MyAV范

The 7 year partnership between MyAV范 and MyAV范 Academy has been marked by the launch of a report highlighting some of the mutually beneficial projects and progress it has delivered.

In 2012, MyAV范 became the first university in England to become the sole sponsor of an academy school: MyAV范 Academy.

Through a series of projects based on the principals of the Connected Curriculum and MyAV范 Grand Challenges, the MyAV范 Academy has developed to the point where 40 MyAV范 Academy students have received offers for undergraduate study at MyAV范 this year, a record number since the partnership began.

The report was launched at a celebratory event in MyAV范 Cloisters, led by Provost Michael Arthur, Robin Street (Co-Principal, MyAV范 Academy) and Professor Lucie Green (Chair of Governors and MyAV范 Professor of Physics).

The report highlights the many ways the two institutions are working together:

1. Mentoring programme
2. Grand Challenges projects
3. MyAV范 students using volunteering options
4. Guest lecture series
5. Sharing expertise and passion for subjects
6. Professional development
7. Research projects

1. Mentoring programme

1,701 pupils have been mentored by 238 MyAV范 students since 2013.

Using mentoring charity, Brightside, they support MyAV范 student mentors to be inspiring role models who enable young people to develop skills, grow in knowledge and awareness of their future options, and support them toward making confident and informed decisions about their futures.

It gives MyAV范 students an exciting and challenging volunteering opportunity which helps build their skills, and gives the MyAV范 Academy pupils good role models, support, advice and inspiration.

鈥淸Brightside mentoring is] a wonderful opportunity for both mentees and mentors to learn valuable knowledge and gain important skills for our academic and personal goals.鈥� MyAV范 Student Mentor, April 2019

鈥淸T]he mentor was very helpful and also very kind, she also gave me a lot of good advice that will definitely help me in the future.鈥� MyAV范 Academy Year 9 Student, March 2019

2. Grand Challenges projects

1,440 MyAV范 Academy Students have been exposed to Grand Challenges issues and themes since 2015 with all GCSE pupils now taking part in Grand Challenges projects.

GCSE pupils at the Academy complete a range of creative products aligned with MyAV范鈥檚 six Grand Challenges themes and are awarded Grand Challenge certificates when of high quality. For example, students produce academic posters based on the challenges of urbanisation and present them at MyAV范.

This focus has enabled The MyAV范 Academy to design a curriculum that aims for academic mastery, personal interest and creativity with a clear internal framework of 鈥榖ig questions鈥� built around themes associated with each Grand Challenge.

The projects allow students to create and present work to real audiences at MyAV范 and beyond and engage with real world problems.

鈥淔eedback from MyAV范鈥檚 senior leadership team and Grand Challenges team on the quality of work students produced was excellent. Several students were able to articulate the importance of applying their learning to real world problems.听They highly value the importance of speaking in front of real audiences.鈥� Richard Donnelley, Director of Connecting the Curriculum and Grand Challenges, The MyAV范 Academy.

3.听MyAV范 students using volunteering options

Over 100 MyAV范 students have been involved in student-led volunteering projects at the Academy since the start of the partnership.

Through the MyAV范 Volunteering Services Unit, MyAV范 students have led a number of projects and activities at The MyAV范 Academy over the course of the partnership.

The activities have included:

• An Environmental Justice Project
• A model United Nations Project
• Royal Free, University College and Middlesex Medical Schools (RUMS) FC have provided football coaching for MyAV范 Academy
• MyAV范 students teaching basic sign language to MyAV范 Academy students
• MyAV范 students have the opportunity to develop a range of skills, including leadership and communication skills, through organising and delivering their own projects at The MyAV范 Academy
• MyAV范 Academy pupils are not only able to gain project-specific skills and knowledge, but are also exposed to role models from MyAV范

4. Guest lecture series

Over 2,000 MyAV范 Academy Students have attended guest lectures since 2015.

Several academics have delivered lectures for pupils on a wide range of topics, similar to our Lunch Hour lectures.

The objective of the lecture series is to raise aspirations and offer MyAV范 Academy pupils the opportunity to engage with MyAV范. The series has also been utilised to promote academic excellence and facilitate innovative curriculum links with MyAV范.

5.听Sharing expertise and passion for subjects

We delivered Maths and English masterclasses to 20 Academy staff this academic year.听

MyAV范 academics share their subject expertise with MyAV范 Academy staff in 鈥楳asterclasses鈥�. The masterclasses provide MyAV范 academics with the opportunity to share their subject expertise with colleagues at MyAV范 Academy, who in turn are able to utilise this learning to invigorate students鈥� passion for their subject area.

• The English masterclass on the book 鈥楾he Beloved鈥� was delivered to the whole English department, as well as GCSE and A-Level students.
• The Maths masterclass has had a direct impact in the classroom for teachers who have been able to introduce innovative problem solving into the classroom.

6.听Professional development

19 MyAV范 Academy staff took part in the Middle Leaders Development Programme in 2019. Following this, eight middle leaders applied for senior leadership positions and two have registered for a Masters in Education.

The Institute of Education (IOE) London Centre for Leadership in Learning (LCLL) have run a bespoke one-year leadership development course for staff at the Academy.

This has provided Academy staff with professional development, drawing on the IOE鈥檚 expertise.

MyAV范 academics have been able to contribute to the wider education system, remain up to date in their knowledge of the needs of leaders in schools and design new workshops based on this experience.

7.听Research projects

Two major research projects have taken place in collaboration with the Academy.

Dr Suman Ghosh has led a Maths project with the MyAV范 Academy Maths department, the MyAV范 Access and Widening Participation Office, academics from MyAV范 Institute of Education and MyAV范 students.

84 pupils attended maths tutoring, supported by 24 MyAV范 students and the team hopes to be able to evaluate robustly how this school-level intervention can impact pupils鈥� attainment, a key objective for universities.

Professor Richard Sandford is leading a project which aims to better understand how young peoples鈥� ideas of the future affect their educational decision-making by interviewing pupils at the Academy. Findings from the research will help educators to better support young people in making educational decisions.

When MyAV范 became the first university in the country to take on sole sponsorship of an academy, the aim was to provide an education for all, irrespective of race, faith or background, and with a broad and balanced curriculum that encourages problem-solving and critical thinking. We aim that our students are engaged and active global citizens and this necessarily requires partnerships - both national and international. I look forward to supporting the MyAV范 Academy as we build on the success of previous initiatives and further grow our networks to ensure that we offer the very best opportunities for our staff and our students."
Professor Lucie Green, MyAV范 Academy Chair of Governors and MyAV范 Professor of Physics

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