuunaa and Amine

Recruitment: Ony and Jacob

Design: Hizen

Motions: Anayah-Hazel

Training: Dami and Ernest

Sasho, 10ST, is keen to support other students: ‘I didn’t understand the words when I was learning and found it a struggle. Now I read a lot – mainly fiction –and I enjoy helping others to enjoy books.’

Sasho

‘Win with grace, lose with dignity.’ Susan Polgár, Chess Grandmaster

‘Chess Club is open to all every Thursday Lunchtime in DF04. I hope to see you there soon!’ Mr Horner

Let’s hear from two students who joined the club this year and from Wenxian, a veteran member:

‘I like chess club because it’s competitive. You never know who wins and it is based on who has more skill so that the more you play the better you get. I got into chess when I found a chess board on the street. I looked at a tutorial video on YouTube and started playing every day with my brother, getting better and better.’ Ionut 7NJ

‘I started when my dad came home from work with a chess board. He said “Do you want to try a new game?” Since then, I have always liked chess. With my practice in the club, I aim to be better than my brother.’ Phoenix 7NJ

‘Chess Club is a peaceful place where I don’t have to stress about upcoming tests and competitions. It has always been a place where I can use 100% of my focus and not think about anything else. Trying out chess for the first time was quite hard, I wasn’t as good as some other players at the time but as I progressed, I became increasingly better. Now I am better than some of the players who have been playing for longer than me.’ Wenxian 10HJ

‘Students from Year 10 and the 6th form represented GCA at the National Schools Chess Championships at Highgate School. Despite some good games and wins from Adrian, Alan and Daniel, we were unable to make it through to the next round. We hope to be back next year stronger and sharper!’ Mr Horner

At the inaugural meeting of her Loop Club, Baileigh teaches Kirtian and Rufus the basics of crochet.

If you aspire to cultivate the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy, then Ms Jia’s club is for you. You need lots of patience if you are going to get all the strokes right, but the results are well worth the effort.

Members of Ms Karsan’s henna club take pride in their artistry and precision crafting. Here you can see Ms Karsan’s demonstration design and Kisa-E-Zahra, 8CB, creating a design for Ms Karsan.

Let’s join a club!

The unique sound of the djembe drum reverberates round the music rooms when Mr Joshi’s club is in residence. The djembe’s particular goblet shape helps to make its unique sound. Djembe players use three basic sounds: bass, tone, and slap, which have low, medium, and high pitch, respectively, and the sounds are achieved by varying the striking technique and position.

Sealing a victory for England

Obinna, Y11, has been training all year with the England Under 16 basketball squad and was proud to be selected to play in the 2024 Four Nations championships in Dublin in March. Obinna helped seal a victory with 14 points in their final match against Ireland after the squad’s resounding victories over the other two teams.

On his plans for the future, Obinna said ‘I am looking forward to playing for GB in the FIBA Youth EuroBasket in Skopje, North Macedonia, this summer. Then, back to school for A levels before applying for a basketball scholarship to a US university.’

Good luck, Obinna, for the tournament and for your studies.

Trampolining champs – well done Kye and GCA team!

Hearty congratulations to Kye, Y10, who took the trampoline trophy for Haringey at the London Youth Games and led GCA’s trampolining team to victory in the Haringey championships.

‘I have been training for 11 years and aim to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. I train for several hours, two days a week – warmups, conditioning, stretching, drills, and routines. I have a lot of other interests, like drama and rock climbing, but my absolute priority is the trampoline, for which I’ve trained so long.’ Kye

Dancing their way to success

It was another phenomenally successful year for GCA dancers.

In the UDOIT National Championships, GCA took trophies in four categories:

1st – Senior All Styles

1st – Junior Street

1st – Senior Street

2nd – Junior All Styles

In the Haringey Championships, our teams took first place in both the KS3 and KS4 categories, which meant they went on to represent Haringey in the London Youth Games.

‘I have been a member of the dance team since Year 7, and always enjoy taking part in competitions. It is hard going doing the training and rehearsals, but the effort pays off. I get nervous before going on stage, but I find it’s best not to spend time checking moves with everyone else. I prefer to stay by myself and keep calm. Once on stage, the nerves disappear and, after the performance, I want to do it all over again.’ Stephen, 9DE

Kye

GCA trampolining champs

Dance stars

In the net

Our netball teams took three trophies in the Haringey league, with impressive scores throughout the season. The Year 7 and the senior teams took second place in their age groups and the Year 9 team finished the season in first place.

