Year 7 – The Royal Observatory
On Tuesday Year 7 pupils went to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Pupils were treated with a plethora of activities including a workshop aimed at helping them appreciate the immensity of space and the size of planets. Another major highlight was the planeterium, where a memerising oval display beautifully exposed the wonders of the milky way galaxy – from humble asteroids to the majestic beauty of red giants. The return trip was equally delightful as pupils were treated to a boat trip along the meandering Thames, from Greenwich Pier to Westminster, helping them better appreciate some of the major London landmarks.
Year 8 – The Science Museum
On Tuesday the Science and English Department took the Year 8 pupils on a cross-curricular trip to the Science Museum to explore how science and imagination meet. Here’s what they thought of the day:
‘First we went to a place called ‘Engineering Your Future’. We walked in and found loads of games, they were really fun. The first game I played was a car game when you get to be engineers and travel to specific places. The second exhibition was the ‘Science Fiction’ gallery. I liked the ‘Gene’s Cernan’s Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit’ because it showed how the suit kept him safe for a record of 72 hours with a lack of oxygen.’
Zahra
‘My favourite activity at The Science Museum’ was the technicians’ workshop. I liked working out how to make the stick stronger and longer so we could complete the tasks set for us. I also liked the team work and how I worked together with my partner. I also loved the Sci-Fi experience. I loved seeing movie costumes and props used in classic films that I have seen. I loved seeing the producers’ point of view. I especially loved the robot that featured in a film where the robot killed people and they did not know who to judge; the creator or the robot’
Chrissy
‘My favourite exhibition was ‘Meet the Technician’ because we had to construct a catapult to destroy a cup tower. We had a very educational talk about how tension works. I really enjoyed today and am considering being a technician when I am older because it is a very creative, interesting job.’
Ivy
‘My favourite activity at The Science Museum was the ‘Meet the Technician’ because we got to use our creativity whilst making a useful stick to press the buttons and spin the wheel to gain points. You had to make sure the home-made stick was strong enough which tests your creativity and imagination.’
Izzy
Year 9 – Film Making
Year 9 put their film making skills to the test on Tuesday with the One Day Film School. In the morning, they learned the essentials:
Film History – from the early days of film to the latest in special effects
Fight Choreography – analysing James Bond/Indiana Jones fight scenes… and filming their own screen punch
Camera – learning to use an iPad like a pro, tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes, making a practice 3 Shot Film about a theft
Screenwriting – discovering 3 key things every good script needs, how to tell a great story, create memorable characters… and make us care
In the afternoon, pupils took the 10 Shot Challenge: creating a short film (2mins, max) based on a classic narrative (eg. ‘Someone is kidnapped, an attempted rescue’) for premiering at the end of the day. Pupils self-allocated a role within their film crew (writer, director, producer, screenwriter, actors).
Most adverts take several months to make, so the challenge of making a successful short film in just ninety minutes can be daunting. However, the groups gelled exceptionally well, showed great leadership and teamwork, and no-one missed the deadline. Their final task was to introduce their film, just like at the Cannes film festival, and give it a poster tagline (eg. ‘In space no-one can hear you scream’). Then it was time for the VIP judges to take their seats and decide which would win the ultimate prize: the Best Picture Oscar.
The standard was very high, so it was a tough decision… the Best Picture Oscars was awarded to ‘The Follower’. It told an engaging, entertaining story which was technically superb: the judges were particularly impressed by the excellent performances and high standard of camerawork, editing and sound design. Congratulations!
Click here to watch their short films.
Year 10 & 11 – The Globe Theatre
On Tuesday the English Department accompanied Y10 and Y11 on a day out to The Globe Theatre. After enjoying a fascinating tour of the theatre, including the chance to tread the boards on the famous stage, students enjoyed a day of workshops focusing on their set text – Romeo and Juliet.
The workshops were led by actors who were able to challenge the students to work outside of their comfort zone and think about the characters in a totally different light. It was incredible to witness the play being taken off the page and being brought to life, whilst at the same time ensuring that GCSE English Literature Assessment Objectives were being addressed.
The day was a rewarding experience for all, it is always a pleasure for the English Department to take a trip to The Globe.
