CR March 2015

Cranford Review

Cranford Community College awarded

Weare delighted to announce Cranford Community College has been successful in achieving Artsmark Gold-Artsmark Gold is nationally recognised as demonstrating excellence in the arts and cultural provision. In addition, we are now ‘Artsmark Ambassadors’ and will be supporting other schools and organisations in developing their arts provision.

This recognition reflects the value we place on the arts at Cranford Community College and the impact it has, in shaping the lives of our students, staff and the wider community. There has always been a strong tradition of high quality arts provision at Cranford and this status confirms our continuing commitment to embrace all the opportunities available to us through the arts and to provide an inclusive curriculum, celebrating and promoting all talents and interests of our school community.

Some of the most notable successes of our arts provision in recent years cited in our application included: art exhibitions, “Barnum” (school production), a flash mob event, summer festival, activities week, dance projects working with outside arts agencies and various music concerts. In addition the introduction of our unique WFactor programme has embraced the arts, with an inclusive variety of activities delivered by both arts and non-arts specialists.

The Artsmark assessor, who visited the school in mid-September 2014, was so impressed with what she saw, not just within the arts provision in practice but how the arts are celebrated around the school. She said it was clear the arts are integral to the life of the school and we are a flagship of good practice which other schools could learn from.

Kevin Prunty, Executive Headteacher said of the award; “Congratulations to the Artsmark team at Cranford, led by Mo Wasiq, Head of Music. I am delighted the hard work, talent and enthusiasm of our staff and students have been recognised in this way. It is a real testament to the quality of art provision we have and the value we place on the arts at Cranford”.

We have a wealth of experience, talent and activities running with an arts’ focus and in true Cranford style we’re not stopping there. We’re seeking new and innovative ways of embedding the arts further into the life of the school, including; more cross curricular activities, trips and events, setting up an “Arts Alumni” for former staff and students, seeking funding both for new and innovative arts projects, working with more schools and in partnership with external organisations.

This is an exciting time for the arts in Cranford and we want to work with you, to become the leaders and innovators of the arts. So if you’re interested, get in touch.

Mohammed Wasiq (Head of Music Department)

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance”.

Aristotle

“At Cranford Community College you believe passionately in the arts, and regard them as essential to individual development and a vital element of a rounded education”.

Artsmark Validator

Art Students on the Lord Mayors Float

On 14th November 2014, Dillon Chuhan and Tania Pereira (year 12) took to the London streets to mark the historic 800th year of the Lord Mayor’s Show. They were in the ancient pageant alongside veterans, dancers, horses and community groups. Dillon and Tania were chosen to represent the National Saturday Art Club on the Lord Mayor’s Float. The float was designed by the 3D industrial designer Ben Wilson. The articulated lorry was transformed into a mobile art studio and the students created masterpieces as the float made its way through the streets of London. When Dillon and Tania were offered the opportunity to take part they showed great maturity and commitment in their approach to the event. They worked well with the event co-ordinators and the event was truly enjoyable. I am proud that they were able to be part of something of such a grand scale. The experience, atmosphere and scale of the pageant were overwhelming and it was an honour that Cranford Community College students were chosen to represent the club. The ancient pageant culminated in a spectacular fireworks display over the Thames.

“This experience allowed me to make new friends and challenge my own boundaries when it comes to art and experiment with different types of ways to make art”.

Dillon Chuhan (year 12)

“I was one of 30 people who were on the float and it was a fantastic experience. Half of the people including me were drawing while the rest of the group were standing up using the moving float mechanism designed by Ben Wilson. It was challenging drawing while the float was moving but it was a new and fun experience”.

Tania Pereira (year 12)

Permjeet Hunt (Assistant Head of Art Design and Technology)

Trip to the National and Tate Modern Galleries

Students from year 10 gained an invaluable cultural experience when they visited both the Tate Modern and National Gallery. They were introduced to a range of art work from Monet and Van Gogh to Miro and Giacometti. They really enjoyed the experience and it helped students to visualise how and where they could extend their own learning. The group really benefitted from gaining first-hand experience of viewing artwork and were amazed that they were able to see paintings such as the ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’ which they had studied in previous years. The students gained a great insight into both modern and traditional artwork and were able to see important pieces of art which will further extend their learning.

Permjeet Hunt (Assistant Head of Art Design and Technology)

“The trip was really interesting as I saw different pieces of art and I never thought that some of these pieces could be thought of as art”.

Shahir Nejrabi (year 10)

“I found the experience really enjoyable. In the Tate the work was really abstract and modern and at the National gallery I saw a lot of oil paintings. At the top of the Tate museum was some installation art which had TVs that displayed different images. This worked well as it made a picture from a distance. That was my favourite piece”.

Angelina Syan (year 10)

“Your students are encouraged in the arts and well supported, which allows for individual talents and gifts to emerge, which are closely observed in each arts area, through pupil’s performance, and specific opportunities to further extend these”.

Sixth Form Research Experience at the V&A

Art Design and Technology students went to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London during September 2014. It is the world’s largest museum of decorative art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The students were able to collect valuable research for their unit in AS and A2 art and design. The experience is always enriching as they were able to see different exhibitions for the first time which was enjoyed by all.