A big thank you to the Hornsey Parochial Charities for a grant to purchase new netball equipment – balls, bibs and posts.

Year 7 footballers got their first year off to a great start when they won the Haringey 5-a-side Football Tournament.

‘Starting at secondary school can be daunting. You would have never known this group only started their sporting career at GCA just a few months before they triumphed in the 5-a-side football tournament. The boys competed with passion, desire, and skill to beat other schools from the borough and clinch their first piece of silverware in the famous blue of GCA. Long may it continue!!’ Mr Owusu

Well done, Lionel, Benjy, Joziah, Marcus, Daniel and Dieumerci

Cheers for cheerleading!

A sporting life

If you think cheerleading is just about supporting your school team with a routine of colourful pom poms and a few shout-outs – GCA! GCA! GCA! – then, think again. You will be delighted to know your PE staff have been trained to teach this high-energy team sport, which utilises a combination of elements – jumps, tumbling, stunting and dance – in what we confidently expect to be stunning routines.

(NB Be assured: The photo here was taken in the initial stages of training!)

‘I’m looking forward to taking part in cheerleading. So far, I’ve been supporting the teachers’ training sessions and have learned a lot. You need to be flexible and to have the strength to lift the flyers. As a flyer, you need good body tension, which means having a strong core. It’s important to follow instructions – no-one wants to be thrown in the air by someone who isn’t listening to what they are being told. I force people in my group to listen.’ Keturah, 9LC

Howzat!

Dr Hassan introduces us to tape ball cricket

‘Growing up in densely populated Pakistan posed challenges in finding space for traditional cricket grounds, leading to the popularity of tape ball cricket. Utilising a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, this variant offered a solution, retaining the essence of the sport while requiring fewer resources. It became a vital avenue for introducing cricket to youngsters due to its simpler format, holding significant cultural value in Pakistan and nurturing future cricket stars. Recognising the lack of traditional grounds at Greig City Academy, I introduced tape ball cricket, providing students with a chance to engage with the sport despite limited resources. The recent launch of the National Core Cities Tape Ball Competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board adds another layer of excitement, emphasising cricket’s inclusivity and importance, fuelling passion and interest among students.’

Year 7 netball team

Year 9 netball team

Senior netball team

Year 7 football team

Giving Green – GCA’s Young Enterprise Company

GCA’s Young Enterprise team, composed of Years 10 and 12 students, took part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme, which required them to develop a product/ service, attend meetings, work with a business advisor, write a company report, attend trade fairs, produce a business plan presentation, and set up a trade stand.

The team set up their company – Giving Green – with the aim of developing a range of sustainably sourced, seasonal products. Team members established three divisions, each with a board of directors taking on a specific role – marketing, finance, sustainability etc.

Learning from the best

In its early stages, the company hosted a visit from the Young Enterprise and Junior Achievement Worldwide Leadership Team. They were joined by members of last year’s company – Jason, David, Drishika, Mason, Annie and Alexandra – who explained the thorough processes they had developed for their own enterprise in Year 10. Then, there was a chance for the new company to present their initial ideas before being quizzed by the visitors.

The GCA Beekeeping Club also displayed their work and discussed their own enterprise journey.

10X Challenge

In November, company directors entered 10 Downing Street to take part in the Young Enterprise 10X Challenge, led by Michael Anderson (the Young Enterprise Regional Manager) and Akshata Murty, businesswoman and wife of the then Prime Minister.

Let’s hear from Hayat and Maksymilian:

‘We worked in teams to create an idea for a product we could realistically make and performed a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), which we presented to the room. Our company was going through the process of ideation, so this allowed us to walk through the process of inventing and refining ideas.

‘Presenting to the room was a valuable experience, as we have to do presentations and talks, as well as presenting to a board of directors, in competitions. It also meant we had to be careful when considering how and what to present, as well as the conciseness and overall informativeness of our speech.’ Hayat

‘With the support of Mr Hilmi, and Mrs Murty, we decided on customisable candles, made of beeswax – a natural, sustainable by-product. The idea was to create candles that people can manually shape, dye, decorate and scent to their liking, boosting the idea of a product that someone has a connection with, thus increasing the chance of success.

