Posted on: 5/05/2023Book of the Month - May GENRES: Eco-literature, teenage drama, adventure Earth Day came and went at the end of April but we can still think about the environment. Green Rising by Lauren James is an interesting blend of science fiction and eco-literature. Years after a manmade disaster that was largely covered up, some teenagers start developing unusual powers of regeneration and are able to replenish the dwindling trees and plants in the world. These mysterious powers are soon discovered by an unscrupulous oil magnate, who tries to exploit the young people and use their powers to profit from renewable energy, aided by his own teenage daughter who holds an unusually senior position in the company. The characters in this novel are interesting and diverse, some based upon people we know in the real world, there is a teenage girl who appears to be modelled on Greta Thunberg, and a recognisable copy of Elon Musk! This is a gripping read for KS3 readers, offering a challenge for those wishing to raise their reading age, and making us think about the environment and climate change.
Posted on: 3/05/2023Big Sing Year 7 have begun preparations for a whole year group performance later this term. With guests from the Voices Foundation and other local artists,the students have participated in singing and rapping workshops over the past two weeks and now have the task of perfecting their performances ahead of the Music Islington Big Sing Festival at the Union Chapel. The workshops have been a huge success with students leading different sections of the choir and even writing their own original raps about topics they feel passionate about.
Posted on: 24/04/2023MiSST's 10th AnniversaryMonday 24th April marked MiSST's 10th Anniversary. 13 of our students took part in an amazing concert in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on the West End to celebrate along with schools across the country that also work with the Music in Secondary School Trust. The students performed in one huge orchestra on stage, they had the amazing opportunity to meet and sing with Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Kenneh Mason family and Jason Donavon and listen to some standout performances from the winners of the young musicians of the year and many more future stars in music. The students have worked really hard and it was an amazing opportunity to experience a range of music in a professional setting.
Posted on: 19/01/2023Year 8 Boxwise A group of year 8 students attended Camden Boxing Club to take part in a 6 week boxing programme in order to develop their boxing skills, strength and resilience. It was week 1 and students really enjoyed themselves learning the basics and moving on to practising their skills on the punching bag. Well done to all.
Posted on: 19/01/2023Book of the Month - January Fake by Ele Fountain GENRE: Near-future dystopia; speculative fiction/science fiction In a digital world it’s hard to know what’s real. In this near-future dystopia, antibiotics no longer work, so children are educated at home until the age of 14, after which they attend boarding school. This is the fate of Jess and her friend Finn, but not Jess’s sister Chloe who is too ill to go to school and needs regular medication which her parents struggle to afford as they strive to gain credits from their meagre commercial practices, such as selling honey and produce from their garden. Jess, however, is an expert computer hacker, and with the help of her enigmatic online friend JP, she seeks to hack the pharmaceutical company that supplies Chloe’s medicine. A short, but very eventful and satisfying read if you like stories based in virtual worlds, AI, computers and dystopias. This is ideal for KS3 readers.
Posted on: 2/12/2022Badminton Tournament Well done to the year 7 and 9 students who played in the Islington schools badminton tournament against Beacon High and St Mary Magdalene Academy. It was great to see so many girls competing and mixing with various levels of playing experience. Well done to everyone who participated, Ms Carter. Badminton club meets on Tuesday’s 3-4pm.
Posted on: 2/12/2022Book of the MonthGENRE: Dystopia, fantasy, historical, political drama When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is a feminist dystopia set in the past rather than the future. It comprises a well-constructed and immersive plot with a charming, precocious protagonist. The story is situated within the backdrop of the Joseph McCarthy trials in the USA in the 1950s, and reads like a junior Handmaid’s Tale. The main character Alex is a complex character, well executed, suitably angry at the submissive nature that women are forced to adopt, and curious about their transformation into dragons when they are pushed to the limit emotionally. Alex serves as our narrator and chronicles her investigations into the metamorphosis of women into dragons. She uses past studies on this phenomenon, many of which have been suppressed by the McCarthyite authorities. We see Alex grow from 11 years old to adulthood, taking on more responsibility as she goes along, following the death of her mother, after which she is abandoned by her cold and distant father. The book is well paced and packed with events too numerous to mention. Linguistically and conceptually this provides a challenge for readers aged 14 and over and covers a mixture of genres, part dystopia, part feminist fable, and part fantasy. Bursting with originality in both its narration and plot, this book deserves a place on awards shortlists.
Posted on: 17/11/2022Year 7 Sports Hall AthleticsWell done to the year 7 students who competed in the Islington schools sports hall athletics competition. Your conduct was excellent, the PE department were so impressed with how you encouraged, supported and motivated each other to perform their best. Some stand out performances : Anisa coming 1st place in shot put Charlotte 2nd place in the 6 lap race Congratulations to all who competed throughout the two weeks! Ms Carter
Posted on: 7/11/2022Youth Council Election CandidatesThis week, voting opened for the Islington Youth Council candidates. We have a number of EGA students standing as candidates. They intend to campaign on a range of topics including fair access to school trips, social media and body image and healthcare for young people. This is a very important role because the 14 successful candidates will support the young mayor to decide how money is spent on services for children and young people in the borough. Voting opened on Tuesday 1st November and closes on Thursday 10th November. We will keep you updated on the outcome.
