Year 12 Biology A-Level students have been competing in the Cambridge University - Homerton Biology Challenge. They have submitted work linked to tasks such as 'Why do animals not have wheels?', 'Are Humans still evolving?' and 'What is the most complex organism in your local area?'.

Congratulations go to Tenay, Aisha and Moeeza who are currently in 8th position out of 450 teams across the UK. 

'The Homerton Biology Challenge was an incredibly rewarding experience for me and my friends to showcase our passion for biology and expand our knowledge. In addition, it gave us an insight into how life would be like at university- producing essays and doing individual research. 

These challenges pushed me to think critically and creatively, fostering a deeper understanding of biological principles beyond the classroom.

When it comes to submission, the possibilities are endless. You can write an essay, create a video or even compose a poem; there is something for everyone- whether you are a writer, scientist, or even a performer.

Moreover, the competition fostered a sense of camaraderie amongst participants. Interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds and regions allowed me to gain new perspectives and insights into biology. Therefore, it not only tested my knowledge and skills in biology but also provided an enriching platform to engage with like-minded individuals passionate about the subject.

The feedback received post-competition was invaluable. It highlighted areas for improvement and reinforced my strengths, encouraging me to continue pursuing my interest in biology.

Overall, the Homerton Biology Challenge was an exceptional opportunity to display my interest for biology and connect with a community of fellow enthusiasts. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to challenge themselves and further explore the fascinating world of biology.'

Tenay Chak 12D, Aisha Hajiadam 12A and Moeeza Asim 12B.

The competition is open to Year 10 - Year 13 students.  Homerton Biology Challenge   

On a Friday afternoon we were Referee's for a Primary Basketball event to develop our sports leadership skills. We organised a 'bracket' system to have a series of play-offs until one team were the winners.

I really enjoyed teaching the students about the rules and seeing them learn new skills. I think I have now improved as a Coach and Referee. 

Daksh Arora [9B]

‘Drama In Impact’ visited the School for their annual performance of ‘An Inspector Calls’.

Year 11 students relished the opportunity to see Priestley’s thought-provoking play brought to life ahead of their GCSE English Literature examinations. They also took on the roles of the characters themselves in a workshop, performing with great insight and confidence.

“'An Inspector Calls' came to school. The play itself was shortened and concentrated to one hour, showing the key events and the overall build-up of the play. After the re-enactment, a workshop took place, where we could ask questions to the characters and some students went up on stage to act out the opening scene. In the end, this experience helped me to understand the play better. When the questions were asked, I got an in-depth understanding of why the characters did something in a particular manner. As a result of this workshop, I can now further develop my essays for my exams as it deepened my knowledge and I am aiming for a grade 9.” Mancy Dutt [11P]

“Watching ‘An Inspector Calls’ gave me the opportunity to visually remember the key events of the play and helped me recall it well.”

Nafisa Ahmed [11O]

“I really enjoyed the play 'An Inspector Calls' and the workshop because I found it very engaging and fun. I found the Q and A session after the performance very useful, especially since the actors answered the questions whilst in character, thus increasing my knowledge of each character in the play and their thought process, which will be useful for my exams. Additionally, I really enjoyed when people from the audience were called up to perform on the stage, such as my friend Ali, who took on the role of Edna. This made the whole event even more entertaining as it was interactive.”

Solanus Viegas [11R]

Pi Competition:

The Maths department held the Pi competition on 27 March 2024.

Heston's Pi champions are below:

• 1^st – Eva Chan [who recalled a whopping 121 digits] [Y8]
• 2^nd – Navvya Makwana [Y11]
• 3^rd – Zayd Rahman [Y7]
• 4^th – Jaskaran Bhatia [Y8]
• 5^th – Jesekirit Singh [Y11]

Maths Challenge:

The Maths department held the annual Intermediate Maths Challenge and the students who received awards were treated to a pizza party.

Bronze certificates:

Clara Mckeigue, Christopher Goes, Sahil Kotak, Tanveer Singh

Silver Certificates:

Laksh Damree, Ilhan Abdullahi, Navvya Makwana

Certificate of participation:

Anneka Chumber, Anay Khole, Bob Ryatt

Congratulations!