Category : Front Page News

Linklaters Y7 Careers Day, Challenge Mentoring & Employability 

This week our whole year 7 cohort got to visit Linklaters Law as part of our Aldridge connect activity (Professional skills day). Students were able to experience what it is like working in a magic circle law firm and also understand more about the world of work. 

Experiences like this are invaluable for our students and we were delighted that the whole year group was able to participate in activities all around what it means to be ‘professional’ – students learnt that a law firm doesn’t just employ lawyers there are multiple other professions and job opportunities that will be open to them in the future.

Alongside the career focus day for year 7, a group of year 10s began their graduation from the Employability Skills programme offered by Linklaters. A group of students took part in mock interviews this week at the offices in central London. They’ll be completing presentations next week. 

The year 7 challenge mentoring programme also continued this week. So it’s been a hugely busy week for our partnership with Linklaters. 

Stubbers Outwood Bound Activity Trip

This week our PE department took the year 11 GCSE PE cohort to Stubbers outdoor activity centre. Canoeing, climbing and archery were the order of the day with the students having an amazing time in the great outdoors. Mr Green and the rest of the PE department worked incredibly hard to make the trip a success. After a very early start the students really enjoyed themselves and learnt an awful lot!

African Drumming 

The music department this week hosted an amazing African drumming workshop – an excellent way for our students to participate in music making and experience culture. 

Ex-Year 11 Certificate Evening

We were delighted to welcome back our ex-year 11 pupils this week to collect their GCSE certificates. It was wonderful to see some familiar faces now thriving in their post 16 environments and fantastic to hear from them all about what new and exciting endeavours they have been up to!

“The Prime Agency” Workshops

This week students were treated to a fantastic workshop by “The Prime Agency”. The engaging and exciting workshop gave students insight into mental health and managing emotions through the medium of theatre and performance. The workshops were a great moment for our students. 

Assemblies with Steven Browne Foundation 

This week also saw assemblies delivered by the Steven Browne foundation on the theme of Anti Bullying. Students were treated to a fantastic interactive assembly on the themes of looking out for each other and reporting bullying. Overall the assemblies were brilliantly well received. 

E Sports – Tottenham Hotspur Visit

A really lucky group of year 7 students this week also got to go to the Tottenham Stadium and meet a player! None other than Xavi Simmonds was on hand to give information and advice to our young people on professional football and what it is like playing for one of the UK’s top clubs!

Misinformation Workshops

This week our student body took part in a series of workshops on the theme of misinformation and media literacy. The workshops were delivered by Shout Out UK and gave students a fantastic insight into how spot fake news and extremism online. All students left the workshops with a clearer understanding of how to stay safe online. 

Sporting Success

Some great sporting success stories this week with our year 9 boys football team beating local rivals Harris Academy Tottenham 7-1! A stunning display and great to see Amri starring with a fantastic display of teamwork and tenacity on the pitch. 

The success didn’t end there with our year 10 girls beating St Thomas More in netball 7-0 with Lekeyshia crowned woman of the game. 

Brilliant successes and well done to the PE team for their work in organising our sporting fixtures.

Student Leadership

This week Duke’s students have been presenting in assembly as part of the application process for our student leadership group. Students from years 9, 10 and 11 presented their ideas for the revamped student leadership team and presented themselves in a professional and mature manner. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and reflect on their potential leaders before the voting for Head students and Vice Principal students takes place next week. 

Democracy in action! 

Linklaters Workshops

Our year 7 challenge mentoring group continued their weekly mentoring sessions at Linklaters this week alongside the Eastside Employability programme through which a group of year 10 students build their CVs and skills that relate to job applications. Both programmes have been giving students some amazing new experiences and lifelong skills. Both programmes also give students the opportunity to visit Linklater’s offices in central London.