Year 8 Cultural Capital July Programme

The Halley Academy Letter image

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 8 Cultural Capital Week: Monday 15th July to Thursday 18th July 2024

Our Cultural Capital programme for this academic year concludes in the final week of module 6.  Between Monday 15th July and Thursday 18th July, the normal student timetable will be suspended for our Cultural Capital Week. All students will be engaged in a variety of experiences throughout the Academy week, curated to compliment their learning across this year and into the next academic year. 

There will be several students attending residentials to Kingswood Isle of Wight and Madrid, Spain. We wish these students a bon voyage and look forward to hearing about their exciting adventures when they return. All other students are expected to attend the Academy as usual. 

For many of the activities planned across this week, students will work in groups on interdisciplinary projects that will help them develop a range of skills and the characteristics of the MYP Learner Profile, such as communication, enquiry and reflection. 

Where there are costs to trips such as Terrible Thames, Chessington World of Adventures, and the theatre trip to see Witness to the Prosecution, this has been indicated overleaf. All payments are to be made on ParentPay. All paid-for trips are on a first-come-first-served basis and are non-refundable or transferable. Bookings for trips will go live on Monday 10th June. 

For activities that will take place on-site, students follow an adjusted structure and timings of the Academy day, including possible changes to lunch and break times, all of which will be communicated to students ahead of time. Students will need their Chromebooks and usual equipment, and unless stated below, all students should attend the Academy in their full Academy uniform. Please be aware that some activities and events may conclude after or slightly before the usual time of the Academy day.  Students will return to their normal timetable for the final day of the academic year.

  • Description: Students will have a carousel of music sessions and explore how our everyday life choices can affect our local, national and international environment.
  • Dress Code: All students should wear their full Academy uniform.
  • Description: Students will have their annual GAV workshop delivered by professionals on keeping safe online and around the community.
  • Dress Code: All students should wear their full Academy uniform.
  • Description: Centre of the Cell STEM Pod Experience at Queen Mary University, Maritime Museum and Greenwich Park visit, The Horniman Museum and Gardens visit or ‘Terrible Thames’ thames boat trip (£10 – 30 spaces).
  • Dress Code: All students should wear their full Academy uniform.
  • Description: Students will be assigned to work in small groups and with either the STEM, Technology, Food & Nutrition, Art and Design or Geography departments on specially designed projects.
  • Dress Code: All students should wear their full Academy uniform.
  • Theme Park or Theatre: Chessington World of Adventures (£39.38 payable in two instalments – 90 spaces) or Witness for the Prosecution (£20.35) 
  • Description: Some students will have the option of a paid-for experience on this day (as detailed above).  Students going to Chessington World of Adventures will return approximately 7pm.  It is a 12pm arrival to the academy for students attending the theatre.
  • Dress Code: Only students attending the Chessington World of Adventures trip are permitted to wear their own clothes. Clothing worn must be suitable for an active day, therefore shorts, skirts and tops/t-shirts must be of an appropriate length. Cropped tops and hot-pants shorts are not permitted. Footwear must be shoes or trainers, no crocs or flip-flops are permitted.
  • Museum Day: Order of St John
  • Description: Students not selected for a paid-for trip will be assigned to the museum visits.
  • Dress Code: All students should wear their full Academy uniform.
  • Students to attend the academy as usual for the last day of the academic year.

Should you have any questions regarding the Cultural Capital programme, please contact us at the Academy using the admin@leighacademyhalley.org.uk email address. 

We hope that this Cultural Capital Week will provide experiences that will be genuinely inspiring and transformative for our students.

Yours faithfully, 

Hayley Panton | Assistant Principal / Deputy Head of Turing School