Woodhouse College
are delighted to announce the development of an active strategic partnership
with The Archer Academy in East Finchley.
(L to R) Ian Phillips, John Rubinstein, Lucy Harrison, Mike Freer MP and Avis Johns
As with our long-standing
partner, Friern Barnet School, the new partnership means that from 2018,
students who meet the expected criteria for their courses will be given
priority admission to Year 12 at Woodhouse College.
Governors, staff
and pupils of both institutions met to seal the union at the Archer’s newly
refurbished ‘Upper School’ building on Monday morning. Music students from both
schools provided a musical metaphor for the future partnership by performing
classical pieces together.
Karina Breen Cusido and Ayuki Shimpo
Particularly apt was Mozart’s Mirror duet, performed
by Karina Breen Cusido, from the Archer Academy & Ayuki Shimpo, from Woodhouse, which
was introduced by the pair with a few words on the importance of working in
harmony.
Avis Johns, chair of governors at The Archer
Ian Phillips, chair of governors at Woodhouse
Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green
Mike Freer, MP for
Finchley and Golders Green spoke, and was effusive about both the college and
the school, and the importance of working partnerships. These were sentiments
echoed by Avis Johns, chair of governors at The Archer and Ian Phillips, chair
of governors at Woodhouse, who both spoke of their eager anticipation of great
things for the joint venture.
Sidhivi Sharma and Callum Conway Shaw
Sebastian Sacchi Wilson and Zaynah Khan
Paired students
from both schools also made eloquent speeches. Zaynah Khan, Callum Conway
Shaw, Sebastian Sacchi Wilson, and Sidhivi Sharma spoke on the theme “If the future is with young
people why are the adults making all the decisions.”
Ivor Everson and Yona Jahja
Other musical
interludes included Ivor Everson,
from the Archer Academy playing Handel’s Sonata in D Minor and Yona Jahja, from Woodhouse College
playing Chopin’s Nocturn in C sharp minor.
The decision to
form a strategic bond will see the Archer Academy and Woodhouse College working
closely together to enhance their provision across a range of areas, such as
leadership and governance, staff training and development, resource and best
practice sharing, curriculum development and moderation.
The two student
bodies will undertake a number of joint ventures together, providing
opportunities for enrichment, leadership and transition which will greatly
benefit both groups.
Lucy Harrison, headteacher at The Archer Academy
Lucy Harrison, the
Archer Academy’s headteacher, said today: “I am thrilled to be entering into a
strong, long-term partnership with Woodhouse College, an outstanding sixth form
college which shares our vision for success and our ambitious, supportive
approach to education and personal growth, both inside and outside of the classroom.
We have a great deal to offer one another and have already started working
together to share best practice in a number of areas.
I know our
students will be an asset to the Woodhouse College community and look forward
to watching those of them who choose to follow this pathway progress to this
next stage in their educational careers.”
John Rubinstein,
principal of Woodhouse College, said “I am delighted to be starting this
partnership with the Archer Academy. I have been following the development of
the school with great interest and am hugely impressed with what I have seen of
the energy and innovation of both students and staff.
We share an ethos
and a vision of enabling and challenging our young people to mature and develop
in all the ways they can, to be the best that they can be. I am confident that
this partnership will greatly enhance our ability to prepare our students for
adult life and everything it brings, and look forward to developing the
relationship further in the years ahead.”
The morning ended
with the formal signing of a statement of union between the two chairs of
governors.
Woodhouse chair Ian Phillips, taking his lead
from Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca commented "I think this is the beginning
of a beautiful friendship."