Ruby Qureshi (Head of Art Design and Technology)

Artsmark Validator

“Circus of Sin”

The year 13 devised project performance took place in early December 2014 and, as with previous years, the quality and challenge of the piece was of a very high standard and not for the faint hearted

The stimulus for the devised piece was “Sin and Sacrifice”. At the beginning of the process the students received a pack giving historical, religious, political, aesthetic, social and cultural contexts and stories to steer them in the direction to explore deeper and get to the nub of the theme. This research informed their devising process, where they begin to explore the complexities of the human condition by asking questions such as, “What makes who we are?” “Why do we behave in particular ways?” “Why do we give into temptation?” “Are we born evil or are we a product of our experience and environment?” “Will attitudes to women ever really change?”

Students go through an array of questions, experimenting with ideas, rejecting ideas...the process is not an easy one.....where they fall out with each other, but come together because there is something unique about being a student of theatre....the art form binds them. The process involved students being honest with each other, even when things got difficult, but what was essential that they finally worked things through and grew as young people to make theatre.

‘Circus of Sin’ was an Artaudian style of theatre, based on Antonin Artaud’s “Theatre of Cruelty”, where the audience is shocked and there is an aspect of catharsism: a release of emotions, where you are left feeling uncomfortable. Based around the seven deadly sins, wrath, greed, lust, envy, sloth, pride and gluttony the piece is framed within a circus, with the ring master (the devil) tempting his ‘acts’ (the magician, the tightrope walker, the body builder and the ribbonist) to go deeper into the realms of committing the ultimate sin, give up their morals, their values, themselves and follow her wholeheartedly. Each of them gives in to the temptation, because of their own desires and needs and there is no way out.

The performers pushed the boundaries and were successful in shocking the audience with some harrowing scenes and insights: an experience that will never be forgotten by both the audience and the performers.

“Extra-curricular opportunities in the arts encompass a broad range to extend curriculum learning which help to further enthuse and inspire students.

Inclusion and accessibility are fundamental and you are dedicated to ensuring that there are no barriers to any student’s participation. This is demonstrated in the high participation and achievement figures in an extensive range of arts activities”.

Seema Sethi (Head of Creative and Media Faculty)

Artsmark Validator

Richard III Shakespeare In Schools Festival

When the email pinged into my inbox about the Shakespeare in Schools Festival (SSF), I was very excited. I had been involved before in my previous schools in India (via Skype) and was aware of the value of a project like this for both the students and staff. SSF is a project where students across the country (and the world) get the opportunity to work with professional artists and perform on a professional stage, which means that the quality of the piece has to be professional and our cast rose to that challenge. The transformation of the cast from the auditions to the final performance at Presentation Evening was immense. They changed as people and as drama students (not that you can really separate the two). They have changed because of the experience, and I can see this in my lessons; how they are prepared to take more risks, be more confident and more independent and more critical and creative.

I always had a fear of Shakespeare when I was at school and I think experiences like this take that fear

“I was stunned and so proud to have seen last night’s performance which was amazing, professional and thoroughly enjoyable. The students were brilliant”.

Kevin Prunty (Executive Headteacher)

“It was truly incredible. I have such a great love for drama and this was such an awesome experience and opportunity that I’ll always cherish and remember”.

Sahithya Natarajan (Murderer/Company)

away: where the spoken language becomes natural and not a barrier, where you begin to realise just how amazing Shakespeare is and how relevant the themes are in our world today. I decided to do Richard III because I wanted to explore the theme of power and greed and how far one would go to get that with Richard going as far as killing his nephews. He is prepared to get rid of anyone and anything that comes in his way, which resonates with some of what we are experiencing around us every day.

Students from years 9, 10, 11 and 12 rehearsed during Wfactor, after school and on two Saturdays to create the performance, first at the Beck Theatre in Hayes alongside other schools, then at school and finally they performed at Presentation Evening to an audience of parents, invited guests and students.

The project involved the students working with professional actors during the cast workshop at the Beck, and the teachers attending a training course to work with directors. The technical rehearsal on the day of the performance was nerve wracking as the students have never worked on a stage so large but they filled the space with their bodies, their voices and their confidence.

Cranford Park Primary school performed A Mid summer Night’s Dream and it was wonderful to see younger students so confident and comfortable with the text, enjoying every moment. And then it was us: 30 minutes of excellent performances and it was over.

I look forward to being involved in the SSF next year looking at Hamlet, Taming of the Shrew or King Lear. SSF 2015 here we come.

Seema Sethi (Head of Creative and Media Faculty)

“It was a true honour to be part of this captivating project with Ms Sethi who helped us incredibly. It helped me find my inner passion for drama”.

Samet Canli (Buckingham)

“It was an amazing experience playing a role as prestigious as Richard III. It gave me an opportunity to enhance my drama skills, learn and understand Shakespeare as well as portray my true passion for drama”.

Hasan Almosoy (Richard III)

“Being in Richard III allowed me to be more confident, get better English language and improve my stage performance experience”.

