Front Page News | Duke's Aldridge Academy

Eren Lands Role In Channel 4 Drama

7th April 2018Mr J Rennalls

Dukes Aldridge Academy student Eren Ozsayen

Year 7 student Eren Ozsayen has landed a role in ‘A Mother’s Love’, part of a trilogy of films being made under the 4stories scheme for Channel 4.

4STORIES is a Channel 4 and BlackLight initiative to promote under-represented voices in drama as part of a campaign to change the landscape of who makes and appears on the nation’s television screens.

The scheme gives a first television credit to highly talented and exciting new writers and directors who come from under-represented backgrounds due to their gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.
The three writers and directors have been chosen from thousands of applications. They are some of the UK’s most exciting and original new talent.

‘A Mother’s Love’ will be one of three distinct half hour films exploring crime and criminal justice from the perspective of female protagonists. Eren has a non speaking but significant part in the TV drama playing Faisal, the best friend of the lead boy.

Eren recently performed in our much praised production of The Little Shop of Horrors.

Duke’s Aldridge Academy team heads to final of UK robotics competition

By Mr J Rennalls17th March 2018

A team from Duke’s Aldridge Academy has been selected to compete in the UK finals of the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge. As a winner in the London heat, they will go head to head with teams from across the country at The Big Bang Fair on Friday 16 March 2018.

The winning team of 13 students built, programmed and controlled LEGO robots for a series of ‘aviation missions’. Students also had to research, design and present their own solution to a contemporary engineering problem faced by STEM professionals in the aviation industry.

The Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge introduces student teams to real-world engineering, technology, robotics and computing challenges. The challenge aims to help students put their school learning into context and discover exciting new careers.

Team member Berat Topal said: ‘Robotics is a fantastic experience and is very educational’.

The students in the Roboducks team are Filip SZWED, Jason TRAN, Sulaiman SURTI, Berat TOPAL, Sil DIRENC, Nasrudiin MUHYADIN, Safwan AHMAD, Norbert BUMBAR, Stellios VACHOS, Dawid ANTCZAK, Maxeen BOX, Andrej KARNEYENKA and Jun Jie ZHOU.

Research from EngineeringUK, who run the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge, shows that communicating engineering careers to young people is vital for the future of the British economy.

EngineeringUK’s Chief Executive, Mark Titterington, said: “In order to meet the country’s demand for engineers we need to inspire more young people to consider a career in the industry.

“Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge aims to help young people from all backgrounds understand the variety, excitement and opportunity presented by an engineering career.”

For more information on the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge please visit www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/robotics

Robotics Challenge – February 2018

By Mr J Rennalls28th February 2018

How To Survive In Teaching!

By Mr J Rennalls4th February 2018

DATE: January 17th 2018

Duke’s Aldridge Academy Head of English Dr. Emma Kell has taken to print herself with a guide on How to Survive in Teaching .. without imploding, exploding or walking away! The book, published by Bloomsbury Education draws on 20 years of research and first-hand experience to offers support, advice and practical suggestions to fellow teachers stay flourishing, positive and most importantly, stay teaching!

Recent statistics show that not enough teachers are entering the profession and that too many are leaving. Newspapers report regularly that teaching is facing a genuine crisis. But why is this? In this thought-provoking book Dr Kell examines workplace stress and anxiety, conflict and ‘toxic politics’, and the other factors which lead teachers to ultimately decide to walk away.

Dr Kell firmly believes there are ways to survive the increasing pressure teachers are under. Bloomsbury describes the book as offering “a realistic, unflinching and positive perspective on the challenges and rewards of teaching.” It includes successful models and strategies where a combination of support and challenge, accountability, and a sense of being valued have encouraged teachers to enter and remain in the profession.

The book, which was launched at a reception at Duke’s Aldridge Academy, has received strong endorsements already.

Sam Collins, Teacher and Founder of Schoolwell said: “The combination of informed analysis and practical advice, rooted in research and experience, make it invaluable.”

Loic Menzies, Director of Education and Youth ‘Think and Action-Tank LKM Co’ said: “Sprung from Emma’s love affair with teaching, How to Survive in Teaching is a compassionate plea for teachers to take care of themselves. Emma rightly reminds teachers that even if the profession is a vocation, teaching is also a job and must be treated as such.”

Speaking at the launch event Dr Kell focussed on the impact on students of the stress levels the profession faces, asserting that “children deserve better”. As one young interviewee put it: “Stressed teachers ‎infect us with their stress”. She highlighted constant change with no opportunity for real consutation as a major contributor to stress felt by teachers. “It’s about giving teachers trusts integrity and a voice that’s listened to.”

Guest speakers at the event included Vic Goddard, Head of Passmores Academy (featured in the TV documentary Educating Essex) and Julian Stanley, CEO of Education Support.

Delma Fernandez, Duke’s Aldridge Academy’s Health and Well-being Coordinator concluded the event by outlining some of the staff welfare initiatives that have contributed to the academy having a very low staff turnover. Duke’s has Investors in People Gold Standard status.

How to Survive in Teaching .. without imploding, exploding or walking away! is available through Amazon . Dr Kell has given her five top tips for surviving in a video on our Blog.