The Year 8 Christmas Cushion Project.

Students all made a personalised cushion using appliqué. Designs ranged from Christmas wreaths, trees and snowmen, to personalised initial cushions. This has taken weeks of planning and decision making. Students have then used their skills with a sewing machine to complete the project.

The UCL Observatory

At Winston we are extremely fortunate in having our own Planetarium on-site where we are able to offer a GCSE in Astronomy. As part of their studies, the Year 10 astronomy students were able to visit the UCL Observatory in Mill Hill with their teacher Dr North. This is one of the best-equipped astronomical facilities for student training and research in the UK. As well as being an observatory where under- and post-graduates study, UCL host tours and lectures for school-age visitors.

Our Winston students were able get close-up and learn about the different telescopes used at the observatory and the discoveries made there: In 2014 one of the closest supernovas to Earth in recent decades was spotted by a group of UCL under-graduate astrophysicists in galaxy Messier 82 (The Cigar Galaxy)! It was stunning to see photographs taken by the telescopes and to relate the discoveries to the GSCE curriculum studied in school.

It was also a fabulous opportunity for us to discuss the challenges and rewards of a career in Astrophysics and space sciences with the current cohort of UCL under-graduates.