‘We gave a presentation about our “Sustain-a-bee-lity” slogan, and the candles themselves.

This experience expanded my knowledge about entrepreneurship and showed me what to focus on to run a successful business.’

Maksymilian, Y12

Meeting the Beekeeping Club

Quiz time

Jason presented Mrs Murty with a jar of GCA honey, and a mug designed by the company.

Wowing customers

Giving Green had a successful day at this famous East London market, wowing customers with their latest products – cards, candles, crocheted bees, decorated mugs, and t-shirts for teddies.

Relentless effort

Five team members competed in the Young Enterprise Company Programme of the Year Awards North London Showcase.

‘Through their relentless effort and innovative ideas, the team secured the award for Best Sustainability and a Finalist Award. Commendations to Arthur, Y12, and Year 10 students Destina, Eric, Wenxian and Conall for their exceptional work and unwavering commitment.’

Mrs Arhagba

How did the team rate the experience?

3 A resounding recommendation for Young Enterprise from all: ‘It gives everyone in the company a voice to speak about their ideas and how we can change our community to understand the importance of sustainability.’ Eric

3 Valuable skills development: ‘...learning how to make, market, and sell products.’ Destina

3 Teamwork: ‘...learning how to be able to trust my partners when distributing tasks in the company.’ Arthur

3 Confidence: ‘I’ve gained more confidence to be able to stand in front of an audience and speak about a presentation.’ Wenxian

‘Such a huge amount of planning, preparation, delivery & dedication from you all! Congratulations to all involved.’ Ms Cooper

Many thanks to all the local businesses that supported our Young Enterprise programme with donations.

Valuable two-way communication...

The National Careers Challenge

We wish good luck to Year 9 students Annalee, Sofia, Fatmata, Ethan and Henry, who (at the time of writing) are hard at work preparing to compete in the finals of this prestigious challenge in July at Doncaster.

The task is to develop a business idea inspired by the skills and heritage of their local area. The team were victorious in the GCA challenge round with a plan for a youth centre in Haringey, focusing on young people’s mental health and wellbeing, where they would be supported by people who had already coped with, and overcome, problems.

Enterprising students

...planning, preparation, delivery & dedication...

...was much in evidence at our 4th annual Careers Networking Event, where professionals from the public, private and voluntary sectors shared their considerable expertise and fielded searching questions from students.

Mrs Arhagba thanked our visitors for their time and expertise:

‘Seeing our students actively engaging with professionals like yourselves, asking thoughtful questions, and gaining valuable insights has been truly inspiring. Your presence not only enhanced their learning but also motivated them to explore new academic and vocational possibilities. The impact of your contributions will be felt by our students for years to come as they navigate their own career journeys.’

Enterprising students

Arthur’s Maiden Speech

First 10 Downing Street, then the House of Lords. In May, sixth former Arthur Henriques was selected by Young Enterprise to speak on their behalf at My Maiden Speech, an event organised by Lord McNicol and The Speakers Trust, which showcased young speakers associated with charities discussing topics of relevance in an election year.

Arthur spoke about the difficulties young people face in navigating the highly competitive and demanding London job market and the impact that remote and hybrid work models are having on their confidence and wellbeing. He described Young Enterprise as a ‘beacon of hope’ which has helped him develop his skills in many areas, giving him a chance to show initiative and boosting his confidence.

‘I was incredibly nervous for the whole day. We had a five-hour workshop where we worked on our delivery and body language – the aim was to reduce our anxiety and I found it very helpful. The other students were all encouraging and uplifting. I still felt anxious when it was my turn to speak but I felt a profound lightness when I finished like I never felt before – not in a sense of gladness that it is over, but in a sense of fulfilment. This was a big step for me – it is only the second time I have spoken like this in public, the first time being at the competition for the Young Enterprise north London finals. Despite the nerves I went through, I would do it all again. I will certainly remember this experience for the rest of my life. None of this would have been possible without the support of Mrs Arhagba and Andrea Arhagba.’