Eliza Thapa (Company)

Presentation Evening 2014

“A Time for Reflection”

Presentation of Awards Evening was held on Thursday, 20th November 2014. This wonderful event held annually, celebrates the achievements of students over the previous academic year with an invited audience of parents, students, staff, members of the Academy Trust and invited guests from education and industry. It is always an evening full of wonderful surprises and lots of happy smiling faces as we share with everyone why individual students have been awarded and what makes them such worthy winners.

This year the theme for the evening was “A Time for Reflection”, a theme very much in keeping with the current First World War centenary events, which Cranford featured in our activities week programme during the summer term.

The evening is a packed programme of speeches, awards and entertainment ably hosted by the student Leadership Quartet and, as is our tradition, a high profile guest

speaker to present the awards. This year we were delighted to welcome Philip Beard, Chief Executive Officer, Queens Park Rangers Football Club to present the awards. He made an inspiring speech about determination and achievement as he reflected upon his own career and his current role with QPR.

The Leadership Quartet opened the proceedings by sharing their own personal reflections and set the purpose of the evening for everyone; “The school has given us memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives, and tonight we are going to celebrate such memories as it is, after all, the time for reflection”.

The entertainment this year once again showcased the various talents of our students in the performance arts and confirmed why we have been awarded the Gold Artsmark. The year 10 band gave a very polished rendition of Coldplay’s “The Scientist”, the Year 7 choir topped and tailed the programme with their performances of “Rather

Be” and “Happy” accompanied by the staff band and we were treated to a stunning extract of “Richard III” by the students who had performed at the Beck Theatre as part of the Shakespeare in Schools Project. Philip Beard was clearly impressed on the high quality performances; “How do you follow that?” he said; “I feel quite unprepared by comparison”.

A special award, presented by Jenny Lewis, in memory of her husband, Rod Lewis, was awarded to John Grant, former student, for his amazing contribution to Cranford Community College and resilience. John was given a standing ovation. After much applause, speeches, prize giving and celebration everyone enjoyed light refreshments and a chance to catch up with the prize winners, some of whom are now at university and their families, to reflect on the evening and all the happy memories at Cranford.

Jessica Joyce (Event Organiser)

India with

“Free The Children”... ...A Personal Journey of Discovery

Iwas really lucky to have to opportunity to travel to India with “FreeTheChildren” and volunteer in a under-privileged village in Udaipur with 28 other students. It was amazing to experience a completely different culture. In our time there we helped build better facilities such as toilets and fencing around Udaiwad Primary School.

I first got involved with FreeTheChildren when I volunteered as a ‘Crowd Pumper’ at WEDAY 2014. It is an event organised by FreeTheChildren to inspire young people to make social change. After the event I applied for the scholarship trip.

I absolutely enjoyed Udaipur but especially building at the school because after seeing the kids we realised how vital it was for the school to be improved so hopefully more families in the village could send their kids to school as the village is extremely poor and education is so important.

In Udaiwad Primary School, there is a small number of teachers and they have poor facilities so the teachers really appreciated our help and they’re so passionate about the children receiving an education. It was a nice feeling knowing that we’ve made a positive impact in their village.

The building was very hands-on and involved passing bricks, sand and rocks uphill to the school, laying the bricks around the school, using the sand, cement powder and water to make cement and a lot of digging. It was great fun playing games with the kids, the language barrier was never a problem as we had so much fun playing their favourite game ‘kibaddi’ which they are pros at.

I’m really grateful that I got to see that India is such a beautiful country because of the warm welcome the people gave us, plus the scenery, nice food and music as well as their huge temples and insane driving and I got to share this experience with 30 people I’ve never met before from all over the UK. We all made crazy friendships I won’t ever forget.

I hope to try to build a partnership between Cranford Community and FreeTheChildren and hopefully other students from Cranford can get involved with FreeTheChildren events and apply for FreeTheChildren scholarship trips as it completely free and open to all students in the UK.

If you would like to learn more about these opportunities please come and talk to me in the sixth form.

Josiah Mutupa (year 13)

Autumn Term Music Notes

Year 7 - Vocal Concert

The music events of the autumn term kicked off this year with the year 7 Vocal Concert on Wednesday, 22nd October 2014. Year 7 classes had been practising all term in their music lessons to produce some really impressive performances to a packed audience.

We started the concert with a bang, singing a cover of Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be”, accompanied by the staff band: Mr Wambua on drums, Mr Kalsey on bass, Mr Myers on keyboard, Mr Singh on guitar and Ms Hibbins playing her flute. This lively, upbeat number was the highlight for many of the students and parents.

We then heard individual songs from Berkeley Primary School Choir and each year 7 class in turn. These performances showcased the students’ creativity as they each had a hand in creating their final performance, arranging the different parts or writing raps.

The grand finale was a performance of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”, involving all the students and the staff band again. Year 7 were singing with such energy and enthusiasm that they left the whole audience tapping their feet.

“It was amazing and everyone loved it”.

James Blandford (year 7)

“The year 7 concert was a great success and I hope I will have another opportunity to show my talents. Everyone was eager and ready to sing and rock the stage”.

Jasveen Kaur (year 7)

“The concert ended with “Happy” which was a pleasant way to end the evening as the staff band also accompanied our singing and created a pleasing sound indeed and made everyone happy”.

