The beginning of a beautiful friendship

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 Jona Jahja

  

Other musical interludes included Ivor Everson, from the Archer Academy playing Handel’s Sonata in D Minor and Jona 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."