Dear Parents/Carers,
Cultural Capital Day, Wednesday 13th December 2023
At the end of Module 2, the Academy will take part in the first of three Cultural Capital events. Our Cultural Capital days and week (at the end of the academic year), are a true highlight of our academy calendar. Furthermore, these days offer students experiences and the chance to participate in exciting activities outside of their usual classroom learning experience, in line with National Curriculum guidance.
The first Cultural Capital Day of this academic year will be on Wednesday 13th December. Students in Years 8 and 9 will have the offer of a free or paid for experience. Trips are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All payments are made on ParentPay. Bookings will open at 9am on Friday 10th November and close at 5pm on Friday 1st December. Students who do not select a trip will be assigned to one of the free trips. Payment for a trip will serve as parental consent for your child to attend the selected trip. For those students eligible for free trips, as a matter of courtesy, you will be sent an electronic consent form to complete.
All trips will see students travel on public transport. There is no cost involved in the travel of students, as the Academy receives exemptions from Transport for London. Where there is an additional cost to travel outside of TfL’s jurisdiction, this has been factored into the overall cost. All trips will commence at the Academy, and students will return to the Academy at the end of the trip before being dismissed. If a trip returns in time for the end of the Academy day, students will be dismissed upon arrival. Where a trip is expected back later than our finishing time, you will be informed. Unless indicated, all students should attend the Academy in their normal academy uniform. Students are advised to bring appropriate winter travel clothing, suitable for December temperatures. They will also need to bring their own packed lunch. Students who are eligible for a Free School Meal will be provided with a packed lunch. Spending money for souvenirs is to be kept to a reasonable amount.
The choices for Year 8 and 9 students will be as follows:
1) Grant Museum of Zoology (London WC1E 6DE), 30 spaces, Free
The Grant Museum of Zoology is one of the UK’s oldest natural history museums and the last university zoology museum in London. It is home to 68,000 specimens from the whole of the animal kingdom. The museum has rare specimens of extinct animals including one of only seven quagga skeletons in the world, dodo bones and the famous glass jar of moles. This trip is a must for bidding scientists and animal lovers. Students should return to the academy by 3pm.
2) HMS Belfast (London SE21 2JH), 30 spaces, £11
For historians and keen sociologists, students will experience this iconic London landmark and gain insight into war at sea. Students will be able to navigate their way around the rooms of this floating city, climbing up and down ladders to visit all nine decks. Students should return to the academy by 3pm.
3) IWM Holocaust workshop (London, SE1 6HZ), Year 9 only; 30 spaces, Free
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from World War 1 to the present day. It provides for, and encourages, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and ‘wartime experience’. This experience is part of the Year 9 History curriculum and students will be pre-selected for this visit. Students should return to the academy by 3pm.
4) Centre of the Cell (London E1 2AT) 36 spaces, £5
For those keen to pursue a career in medicine, Centre of the Cell is a science education centre at Queen Mary, University of London. It is the first science education centre in the world to be located within working biomedical research laboratories. They have two distinctive learning Pods based at the Blizard Institute in Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, so visitors can see research scientists at work as they enter. Once inside, visitors will learn about the amazing world of cells, the human body and the latest medical research. Students should return to the academy by 3pm.
5) Design Museum (London W8 6AG), 30 spaces, £3
The Design Museum is devoted to contemporary design in every form, from architecture and fashion to graphics, product and industrial design. Supporting the National Curriculum for Design and Technology, students will participate in a workshop experience exploring ASMR. Students should return to the academy by 3pm.
6) The Lion King, the Musical (London WC2E 7RQ), 30 spaces, £29.50
Disney’s The Lion King is now in its 24th triumphant year at the Lyceum Theatre in London, and is also on tour across the UK and Ireland. The Lion King stage show includes the characters and the music from the Disney film. Students should arrive at the Academy by 12pm for this trip and will return after the school day, at approximately 6pm.
7) Harry Potter Studios Tour, (Watford WD25 7LR), 13 spaces, £31
The Harry Potter film series made Leavesden its home for more than ten years. As the books were still being released while the films were being made, the production crew saved many of the iconic sets, props and costumes that were created especially for the films. Students will get to experience ‘The Making of Harry Potter’, gaining an understanding of the iconic props, costumes and sets, as well as the magic of filmmaking first-hand. Trip will return after the academy day, at approximately 6pm.
8) Chelsea F.C. Tour (London SW6 1HS), 30 spaces, £15.20
Students will gain a behind-the-scenes guided tour of one of the most famous and historic football stadiums in the world. The tour starts in the football club museum, before then exploring the grounds of Stanford Bridge stadium. Students should return to school by 3pm.
9) The Reach Climbing Wall, (London SE18 5NR), 24 spaces, £15
A favourite activity on past Cultural Capital days is climbing at The Reach. Climbing is becoming one of the nation’s fastest growing sports, with fantastic health, social & well-being benefits. Students should return to school by 3pm.
10) Gravity Bluewater, (Greenhithe DA9 9ST), 20 spaces, £14.95
At this activity, students will have the chance to develop their skills of trampolining and climbing at the exhilarating and awesome Gravity Rocks climbing wall, which has 13 unique challenges to take on. Students should return to school by 3pm.
11) Oxygen @ the O2, (London SE10 0DX), 20 spaces, £19.95
Freejumping and trampolining at The O2 gives students the chance to experience the amazing High Rope Airventures. Activities here consist of 9 different sections, some of which are a walk in the park and others which will really test students’ aptitude. Students should return to school by 3pm.
12) Chislehurst Caves, (Chislehurst BR7 5NL), 30 spaces, £9
Chislehurst Caves are a series of intersecting man-made tunnels and caverns covering some 22 miles in Chislehurst in southeast London. From the mid-13th to early 19th centuries the ‘caves’ were created from the mining of flint and lime-burning chalk. Students will go deep underground for a history timeline of London and the Kent area. Students should return to school by 3pm
Further details for each trip can be found on Parent Pay when all the trip payments go live.
If you have any questions about our Cultural Capital Days, please do get in touch with a member of your child’s Small School team.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs H. Panton | Deputy Head of Turing School