Arthur

Have TEFL, will travel

Including native and non-native speakers, English is the most spoken language in the world with 1.515+ billion speakers. The numbers of people wanting to learn are rising, as are opportunities for posts teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). Now, eight GCA sixth formers have taken their first step to being equipped to teach English in the UK and abroad, having completed a two-day course with UK-TEFL.

‘The course showed me the benefits of teaching conversational English through “realia” (objects) and actions. Overall, a valuable experience.’ Maya

‘I enjoy teaching and helping other people, on top of that languages are my passion, so TEFL has been one of the most important opportunities I have even been presented with.’ Maria

‘The course was a fantastic opportunity. I gained valuable skills and knowledge in lesson planning, classroom time management, and language teaching techniques.’ Ashly

10 places on this course will be available for Y12 students in the next academic year. Please speak to Mrs Arhagba if you are interested and ask this year’s course graduates for their views too.

Enterprising students led two charity campaigns. For Children in Need, staff were treated to a week of coffee mornings – with some extra sweet sustenance. Everyone had a chance to pick up cakes at lunchtime and to guess the weight of a full jar of beads.

For Save the Children, Christmas jumpers were the order of the day – along with cash and cakes!

Aspiring teachers

Lunchtime treats

Mr Coles guessed the weight

Coffee morning

Y13 media studies trip to London Lighting

‘Thank you to London Lighting for giving media students excellent hands-on experience of the music video industry. The company gave them free rein to create a video for upcoming artist Big Jest, which involved creating a music video treatment and a follow-up shoot day to record the footage.

‘On the shoot day, they communicated via Eartec whilst operating a camera worth up to £100K. They directed scenes in locations on site whilst creatively directing and, for their efforts, were credited in the video. They met Big Jest, who is keen to work with GCA to provide opportunities in the music industry.

‘This was a great chance to network with London Lighting and DonProdcompanies that have previously worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Idris Elba, Bukayo Saka and Creed. It was also a free experience (extremely hard to find!) with a company keen to show young people pathways into the industry.’ Ms Harrison

Investment banking with NatWest Markets

‘6th form students enjoyed this session with NatWest Markets, led by Oliver Martines, a managing director in their foreign exchange department. Eight representatives from the capital markets, foreign exchange, and interest rates divisions talked about the bank and their dayto-day activities and discussed how to embark on a career in the industry, giving students the benefit of their experience with a presentation, followed by an insightful Q&A session.’ Mr Dillinger

‘The experience was beyond imagined! You never know what the future holds for you so take all opportunities that are provided at your table.’ Yetunde

‘The students’ presentation in assembly was excellent, as they were themselves. This experience has led to onto possibilities of apprenticeships for other students in media. Well done to Ms Harrison and the group.’ Mr Holt

Jasmine gets a little help from her friends

In addition to their A levels, GCA sixth formers lead on a project designed to achieve an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This is an A-level standard, standalone qualification, designed to extend and develop their abilities beyond the A-level syllabus and prepare them for university or their future career.

Students research a topic not covered by their other studies, produce a written report and, in the case of practical projects, an artefact or a production. Jasmine chose to demonstrate her skills by creating a meal with a range of cuisines.

‘The aim was to show that it is easy to make cultural foods and attainable to anyone. I created a full course meal with limited ingredients on a budget of £50, targeted mainly at university students but applying to anyone. The dishes were inspired by cuisines including Jamaican, Indian, Senegalese/Gambian, English and Mauritian. The menu consisted of apple crumble, thiakery, onion bhajis, sweet and sour chicken balls, rasta pasta, chickpea curry with roti and pakoras.’ Jasmine

Honourable mentions to helpers: Morris, Sheeba, Jude, Ms MacDonald and Mr Letford.

thinking

Getting to grips

On location

Learning from the past

Ally Pally

Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) first opened in May 1873, so last year was its 150th anniversary – and they have been celebrating ever since with lots of activities in the park and the Palace.