Yashveer Kang (year 7)

“Student voice and leadership are taken very seriously as an important aspect of school life and individual development. This is very evident in conversation with pupils, for example the range of arts activities suggested by them and now enjoyed, leading arts activities, organising the daily Blue Spot programme, student-led productions and performances and the Teaching Assistant opportunities at Sixth form level”.

Artsmark Validator

Christmas Concert

The Cranford Christmas Concert was held this year on Wednesday, 10th December 2014. For the first time we had students from every year group involved and a diverse range of performances: from Christmas Carols to pop classics, including numbers by; Magic, Coldplay and Jesse J, combined with dhol drumming and raps written by the students.

We once again heard from the school’s NOfA ensemble, the Christmas piece written specially for the project last year. The National Orchestra for All (NOfA) is an organisation that aims to provide any enthusiastic student, regardless of ability, with opportunities to participate in ensemble music making. Last year they launched the Conductors for Change (CFC) project which supports schools in expanding these opportunities and performing music together. Our school’s ensemble is made up of 30 students from KS3 and 4 who all played together in an exhilarating performance of Winter Groove.

Thank you to all the students, too numerous to mention by name, who took part in this wonderful concert.

The school’s NOfA ensemble are currently rehearsing in WFactor and are preparing for another concert, building on the success of the last, which will be held in the Memorial garden on Wednesday 2nd July 2015 .

Music

On Wednesday, 17th December 2014, we held a very special music GCSE showcase, as for many of the students involved, this was their final solo performance before their exams. There was an impressive range of performances from year 10 and 11 students, including Carnatic music played on Indian Classical instruments, and performances which had been sequenced on the computers as well as a range of singers, guitarists, drummers and keyboard players. The performances were of a very high standard, including 3 A* graded performances. The audience was thrilled. Well done to everyone involved: a lovely way to end the Autumn term.

“Awareness and understanding of cultural diversity is developed through the arts and students learn to respect and to recognise one another’s cultures as an important part of their own personal development. This is strongly evidenced in conversations, displays of student work and workshops in progress”.

Artsmark Validator

Leah Mirsky (Music Department)

Conversations with

In November 2014, Cranford Community College welcomed Amy Walters, guest speaker to the sixth form as part of the school’s ongoing “Conversations with America” programme. Amy is a leading American political analyst, currently serving as national editor of “The Chook Political Report”. Before this, she served as the political director of ABC News, based in Washington, DC.

During her visit she spoke about a wide range of issues from gun crime, tackling homelessness to America’s international relations. During the session a number of important questions were raised: why American citizens felt so strongly about bearing arms, if and how the American health system could ever become free to all American citizens and how America supported her allies. She tackled questions about emotive and sensitive issues head on and respected that there were some things which we were bound to see differently, but enabled us to articulate our questions and views too.

Shukri Ahmed (year 13)

“The first of the “Conversations with the America” conference was an insightful experience. The panel was very keen to discuss misconceptions that the mainstream media have created regarding Palestine, Israel and the United States. A number of issues were highlighted including the similarities and differences between British and American foreign policy. The panel approached sensitive and controversial topics such as America’s support for Israel during the establishment of the state of Israel during 1949-51 in a manner which allowed the students to fully comprehend things they may not have considered before the session”.

The most refreshing thing about the first of the “Conversations with America” conference was that although representing their government and explaining things from a certain perspective, they were also talking off the record and so were providing a personal opinion which at many times wasn’t “the party line”. This enabled students to see that situations are never as black or white as they might seem and plenty of people within America question the pressures and motives that drive foreign policy in particular.

In October 2014, Cranford welcomed Jonathan Peccia, the Middle East specialist, and Jamie Martin, the Deputy Cultural Attaché to begin our “Conversations with America” programme for sixth form.

Mehmoona Yousaf (Head of RE Department)

Yasmin Ismail (year 13)

Leading American Political Analyst Amy Walters

Jonathan Peccia and Jamie Martin

US ambassador praises Cranford students for helping preserve “special relationship”

The US ambassador to the UK, Mathew Barzun, visited Cranford Community College on Wednesday, 3rd December 2014 as part of the ‘Conversations with America’ programme to foster trans-Atlantic links. He praised students for helping preserve the ‘special relationship’ between the two countries.

He is the latest in a series of diplomats and political commentators to visit the school as part of the initiative and talk about issues affecting those in both nations.

He spoke to sixth form students about topics ranging from the space programme to tensions in Ferguson, Missouri, where an unarmed black teenager was shot dead by a police officer.

Student Abrar Al-Habtari said: “It was great to meet the US ambassador and have the opportunity for him to explain why the US behaves the way it does. It was useful to understand the influences that help shape US foreign policy.”

Mr Barzun ended his visit by presenting US embassy medals to students Gugandeep Banga and Kheshraw Hashemi in recognition of their contribution to the ‘Conversations with America’ scheme.

Alan Fraser (Assistant Headteacher)

to meet the Ambassador of the USA was a privilege, gaining an insightful perspective of American thoughts was highly interesting and engaging”.

Aisha Akhtar (year 13)

“The US Ambassador covered sensitive issues that concerned everyone which made us feel acknowledged. He was open to answering our questions”.

