Holloway Jones sends clear message about life choices and consequences


Mock trial


LAST July a practitioner and two ex- prisoner facilitators from Hammersmith based Synergy Theatre Company, delivered a pilot project at Villiers which aimed to develop young peoples’ knowledge and understanding of the law and criminal justice system, and concepts of fairness and justice. Working with one mixed ability class (including a small number of young people at risk of offending), and alongside specialist Citizenship teacher Alicia Brown, Synergy delivered ten sessions which culminated in a mock trial with students taking on the roles of the defendant, witnesses, defence and prosecution barristers, jury and courtroom staff, while a professional lawyer was invited to undertake the role of judge. This project is being developed further to create models for use with youth offending teams, pupil referral units as well as schools.


of professional actors and former prisoners who, after the performance talked to the students pragmatically about their lives, regrets, hopes and dreams.


Don’t believe everything you see Students fed back how they realised how unglamorous a life of crime actually is, and the importance of choosing your friends carefully, and being brave in the face of negative peer pressure. They realised the importance of not believing everything they see on TV or music videos; and that the performers are only acting or performing, and that it’s not real life.


Synergy plans to return to Villiers to run workshops in conjunction with the Citizenship curriculum on social responsibility and justice. More news on this as it happens.


Girls flying high as boys, in a fast moving scientific world


VILLIERS High School held its first science led careers fair for its 6th form students currently studying maths and the sciences at A level. The event, held on 12th October included speeches and presentations by a range of guests who talked about their chosen careers and the academic pathways leading to them. Practical and interactive workshops helped deepen the students’ understanding of careers they may aspire to, and what is entailed in reaching their chosen goals.


Holloway with her BMX coach (photo by Jonny Baker) Stay true to yourself Evan Placey’s ‘Holloway Jones’ is a


play which forms part of Synergy Theatre’s education programme which was performed at Villiers in October with the aim of teaching young people about staying true to themselves, choosing friends and influences carefully and understanding that every action has a consequence. The criminal justice system, involvement in crime, peer pressure, self esteem, loyalty and courage were all explored in this powerful drama in a dynamic and culturally relevant way.


No easy escape from gang culture The main character, Holloway Jones is a girl who was born in prison, lived in care, developed a passion and skill for BMX, with aspiration to train and compete to Olympic standard. Then she meets charismatic ‘bad boy’ Avery, and her life changes, as she is drawn into a gang culture with no easy escape route. The cast and production team were a mix


Pilots, pharmacists and vets Science teacher Cristina Santos organised the event and successfully gained commitment from a range of experts in their field of work which included two commercial airline pilots from Easyjet, a pharmacist from The School of Pharmacy at the University of London, a veterinary surgeon from The Royal Veterinary College, a physics and chemical engineer and a PhD student in Experimental Nanomagnetism from Imperial College London. Four of our guests were women, who created the ideal platform for discussion on women entering into science, technology, engineering and mathematics related careers such as theirs.


The students want more Katie Leask (pictured), a pilot for Easyjet


said: ‘I am very honoured to be invited


to this event and my aim is to convey the message that you can be anything you want to be, if you have the drive and the determination, anything is possible. I would also like to tell all young women out there that it does not matter if an environment or career is male dominated. The situation is not a barrier; it is an opportunity.’


Autumn 2011 Edition Issue 1


Parth (second right) and his Mission Discovery team & NASA Astronaut


Good luck to Parth Gharfalkur


HEAD Boy for Phoenix Parth has applied


to study at 6th form elsewhere. And by this we mean not just anywhere, but to three of the most prestigious schools for boys in the UK, and arguably worldwide!


The perfect role model Parth has applied to attend 6th form at Harrow School for Boys (school of Sir Winston Churchill), Eton (school of Prince William and former Villiers student Jeyanshu Patel) and Westminster School for Boys (school of Christopher Wren – designer and builder of St Paul’s Cathedral). We feel positive that Parth will be successful in at least one of his applications, and feel proud and excited that this remarkable young man from both an academic and social perspective will go far in life, and in achieving his goals. The perfect role model. Sam Johnson – Head of Phoenix and Karine Waldron


Pilot Katie Leask demonstrating the flight simulator


Gopali Nagi - Head of Science said ‘The feedback from the students has been fantastic – they want more!’ Many of the guests and university ambassadors have offered to return to Villiers and have also invited our students to visit their universities or places of work. More from the students themselves in next term’s newsletter.


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