Over the February Half term holiday, we ran a programme of activities and trips for our lovely BRC students. They took part in Cooking, Multisport, Table Tennis, Puzzles, Art – with a Valentine’s theme….! And we had fun at Ten Pin Bowling, Flip Out Jumping Adventure Park and Pop Golf.
It was a very successful week with lots of fun had by all involved (The staff too!).
Two Year 10 students attended one of the Brent Youth Parliament (BYP) meetings on Saturday morning 28th January 2023, to get an experience of what it’s all about. They had some interesting discussions and took part in a debate about whether fashion catwalks do harm to society or not. They found it fun and engaging. They will be attending again with more students from the school.
BYP meets once a month and the group gets involved in issues affecting young people in Brent as well as representing young people nationally in the UK Youth Parliament. The group is open to young people who live, study, work or volunteer in Brent and are aged 10-19 (or up to 25 for young people with learning disabilities). Meetings involve debates, campaigns and workshops and are led by young people.
Joining BYP will give BRC students the opportunity to have their say and make change in their community.
Both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students visited the Victoria Palace theatre to see the musical, Hamilton.
This was thoroughly entertaining as it hit the right notes for many of our musically talented students and others who appreciated the use of rap to tell the story. One of the students commented, “I loved how they used the music and lyrics to tell the stories. We should do our lessons like that. If there are more theatre trips like this then I definitely want to go.” They were also engaged by the dramatical twists in the story of how Alexander Hamilton became one of the Founding Fathers. They joined in the boos with the other school students present when Alexander cheated on his wife.
This trip was successful in educating the students through entertainment and being amongst students from many other schools.
On 12th November 2022 our students enjoyed a thrilling rugby match between England and Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup. The match took place at the Emirates stadium in Highbury, the home of Arsenal football club. Both students and staff had never been to a live rugby match let alone a World Cup game so it was exciting all around.
It was a slow first half until the first try was scored, then things began to heat up. At half time, despite attacking well, England was losing. BUT the second half served up some great entertainment with attacks at both end resulting in a draw at 26 All that pushed the match into extra time. By this time the students were on their feet shouting for England at the top of their voices. Unfortunately Samoa won. This match gave the students a sense of community cohesion and engagement, raising their spirits.
“This is the first time that I have supported England”
“I’ve never even watched rugby on TV so this was different and I really liked it”
“Why don’t we go to matches more often”
Some comments from the attending students
‘During the play it was very interesting because you got to engage with the actors and it was also very interesting because the performance allows you to develop new skills and learn new things and actually visualise what life was like in America in the 1930s.
I loved the performance and would definitely go again 8/10.’
‘The journey to the theatre was very relaxed and calm. We all respected each other and the people around us. We were told to find the directions by looking on the Tube map so that we would learn how to travel by Tube.
When we got there, we were all quiet and listened to all instructions given. Watching it was very interesting as they all [performers] played their part very well although it was very agitating hearing white people saying the “n” word.
We discussed this afterwards about how that’s what it was like in America at that time. It started quite slow in the first half but after the break, it got very interesting and I really wanted to see what would happen. Overall I was happy that we had the chance to go and would definitely like to go again’.
‘inside of the theatre was very lavish and posh and well decorated…’
‘The theatre was a real fancy building, I liked it. At break time we got to walk around different parts of it and went right to the top where there was a sparkling chandelier which we took photos by. We had some good seats as we were next to the front and could see the people faces clearly and everything that was happening’.
My favourite part was the set as they kept moving it while the play was going on. We didn’t like the language but understood that it was set in a part of America where it was really racist.
I would recommend the play to other people.’
On 14th September 2022 BRC youth engagement staff took four KS4 students along to a theatre in the West End of London to see a play called To Kill a Mockingbird. This was probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America. It explores morality, racial prejudice, racial injustice, relationships as well as gender.
The matinee performance was at the Gielgud Theatre and students had an opportunity to explore the building and its wondrous décor topped off with an eye-catching chandelier. The students were fully engaged in the play and enjoyed the experience.
Result Day – I am so Happy!!! Yes
End of Year Award Ceremony – AND THE WINNER IS
Sports Day at KS4 – working as a team.
Year 11 End of Year Celebrations for BRC.