Ragganpreet Singh (year 13)

“The conference with the US Ambassador was very interesting and allowed me to see the problems in the USA that we are all aware of, from a different, more in-depth perspective. It was a privilege to be a part of the conference and I feel like it benefited us as I have more understanding of US laws and foreign policy”.

Naukiran Sonik (year 13)

“It was interesting and useful, especially the first half seeing the difference of opinions. I think it was good to hear an American explanation and perspective to all of the issues they have in America”.

Karina Sangha (year 13)

Cranford Community College student wins Fulbright Scholarship

Gugandeep Banga, a sixth form student from Cranford Community College and now a Fulbright Scholar, woke up his family during the early hours of Tuesday, 16th December 2014 to celebrate the news that he had won a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to read sciences and English at New York University and its global affiliates.

Gugandeep beat off stiff competition from students around the globe to achieve this prestigious award.

Gugandeep achieved 6 A* and 6 A at GCSE and is on track to score top grades at A-level this summer. Cranford is a former language college and maintains an international perspective as part of its Academy submission giving a particular focus to linking with the highest performing schools and education systems in the world.

Gugandeep has been involved in Cranford’s High Achievers Programme and joined the ‘Cranford Fellows Group’ in key stage 4 which involved, for example, spending time visiting some high profile UK universities including Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Oxford and Cambridge. He was introduced to the Sutton Trust & Fulbright Association programmes in a High Achievers’ workshop and he asked Cranford’s High Achievers Champion, Ms Katie Hibbins (pictured above), to

support him with his application and become his ‘Fulbright Counsellor’. Ms Hibbins agreed and Gugandeep submitted his application in January 2014.

In April 2014, Gugandeep was selected to attend a residential week at UCL London and underwent some intensive selection exercises, interviews and exams. The students were judged by academics from the Ivy League universities involved in the programme, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Yale, New York University, Stanford, Dartmouth and Columbia.

The candidates were then narrowed down to 100 students who travelled to a summer residential at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts for more gruelling challenges, and then on to visit each of the top flight US universities in the programme. Gugandeep initially applied to read sciences but was offered the opportunity to read sciences and English in part because the Harvard professors were also impressed and touched by a poem he wrote about his personal experiences called ‘Snowflakes’. His poem was published in an anthology by First Story, a national charity established at Cranford Community College by Katie Waldegrave, then Head of History, to encourage creative writing in schools in areas with higher levels of deprivation.

Kevin Prunty, Executive Headteacher said “It was a sleepless night waiting for the news of Gugandeep’s success but I and the whole school are elated this morning and so proud of what Gugandeep and the staff that supported him have achieved. This is a truly rare and exceptional accomplishment and an inspiration to others”.

The scholarship will see him move to New York ‘in the fall’ and includes everything he needs: his tuition fees, books, accommodation, board, a living allowance, medical insurance and flights home twice a year. Additionally the travel scholarship gives him the opportunity to stay in New York for some or all of the three year degree but includes flights and costs to allow him, should he chooses, to study at a different NYU worldwide campus each semester. NYU has 14 campuses worldwide in places such as Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires. Cranford has long established and strong partnerships with some of these centres such as Shanghai and Singapore and will continue to support Gugandeep on his study journeys.

Gugandeep’s ambition is to continue beyond his degree and undertake post-graduate studies leading to a career in medical research.

Connecticut. Massachusetts. Rhode Island. New York. Abu Dhabi. Five cities in less than 5 months

Gugandeep reflects on his journey to success…

In December 2013, I made a conscious decision to apply to a programme more competitive than medicine at Oxbridge. I was competing against over 12 other applicants from across the globe for one of the few prestigious places on the Sutton Trust US Programme which is aimed at gifted state school students considering an American Higher Education. I was fortunate enough, after a rigorous selection process, to be one of the lucky participants to be accepted onto the programme. The penultimate aspect of the programme was the week-long trip to the US in the summer of 2014 to visit various US universities; I visited the world’s number one university, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), along with Yale, Harvard, Princeton and many more. As an added bonus, all my expenses where paid, from flights to food to sample lectures. The trip allowed me to experience university life and education at an American institution, which ultimately aided my decision in pursuing a degree at an American university.

On arrival back in the UK, I had to decide on whether the UK or US higher education path would better suit me and I chose the US path. What is unique about the US higher education system, is the opportunity for more than just an education. Though the application process is far more demanding and time-consuming, US universities look for students that not only have the academic potential, but also will make a positive impact on the campus community. Unlike a personal statement here in the UK, applicants are required to submit various, lengthy essays, which are truly personal. The US ethos of assessing applicant to universities is why I chose to pursue study there. Additionally, the Liberal Arts Education System, where students are taught more

fields of study than just their degree, is by far more apt for young adults, who find it hard to decide on a career path at such a young age.

Whilst researching at which American university I wished to pursue my degree, I came across New York University. My interest for NYU was great, and I was privileged enough to be nominated for a full scholarship at the institution. Mid-November came, and I received an email stating I was a scholarship finalist. I was one of only seven in the entire world to be invited for interviews at NYU’s luxurious campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I fly out less than 2 weeks later on another all expenses paid trip to Abu Dhabi, where I had to have my interviews.

