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28/03/24

Our future lawyers loved their day . Thank you for the opportunity. https://t.co/gs8cQlBw8X

27/03/24

You’re very welcome - thanks for continuing to invite me! Your brilliant school has a special place in my heart.

27/03/24

Not everyday you have your GCSE Text signed by the author pic.twitter.com/INXqgCT6Pd

27/03/24

Our Y11s loved their creative writing workshop with . The next generation of authors here 👏 pic.twitter.com/hGWzx8e3kY

27/03/24

Almost a decade of studying 's brilliant 'Pigeon English' at HGAED. The highlight of every Y11's year in English is the Q&A with the author himself! Thank you so much for being so generous with your time. 📙 pic.twitter.com/yviphuxdUe

22/03/24

Our brilliant Ms Noah being recognised for all her work to promote good mental health in our communities. A inspiration to our students! 👏 https://t.co/JA2Ohfty3d

21/03/24

Our brilliant choir performing with 6,000 young people . We could not be prouder of your passion, resilience and confidence. A proud day for HGAED! pic.twitter.com/7e9Jj784b8

20/03/24

Our Art History Society visited the Courtauld Gallery to learn more about significant figures in art including Edouard Manet. pic.twitter.com/DCbaowPri8

19/03/24

Inspiring trip to Dulwich Picture Gallery for our Y10 GCSE Photography students. pic.twitter.com/WNeINtAaWG

19/03/24

Wonderful Shibori creations by our Y10 Art Textiles students 💙 pic.twitter.com/mxP9qi7QBV

15/03/24

Great day for year 10 students. Visit to with and thanks to the staff and students making us welcome. Interesting Q&A and debate. pic.twitter.com/YHIkTZKN6r

15/03/24

ASME Clinic guided our students through the process of creating and marketing a skincare product for pic.twitter.com/yf8nRksi8R

15/03/24

A huge thank you to ASME Clinic for their brilliant careers event. Our students loved making their own skincare! 💜 pic.twitter.com/MyTsyWyhcF

13/03/24

Great day for year 10 students. Visit to with and thanks to the staff and students making us welcome. Interesting Q&A and debate. pic.twitter.com/YHIkTZKN6r

11/03/24

A huge thank you to for celebrating with us. Our students loved learning about all the protective equipment officers use and were delighted to have the opportunity to try the shields! pic.twitter.com/3p5awMov6J

11/03/24

Capturing 💜 pic.twitter.com/PqgTtePL58

08/03/24

Our pledges were written collaboratively by students in their coaching groups. Wise words from our brilliant young women💜 pic.twitter.com/CRhmIIXIyi

08/03/24

Happy International Women's Day 💜 Excited to welcome 20+ companies to HGAED who will be delivering inspirational workshops to our students https://t.co/CEtlUEDcnY

06/03/24

Proud to celebrate International Women's Day on 8th March pic.twitter.com/ZbKP1EvfJJ

06/03/24

Fantastic morning for year 10 finding out about Great sessions, with wonderful views. Thanks to all the staff for their time. pic.twitter.com/hilotVQVLQ

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Latest News

Posted on September 18th 2018

HGAED Girls Display Work at 2018 Peckham Festival

As part of our work with our artist in residence Alix Bizet, students are developing work which they had the chance to show at the Copeland Gallery recently as part of the 2018 Peckham Festival.

This is the first show in a run of three events between now and November that will showcase the collaboration. The next event is at Peckham Levels over the weekend of 13th October.

Peckham Fest 4

The exhibition at Copeland Park was showcasing the work being produced through the inspiration of having Alix working in the art department at Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich. Alix’s work explores the profound importance of afro hair in the black community through the changing and shifting identity of Peckham.

This topic is also dear to one of our sixth form students, Ria Addison-Gayle, who was given the opportunity to exhibit alongside Alix at the Copeland Gallery. Ria is interested in the gentrification of Peckham, and her work The changing face of SE15 is a collaborative document of this moment in the history of Peckham. 

The main image which forms the focal point of the work shows the dichotomus relationship between the community within Peckham and the rising tide of regeneration or, in more stark terms, gentrification.

Peckham Fest 8

Ria wanted the work to start conversations and over the weekend of the festival she held a workshop where the audience was invited to share their thoughts and memories of Peckham. As they did so they drew round their hands and added stories to the work.

The hand as a symbol can be extended as a sign of support and friendship. It can be seen as a symbol of power and also of defiance. The laying on of hands onto the images of Peckham can be interpreted in various ways, but what is important is to open up a conversation around the community within Peckham and support a dialogue at this time where people can voice their stories and be heard. The work became an integral part of the weekend, and the triggers of conversations that filtered through this work became very much a reflection of the spirit of the area.

Peckham Fest 5

Debate Cake

As part of the weekend Clare Stanhope ran a Debate Cake in collaboration with Ria, where students from the academy dicussed 'I Love Peckham’ and what this means. The association of the ‘I Love’ symbol which seems to emerge when areas are being ’regenerated’, and can be seen on tote bags that are often bought by people that are newcomers to an area.

The symbol of the heart then suggests an idea of love that is linked to the gentrification of an area. The debate therefore explored what loving an area means. The stories that came out of the debate were funny, personal and often stark.

Peckham Fest 1

The realities of the lives of many students at the academy are much entwined in the changing face of Peckham. One student spoke of having had a family member moved out to Nottingham. Childhood memories were also prevalent in the conversations. What came through very powerfully was the desire to be heard through the cacophony of change that is now part of the Peckham landscape. As one contributer stated, ‘Listen to the voices of Peckham’!

Hairytage

We also invited back Louise Rondel, a PhD sociologist from Goldsmiths, who we have worked with before. Louise explored our relationship to hair salons. This was a creative workshop where people created responses through materials.

Peckham Fest 7

Alix, our artist in residence, showcased her film Hairytage which is a documentary of the hairsalons in Peckham. It pays witness to the community focus of these salons, their cultural significance and importance of these spaces. The film highlights the profound significance of hair within the black community, and takes a snap shot at this time of significant change.

Ben Nugent, a contemporary artist, also collaborated with Alix in taking film stills from the film and editing and painting on the top. The sense of the depth and vibrancy of a community is sensed through his use of shape, line and colour. The fluid shapes which seep out of the unfinished edges pose the question of 'where to next'? Ben is currently exhibiting at our own ID Gallery (pictured below), which is situated within the school.

Ben Nugent

Our thanks go to the Copeland Gallery who have supported this project.

Clare Stanhope, Head of Art