Summer Reading Challenge 2024
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All students are encouraged to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge over the break. There are 7 challenges, with something for everyone and prizes to be won. Find out more about the challenges here.
Entries should be given to Ms Nunnery in the first week of Autumn term.
Growing Our Own
Ms Sinnott, Food & Nutrition teacher, writes:
Earlier this month Year 7’s experienced selling vegetables that were grown in the grounds of William Ellis school at Inverness Street market
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We mustn’t forget the hard work of Year 10’s who planted the vegetables to begin with.
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Harvesting that morning Year 7’s made their presence known and sold all the vegetables and impressed the Mayoress who purchased some of the produce and joined the photo line up.
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Year 7 Artwork
Ms Sinnott also writes:
Here is a medley of artwork by Year 7:
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Volcano Model Competition
Mr Pomeyie, Head of Geography, writes:
Much to the delight of the premises team, the volcanic activity in William Ellis has been subdued this year. However, everyone was suddenly on red alert as volcanologists observed some tectonic activity in the quad. Thankfully, it was a shield volcanic eruption, which produced slow flowing rather than explosive lava. This meant some Year 7s were able to safely enjoy the sites as tourists. Who needs to go to Hawaii?
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Year 7 Geography in the Field!
Mr Pomeyie also writes:
An important part of being a Geographer is about applying what you know in the field – no matter the weather. In the second half of the summer term, Year 7s have braved some of the excessive rain and have been applying what they have learnt this year in Geography in the local area.
Firstly, they had their first introduction into how to conduct a geographical investigation, following a hypothesis; data collection; data analysis; conclusion and evaluation. The focus of the investigation was Swains Lane, to find out about the type of shops there and to decide what type of new shops should be built there.
Next, Y7s conducted a land use survey building on what they had learnt about the urban land use model. Imagination was key as they linked features of the local Highgate area with those that you might find in the Central Business District, Inner City and Suburbs of London.
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The level of focus and curiosity displayed by the students highlighted that there many who will carry on using their geographical skills for years to come!
Year 8 Camp
Mr Court, Head of Outdoor Learning, writes:
The first two weeks in July saw Year 8 go to The Mill for their annual camp. Whilst there, the boys spent a day at Sayers Croft, participating in activities like High Ropes, Caving, Axe Throwing and Bouldering. The other full day was spent with the boys taking a member of staff for a walk. The boys were given maps and route cards and instructed to follow the route, making it to the end with their member of staff. We were lucky enough to be able to watch England play in the Euro's Semi-Final, which the boys all loved, in the outdoor theatre.
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Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award
Mr Court also writes:
This term, our Year 10 and 11 students undertook their Bronze DofE qualifying expedition. The boys were out in the Surrey Hills, an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), where they completed a two-day, fully self-sufficient expedition. All of the boys passed this section and are well underway to completing their Bronze award.
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Well done to the Year 10s and 11s on this trip.
Year 9 Financial Literacy and Enterprise Challenge
Ms Mallick, Business & Economics teacher, writes:
Earlier this month Year 9 Economics students participated in a financial literacy workshop designed to improve their understanding of economic and financial concepts. The students considered how the economy has changed in recent years before participating in an investment simulation challenge. The overall challenge was won by Rowan, Niyaz, Thomas and Aymen.
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Meanwhile, Year 9 business students have been taking part in an end of term enterprise challenge. Groups have been creating business ideas and pitching them in order to try and win the prize fund that will allow them to put their ideas into practice. The students have shown creativity and teamwork, whilst also building on their oracy skills with presentations of their work at the end of each lesson.
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Camden Arts Biennial
Ms Kendall, Art teacher, writes:
Year 9 Art and Graphics GCSE students went on a trip to the Camden Schools Art Biennale in the Lethaby Gallery at Central St Martin's. The exhibition was a celebration of art from every school in Camden. It was an inspiring show & the students loved seeing work from all the different schools & Key Stages 2-5.
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Year 12 'Space To Learn' Day
Mr Fuller, Head of Physics, writes:
Year 12 students from William Ellis and La Sainte Union spent a day working with a trainer from the National Space Academy. The day consisted of a number of practical and theoretical workshops to help them more fully understand the physics underpinning certain aspects of space exploration. As part of the day they got to try on a real space suit, and to make and launch rockets.
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Astrophysics is one of the options in the A level course offered at LaSWAP, and the day was tailored to introduce some of this content to the students.
What a year in Modern Foreign Languages!
Ms Rodgers, Head of MFL, writes:
We've had a busy year in MFL and are looking forward to residential trips to both Germany and France in the next academic year, plus we'll be launching a new 'MFL reading club'!
The events we've been involved in this year were:
Sept '23- European Week of Languages & competitions
October '23- Year 12 trip to Spain
November '23 - GCHQ Challenge
December '23- Year 7 Spelling Bee Class competition
January '24- BFI trips
February '24 - exchange visit by German student
March '24 - regional final of the Spelling Bee
April '24 - European Language Challenge
May '24 - Live online GCHQ event - 'Where can languages take you?'
June '24- exchange visit by French student
July '24- Poetry translation competition
This week Year 12 German students also visited Tate Modern to see a German artist group mentioned in their Art & Architecture unit.
These events have all contributed to our school being awarded International School Foundation Status by The British Council earlier this year in recognition of our work to bring the world into the classroom.
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Sports Day 2024
Mr Levitt, Head of PE, writes:
After a 2 year hiatus due to 40 degree heat and renovations of the Heath track, 2024 saw the return of Sports Day!
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All students in years 7-10 snaked their way to Hampstead Heath Athletics Track last Monday morning (15th July) to battle it out in the biggest inter-house event of the year. The noise from the crowd could be heard from Camden Market as the boys battled it out for pride, prestige and house points!
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All the competitors gave it their all and pushed each other to go faster and further than ever before. It was no surprise then, that in this Olympic year a total of 12 school records were broken!
Well done to all the students that took part in the events and accompanying activities, and a big thank to all the staff that helped make it happen.