On Tuesday, 16th December 2014 at 00:45am, I received an email affirming that I won the full, prestigious scholarship to study at NYU. The scholarship covers not only my tuition, room, board and 2 flights home each year, but also covers travel around the world at the various campuses of NYU for my 4 years of undergraduate study.

I am so thankful and still overwhelmed by this achievement. It has not sunk in yet. I would personally like to thank Ms Hibbins, Ms Swaminathan, Ms Stokes and Ms Brooks for helping in the application process and all my teachers, friends and family who have been so supportive. I am now helping prospective Cranford students considering US higher education, and advising the school on how to overcome the challenges I experienced during the process to encourage more students to consider US study, be it undergraduate or postgraduate.

Cranford Community College opens new ASD Centre

The newest addition to Cranford Community College is its ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) Centre. The Picasso Centre has a cohort of four students at present but has capacity for up to fifteen students eventually. The students follow a part mainstream and part centre-based curriculum and report that they feel “settled and really happy to be at Cranford” where they have been highly enjoying mainstream science and PE lessons as well as the varied activities of Wednesday’s WFactor. BMX biking has been a big hit but so too have been their experiences with both exotic animals and foods from around the world. Myron, Joe, Tyler and Billy – pictured above – have reported that they feel they have built really good relationships with all of the teachers they have come into contact with; not just the teachers who have taught them, but those who either drop in to the centre for a visit, or who watched them perform recently during an evening of entertainment at the school. Indeed, the ASD rap that Myron, Joe and Tyler created – along with Ms Mirsky - was an outstanding way to kick the concert off and the many parents and teachers who attended were highly impressed by their drumming and rapping skills.

ASD itself is a neurological disorder and it is important for the students who attend our new centre to be given the necessary encouragement and education in order to cope with their needs. Mr Parris, Ms Basu and Ms Freeman work tirelessly to ensure that the students are able to access their learning in the mainstream, but that they are also able to understand the social complications of everyday human life – something which ASD

individuals find incredibly hard. ASD also means that navigating the “changes” which occur daily is an enormous difficulty. To this end, on the first TI day which the school held in December 2014, Myron, Joe and Tyler had a whole “day of change”: one which Ms Freeman is proud to report went “remarkably well – a day we will never forget” and showed the students how change can be a force that is positive rather than something to be feared and shied away from.

The centre is also really happy to have had so many visitors from the mainstream: including the daily visits from Kevin Clarke and Arun Sharma who act as mentors to the centre students. These year 10 students have gone through many interventions during their last three years at Cranford and have a deep understanding of how it feels to be labelled as “different”. This is why their empathy with the ASD students is so strong and so vitally important. They are able to tap into their own experiences and offer valuable insights to our ASD students.

When asked to name some of their most enjoyable moments at CCC, the centre students referred to their “stadium building project” (seen pictured above) as this required them to tap into all of their learning from the past four months and work solidly as a team to create something they could really be proud of. Pride is what the ASD students are currently feeling as their results in end of term test show that they are making really significant progress: progress that they could not – and would not – have made otherwise.

Philip Dobison (Assistant Head of School)

“Breaking the Cycle” comes to Cranford

On Wednesday, 3rd and 10th September 2014 we welcomed to Cranford Community College “Breaking the Cycle”, an international programme that aims to inspire young people to make positive choices in life. Breaking the Cycle speakers act as role models, telling their personal life stories to illustrate how they have overcome violence and tragedy through forgiveness and can point the students in the right direction.

In January 2008, “Breaking the Cycle” came to England from the USA and has attracted speakers eager to promote the message of non-violent conflict resolution to British teens. Through school assemblies, their goal is to educate and encourage students that revenge is never the answer and that

although forgiveness takes a great deal of courage, it is the best way to resolve conflicts.

Their message is clear: all teenagers and adults are special, they are unique, and that someone cares about them. They can make a difference in the world today.

Students across the school said they were inspired by the message of the presentation and enjoyed the opportunity for debate topics relevant to young people today. The guest speakers commented upon how impressed they were with the students at Cranford, their mature questioning and keenness to learn from their experiences.

Jessica Joyce (Events Organiser)

Year 7 Science Excellence Cards Competition

Inthe autumn term 2014, all year 7 students took part in a competition to design a reward postcard for the science department. The winning designs will be featured on the front of these postcards awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding attitude to learning in their science lessons. Over 200 fantastic designs were submitted covering all fields and areas of science. The standard of the entries was amazing which made our decision so difficult to find an overall winner so we agreed to recognise submissions from five students whose designs really captured the diversity, fun and learning opportunities in science.

Huge congratulations from the science department and thank you to everyone who took part in the competition.

Chetan Shingadia (Science Department)

Shreya Shrestha

Harkiran Kaur

Diogo Atouiga

Aliza Abbas

Anjali Bhamra

Sixth Form Study Centre 10 Year Celebration

Istarted working at Cranford five years ago. When I first saw the then Year 13 Study Centre, I had the same feeling most people do; amazed by its elegance, the stylish sea creatures and the academically focused environment overflowing with amazing resources inspiring young people to learn. Five years on and now in charge of the centres, I was delighted to organise for former and current staff and students a get-together to look back over the last 10 years and celebrate what the study centre means to the sixth form now and in the past.

