Education News - April 2009
Tide of inspiration
Students from Bridge Academy, E2, were chosen to highlight the key role engineers play in combating flood risk.
Jean Venables, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), led the secondary school pupils on an educational tour to the Thames Barrier. They were selected through the London-wide, ICE Flood Alert Schools Competition after designing posters and emergency packs to help local communities manage flood risk.
During the visit on 2 April, students enjoyed a cruise from Millbank to the Thames Barrier in Woolwich. They took part in activities and listened to talks from experts and civil engineers who work to protect London from flooding.
Miranda Housden, Regional Director of ICE London, said: “With so many major projects underway or in the pipeline, there has never been a more exciting time to be a civil engineer in London. I hope the students who have participated in today’s visit are inspired by their experience.”
The Bridge pupils were joined by 35 other students from across the Capital, plus guests from the London Assembly, local boroughs, the Environment Agency and the Thames Estuary Partnership.
Liberating musical talent
Young musicians joined forces with the Hackney-based Grand Union Orchestra for a two-night show celebrating London’s diverse musical cultures.
‘On Liberation Street’, celebrated the journey of migrant communities to English shores. Three local schools were involved in the project, including a steel pan band from William Patten Primary, and Clapton Girls Technology College choir, who joined forces with Bridge Academy to form the heart of the 60-strong chorus.
The Grand Union’s own Youth Orchestra also took centre stage – talented 15 to 25-year-olds, who are mentored in workshops open to all musical young people in the borough, whatever instrument they play. Tony Haynes, founder and composer, said: “A huge amount of work goes into bringing musicians from all sorts of different cultures and backgrounds together.
“So it’s great to work alongside the Hackney schools that put such energy and joy into what they do. They really value this opportunity to learn about music.”
Hatching opportunities
A new rent-free, hot-desk work space has been opened in Shoreditch for student and graduate businesses.
The Hatchery, based at London Metropolitan University, is conveniently situated in the heart of London’s ICT, design and digital media industries.
The new workspace in Kingsland Road was officially opened by James Cleverly, the Mayor of London’s Ambassador for Youth last month.
The aim is to support young people to develop their ideas and kick-start their own businesses.
During an evening reception, guests were talked through the different areas of the development programme, and given the chance to network with fellow new start-ups and business experts.
The youth ambassador said: “The Hatchery is a fantastic way of turning the ideas of young Londoners into businesses.
The passion shown by staff and young entrepreneurs is exactly what we need to help lift London out of this downturn and keep it as the world’s leading business city.”
More information
To learn more about The Hatchery, visit: www.londonmet.ac.uk
Tots take taste test
Children from Nightingale Primary School in Clapton had their taste buds tickled last week by top chef Peter Weeden.
The head chef from Paternoster Chop House in St Paul’s visited the school to help youngsters explore the way their five senses work. They were offered a range of foods to see if they could tell the difference between salty, sweet, sour and bitter tastes.
Before heading back to the City, Peter said: “I have three children of my own and food is a passion, so anything I can do to promote good eating I will.”
The visit was part of the Work Week programme organised by Inspire! – the education business partnership for Hackney.
Sessions have been held at local primary schools and nurseries across the borough, so youngsters can sample different foods and learn what being a chef is about.
Other big name chefs to support the programme include Mickael Weiss, head chef of Coq d’Argent and Alan Marchetti of Sartoria, which recently featured on Master Chef.
Future chef in the making
A teenager from Hackney beat stiff competition from the next generation of top chefs to reach a national final.
Zhane Gordon, 14, from the Petchey Academy, came third in the FutureChef 09 competition after impressing celebrity judges with her magnificent meal.
Finalists had just 90 minutes to prepare two courses. Zhane’s mouth-watering menu consisted of loin of lamb cooked ‘en papillote’, fondant potato, creamed savoy cabbage, in a red wine and mushroom sauce, followed by orange syllabub with dark chocolate caramelised orange.
The judges, including Brian Turner, Lesley Waters, Theo Randall and Michael Caines, were impressed by the high standards.
Lesley Waters said: “It was so wonderful to see the quality of skills and the way in which they were applied, and also that 70 per cent of finalists were young ladies.”
Zhane was one of 12 finalists competing for victory at Westminster Kingsway College in London on 23 March.
Over 7,000 young people, aged 12-16, took part in local and regional heats to reach the national final.
Zhane’s prize, donated by Aramark, includes a tour of the food operations at the BBC and a food development experience at their City Innovation Centre.
Message to the world
Pupils at a Hackney school had their chance to get involved in an international campaign that calls attention to the plight of the world’s poorest children.
As part of the Save The Children ‘Children’s Charter’, youngsters from Shacklewell Primary School, E8, were asked to create statements in response to the question ‘what should every child in the world have?’
They produced a series of artwork and plays, which were recorded and edited together to make a film that puts forward young people’s ideas for change and improvement in the world.
School drama therapist, Jodie Cariss, said: “It’s such a wonderful opportunity for this lovely and diverse group of children to have the chance of working on such an important and meaningful project.
“They are very keen to share their views and this has given them real focus and incentive. Keeping kids engaged with global situations involving children is fundamentally important for the future and their voice is refreshing and honest.”
Save the Children’s Head of Communications, Joe Barrell, said: “We want as many young people as possible to follow the pupils at Shacklewell Primary’s fantastic example by adding their voice to our campaign.”
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
.