In January, a group of Y8s visited the Palace. ‘We enjoyed a tour and heard tales of parachute jumps from the top of the towers and badly behaved Victorian theatregoers. Students channelled their creative energy into a workshop in which they created a “living museum” by acting out some of the events that they had found out about the Palace’s history.’ Ms Axelrod

A special workshop in a special place

‘Year 7s had a special workshop on local history at Bruce Castle Museum, a Grade I listed 16th-century manor house in Tottenham. They particularly enjoyed the Windrush exhibition which included the opportunity to dress up in clothes from the 1940s, donated by Windrush migrants, and returned with lots of fun facts about Haringey in times gone by.’ Ms Axelrod

‘It was interesting to look at pictures from the past and to see how places such as Wood Green and Tottenham have evolved until today.’ Ernest, 7TE

‘I enjoyed looking at different maps to see how the local area has changed over time and trying on the 1940s clothes.’ Margot, 7SD

From local history to ancient times

A Year 7 group explored the beliefs and myths of the ancient Greeks with the help of digital technology at the British Museum.

‘We learned about the gifts offered to Athena, such as the elegant clothes she liked so much, and about Hephaestus, the god of fire and metalworking. We used anvils to learn about the everyday life of blacksmiths. We found sculptures in the gallery and copied a pose in front of a green scene, and then we used a tablet to place ourselves in the photo of the sculpture.’ Mert and Ernest, 7TE

Marbelys, 7DC, posed as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom

‘I love reading and watching videos of Greek mythology and I loved seeing the statues and sculptures in the museum. Athena is my favourite. I didn’t know until now that people offered gifts, including animals, to the gods.’

History we must never forget

Generation to Generation is a Holocaust Education Charity, which aims to ensure that the experiences of the Holocaust are not forgotten or denied. Gloria and Alan Silver talked to Year 9 students about Gloria’s father Tony, who escaped from Nazi-occupied Poland and made an incredible journey, jumping from a train to escape deportation to a concentration camp and skiing from Denmark to Sweden across the frozen sea.

Katerina, Gabriel and Onyinyechukwu, 9AM, said that Gloria’s testimony taught them that every young person should learn about the Holocaust to help understand why and how it happened, how it is relevant today and to help counter antisemitism and Holocaust denial: ‘We have to learn so we don’t repeat.’ They also appreciated Gloria’s message about the power of determination and resilience: ‘Gloria’s father just kept going, despite everything.’

Fun, food & fitness

‘200 primary pupils descended on GCA for an actionpacked week of fun, food & fitness over the Easter holidays – trampolining, basketball, football and learning to speak Mandarin. They put their cookery (and tasting!) skills to the test, baking toothsome (but seriously healthy) treats. Many thanks to all our staff and to the sixth formers who worked so hard to ensure everyone had a fun and enjoyable week –Abishana, Rozerin, Heaven, Mano, Jayden, Klaudia, Spyros, Maksymilian and Christian.’ Ms Frewin

‘‘Highlights include ... the clear flexibility of the programme to suit the needs and wishes of the children attending. The cooking sessions are a particular highlight, as you can see that participants are having some of their first experiences of cooking and creating happy, positive memories around food and nutrition.’ Lottie, Haringey Council HAF Manager

‘Thank you, Lottie, for your lovely feedback.’ Ms Frewin

Zoe, Y7, who took the bronze medal in the Jack Petchey London Schools Table Tennis Individual final.

Conall, Y10, on becoming Middlesex County AA Under 17 Javelin Champion.

Joseph, Y10, Shyne, Y9 and John-Matthew, Y12, for taking first place in the Island Sailing Club Christchurch Bay Race in the smallest boat in the race – GCA’s faithful mini tonner, Riot. Tremendously loud cheers for GCA’s three other teams taking part!

Jessye and Samiya, Y13, for a valiant performance in the RSYC West Princessa Race.

Corneille, Felipe and Max, accompanied by coach Matt Reid (there is no stopping this crew!) on winning the Sir Kenneth Preston Trophy – a STUNNING achievement in a senior regatta against high-calibre teams. It is even more of an achievement given that their skipper Corneille had never helmed in an Etchells regatta before. Cue applause!

Zoe

Conall

Greig City Academy is a Church of England co-educational comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 19.

‘Show by a good life that your works are done by gentleness born of wisdom.’

James 3:13

GCA’s Principal Paul Sutton OBE, BSc (Hons), MA

GCA’s Chair of Governors Hugh Reynolds MA Oxon

Sponsorship

The Greig Trust and the Church of England sponsor Greig City Academy. David Greig, a successful local businessman, founded the Greig Trust in memory of his parents in 1949. The Trust was established to provide funds to assist in the education of Hornsey children in accordance with the Christian faith.