I don’t think any other school facilitates and encourages independent learning as well as Cranford. Schools and boroughs around the country are struggling to keep the doors of their libraries open, while we continue to grow here at Cranford and we are recognised for these outstanding study facilities for our students and the support they are given by the study centre team. The study centre provides a calm and academic environment for students to work with a wealth of

Where Are They Now ?

Amarpal Singh Khuttan (2004-2011)

Studying Linguistics, Hindi and Chinese Mandarin at the School of Oriental and African Studies

“It was the place where the turning point happened during which I realised I wanted to study Linguistics at university”.

resources. Students can always rely on us to support them and they have the materials they need for studying. The mature, professional and highly motivating environment promotes aspiration and independent learning needed for young people to succeed at work or in further education.

One fantastic person who has been dedicated to that vision from the start is Ms Clare Ghazi-Harsiny. She has dedicated and whole-heartedly committed herself to support the vision that was created 10 years ago. The service wouldn’t be what is today without her and everyone knows that we can rely on her to do the same for many more years to come

We really value the impact the Study Centre has made on students past and present and want to share this with everyone.

Mahavir Ladva (Learning Resources and Study Centres Manager)

Bhavdeep Singh Grewal (2000-2007)

Statutory Auditor Lubbock Fine (Chartered Accountants)

“It was just a great place to study. A quiet place where you could get your work done”.

An Evening to Reminisce

Tenyears ago, the centre was a ground breaking innovation. 6th form students were introduced to the concept of independent study whereby they worked by themselves and actively took ownership of their own learning. Thus the Centre was, and still is, a dedicated silent working environment. The educational and life skills that are developed through independent learning equally benefited those students who intended to go on to university and those students who had decided upon different career pathways - thus making the Centre all inclusive.

The original flyer boasted of “outstanding facilities and resources to help our sixth form research and study for their courses at intermediate and advanced level”. The Centre did not disappoint. There were 24 XP Computers (we have now moved on to Windows 7 and the use of extra laptops) and 30 individual carrels for private study (which have also increased). Included was a soft seat UCAS area for university prospectuses and relevant careers information. In addition there was a large referencing library and displays which highlighted university Open Days, AimHigher strategies, the University League Table, a full time Study Centre Assistant to support students with their research techniques and much more.

The evening turned out to be very special for those who attended, both former students and members of staff. On display were photographs of the students whilst they were in the 6th Form. Beneath these pictures were new photographs of the students as they are now. This “Then and Now” display caused quite a stir not only because the photos showed how much the students had changed and developed but they also reflected their experiences, new careers, or post graduate studies.

For instance, one student had taken time out from his university study to travel the world and was now completing his final year at the School of Oriental and African Studies (The University of London). Another student sent a letter of regret at having to miss the event. The reason being? she was completing her post graduate studies in California. One former student is now a member of staff at Cranford and she spoke movingly about how the Study Centre had supported her studies and introduced her to new and positive ways of self-study. Furthermore, she said that the disciplined ethos that was propagated in the Centre helps her to this day in her new role.

Clare Ghazi-Harsiny (Study Centre Team)

Christopher Nicoll (2004-2011)

Software Developer Pebble Beach Systems

“It taught me the importance of self-study and how to stay focused now in order to reap the benefits of success later”.

Nadia Khan (2003-2010)

Pharmacy pre-registration West Middlesex University Hospital

“It was a lovely comfortable place to study which helped me utilise my time effectively”.

Rugby players help Prince Harry raise money at the ICAP Charity Day

Students from Cranford Community College and Rivers Academy joined Prince Harry to help raise money for charities across the world.

Rugby players from Cranford Community College, in Cranford, and Rivers Academy, in Feltham, joined the prince at the ICAP Charity Day on Wednesday, 3rd December 2014 .

Prince Harry was one of dozens of celebrity brokers who took to the trading floor to raise money as the stockbroking giant ICAP donated all that day’s revenue and commissions to various charities.

Five students from Cranford and five from Rivers Academy were invited to represent the Rugby Football Foundation - one of more than 100 charities benefiting from the £8 million raised on the day.

The money will help support the Foundation’s All Schools programme, being run in conjunction with the Rugby Football Union, to encourage schools without a tradition of playing rugby - like Cranford - to take up the sport.

Students from the two schools formed a guard of honour for Prince Harry, who is the patron of the All Schools programme, as he took to the trading floor. They also met past and present rugby stars helping to raise money at the event in the City.

The All Schools programme was set up in 2012 with the aim of introducing one million pupils at 750 state schools across the country to rugby union ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Kevin Prunty, Executive Headteacher at Cranford Community College, said: “I have been delighted with the way the All Schools programme has helped challenge perceptions and establish rugby as the premier sport for both boys and girls at Cranford.

“It was particularly pleasing to see such rapid progress with one of our school teams competing in the finals alongside schools with longer histories of playing rugby, including Harrow School, London Oratory and Hampton Grammar.”

