Halcyon Blog

IBDP HL Mathematics is a challenging option: research from the University of Leeds suggests that this subject choice requires students to develop university-level skills from Grade 11. Indeed, a glance at the IB course description will have...

Choosing between embarking on an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) education and taking three A-Levels in the 21st century is simple.

While both curriculums have strengths, it is becoming ever clearer that the IBDP provides a...

In every vibrant corner of our school, staff members are busy together building an ever-improving learning environment. While we make every effort to make our community close, Grade 7 are unlikely to have had the chance to familiarise themselves...

So, you’ve decided to move to London? Excellent choice! The home of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and bright red buses is a beautiful place to grow as an individual or as a family - but getting started is always difficult. Below, we’ve listed the...

Grade 10 and 11 Visual Arts students had an excellent opportunity to get their hands dirty - with charcoal - by learning from the very best in the figure drawing world. Paul Brandford (Royal Academy of Arts) made a special visit to Halcyon to...

Making room for a flexible and integrated connection with history and culture is part of the IB’s teaching philosophy: this allows for a holistic learning process which allows students to think about the world, rather than observe it, readying...

Despite the growing signs of autumn, Hyde Park is still thriving with biological diversity and scientific curiosities. Environmental Systems and Societies IB Diploma students packed an armoury of clipboards, pH meters and much more to find...

Economics is Halcyon’s newest Diploma subject, although that’s not instantly obvious upon walking into LG1. While the shiny covers and sharp corners of the recently-acquired textbooks betray the newness of the subject, students are focused and...

Our new English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher took a few minutes out of her busy work supporting students to give us an insight into how Halcyon’s new programme is already enriching students’ love of learning. 

Last week, all our staff returned to Halcyon to begin the year in a two-day Mindfulness in Education workshop, led by Kevin Hawkins and Amy Burke of Mind Well. 

Our group of Grade 11 students had a great time volunteering in Cambodia on a trip organised by Finley. They arrived early morning in Phnom Penh for some sightseeing, having travelled for over 15 hours and walking in 40° heat - a great feat in...

Work experience provides students with a meaningful opportunity to put in to practice the skills they have learnt throughout their MYP. At Halcyon, G10 students take part in either a week of work experience or a week learning to sail. This...

We are proud to be one of only 50 schools in the UK recognised for our innovative use of education-based technology (edtech) in the classroom. The EdTech50 awards, established by The Education Foundation in 2018 to recognise individuals and...

While more and more schools are starting to offer vegetarian and vegan options today, Halcyon has uniquely offered an exclusively vegetarian menu with some vegan meals since it began in 2013. Halcyon’s co-founders were committed from the start to...

On Saturday 25th May, the Halcyon community came together to celebrate and honour the Graduating Class of 2019. The graduation ceremony was a wonderful occasion, supported by an outstanding guest speaker, Dr Alison Powell. Our graduates were...

Fifty schools in the UK, each making meaningful use of educational technology, have been recognised in The Education Foundation’s list of Edtech 50 Schools. Each of the fifty selected schools is considered a leader in the use of educational...

This week, 9 of us from Global Issues Network and Eco Committee, alongside thousands of change-makers packed The SSE Arena, Wembley, for WE Day 2019.

Every year, more than 400,000 people from schools, universities and beyond take place in a Model United Nations (MUN). Taking part in MUN gives students the opportunity to learn more about how the UN works and the important role it plays in world...

G12 students Beckett and Evy created an Instagram page which translates lengthy news stories from around the world into politically neutral 200-word summaries specifically targeted towards informing young people within 60 seconds. Their goal was...

In English, 9x have just taken part in something completely innovative and new to Halcyon. Chaos Class is a new unit aimed at promoting student voice and autonomy initiated by Ross McGowan. The class were given almost complete creative control...