Cranford student Ajay Turner, who was assigned to help the prince on the trading floor, said: “Harry told us about how he had loved playing rugby and had started as a scrum half but as he grew up he was moved into the second row”.

Report on Middlesex Cricket

Forthe past few months, we have been working with Middlesex Cricket Club coaches in our school to learn how to lead training sessions and the skills needed to do so. We have been taught the easiest and simplest ways of explaining to youngsters about the techniques of bowling, batting and fielding. Working with the Middlesex coaches has been a new thing for me as it has taught me a lot about the basics of coaching whereas I used to only play the wonderful game and had a lot of knowledge of the techniques in cricket, but not the skills to teach it to others. The coaches are very polite, explanative and encouraging. It’s been a total pleasure working with them.

C ranford Community College was one of the five schools selected to take part in a countdown to the 2015 Rugby World Cup on 18th September 2014.

The year 8 students passed an oversized rugby ball 1,104 times from Redlees Park to Twickenham Stadium, without dropping it.

Former England captain, Lawrence Dallaglio OBE, oversaw the event and took part. Although rugby is a male-dominated sport, I found it inspiring that Lawrence encouraged girls to play the sport as well.

Parminderjeet Tamber (year 8)

Winning the netball league was amazing and awesome. It was a great opportunity for us and we can’t wait till next year to take part in this again. Our best match was against Heston Community School and we were exhausted after it. The score was 7-13 to us. We were so glad because lots of people told us they are really hard and competitive, so we were really astonished by the fact that we won. A great effort from all the netball girls and we are looking forward to next year’s challenges.

Aniza Javed (year 8)

Rugby Team Staines Rugby Tournament

On

Wednesday, 17 December 2014 the Year 7 rugby team played a tournament at Staines Rugby Club. We lost the first match but we kept our heads up and kept on trying. The other team was really good and had had more practice than us.

The second match the other team beat us again; they were really fast. Our team was fast but not fast enough. We were not giving up although the weather wasn’t helping either. It was extremely cold and the ground was really wet.

The final match we tried so hard but we kept on getting stuck in the mud. We had so many scrums because we kept on knocking the ball on in front of us when we were stuck. Unfortunately we lost the last game but it was an experience and we had a good time.

On

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the new Sky Sports Centre and were introduced to some of the many graduates, apprentices, and talented young sportsmen and women who have been helped by Sky Academy. Among them were students from Cranford Community College, who have been running sports sessions for local primary school children as part of Sky’s Living for Sports programme.

“The sky sport event was great as I got to meet Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. They were very kind and friendly. We were invited as a school to attend the opening of the new Sky Sports building. I was lucky enough to greet the Royals and shake hands and engage in conversation with them.

It was a great opportunity and a great day out”.

Avisheik Rai (year 11)

Parmveer Dhaliwal (year 7)

Mediaeval Masons Project

During the Autumn term 2014, Cranford students worked alongside skilled masons in the ‘Mediaeval Masons’ project at St. Georges Church in Hanworth. The purpose of the project, part funded by English Heritage, is to rebuild part of the original church wall and educate students to understand something about its history and how traditional masonry techniques and tools are still used today.

Students from years 7-9 have worked on the project, as part of the Volunteering in the Community WFactor. The students come from various faith groups, some of whom had never visited a church before, and they enjoyed learning about the history of the church and seeing a different place of worship. They have gained many skills from learning about the art of masonry to some of the practical skills, such as using a spirit level.

It is wonderful to see the excitement of the students as they learnt carving techniques, mixing up the mortar to match the church, pointing and building the wall, carving their initials, chiselling a curve into flat stone, learning to look at and drawing some sculptures. Some of the techniques used in mediaeval times haven’t changed.

Father Reverend Paul Williamson and Graham, the deputy pastor, have both encouraged and helped the students understand the history and the importance of this project, as have the team from English Heritage, and have been fantastic at capturing the students’ enthusiasm. They commented on how impressed they were with our students who didn’t want to leave the group after their 7 week allocation was over.

Sixth Form Charity group Know Your City

This year as part of Wfactor we have created a charity society which aims to raise awareness of both local and national charity organisations.

As a group of fourteen year 12 and 13 students, we have been working for our local foodbank, Hounslow Foodbox. Our campaign was called “Hunger for Hallowe’en” and we wanted students to donate food to our chosen charity.

To raise awareness about poverty in Britain, we created a presentation for all year group assemblies.

On Monday, 20th October 2014, students brought in donations. We were overwhelmed and thankful for all the generous contributions, and hope this will continue in the future. Thank you to everyone who took part.

Tank (Head

Year

For W factor (Wednesday period 5) I was chosen to be part of a small group of people that get to explore parts of our city. I have been on a number of trips from parks to a WW2 Plotting bunker for the Battle of Britain. Here you can soak up information like a sponge or just relax, it is the ultimate choice for Wfactor as it is. Although you come home late it is well worth it and I hope to have this experience again.

Mohsin Ahmed (8W)

Mahavir Ladva and Charlotte Meek (WFactor Volunteering in the Community leaders)

“All four arts are referenced in the teaching of the whole curriculum: these are taught both as discrete subjects in their own right and cross curricularly”.

Artsmark Validator