LAE's core aim is to provide an inspiring, rigorous education to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who aspire to the best universities and careers. Please support us in changing lives
A request for help
Dear Friend
As we enter the holiday season, many of you have kindly asked how you can support those in the LAE community less fortunate than yourselves. The LAE operates a fund that provides direct support to disadvantaged students both in, and outside, school. The fund helps students meet a variety of costs, some as basic as travel to and from school, clothing and stationery, but also including things such as educational trips and visits and paid - for co - curricular opportunities that hugely enrich sixth form life. The generous support of donors to the LAE, including parents and alumni, enable us to continue to support students who face challenging circumstances. In order for your support to be as meaningful as possible, the LAE has registered as a charity. This means that when parents and friends contribute to the support fund the charity can, under the Gift Aid scheme, increase the value of the donation by the basic rate tax amount, currently £25 for every £100 donated, at no additional cost to the donor. If your employer or pension provider offers a Payroll Giving scheme, donations can be taken before Income Tax is taken off. For higher - rate taxpayers, you can reclaim the difference between the tax you pay on the donation and what the charity receives when you fill in your Self Assessment tax return. How to Donate If you are wish to contribute to supporting students at the LAE, you may do so through ParentPay accounts or by bank transfer to London Academy of Excellence
Account Number: 42450682; Sort Code: 40 - 02 - 44
Gift aid declarations should be submitted separately and these are available on the Support Pages of the LAE website.
Thank you for your ongoing support to the LAE and its students.
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Contents
Pages
A request for help
2
Headteacher’s Address
4-5
2023 Results and Destinations
6-7
Duke of Edinburgh - Student Article
8-9
Student Opportunities this term
10-11
GEN Network - Student Article
12-13
EMBRACE Network – Student Article
14
Thought Leadership: A.I. in Education
16-17
LAE Culture Day
18-19
International Men’s Day – Student Article
20-21
LAE Social Media
22-23
The Age of the Dinosaurs - Student Article
24-25
Community Partner
26-27
LAE Student Council - Student Article
28-29
Alumni Advice
30
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Autumn Term is always a busy time at LAE, and the Autumn term of 2023 has been particularly energetic. Our new Year 12 students have settled into the demands of one of the highest - performing sixth forms in the country. Year 13 students have completed their university applications and are eyeing the next stage in their education. The school has also played host to a record number of lectures and careers talks from outside speakers. This past term has also been a period of transformation for the school itself. LAE welcomed its new lead sponsor, leading global law firm Latham & Watkins, who will help provide LAE with stability, expertise and energy. The designs for the school ’ s new building, Hawthorne House, have now been Headteacher ’ s Ad
ddress
finalised and the site itself has been excavated. As I write these words, in my suddenly rather noisy office, piling rods that will eventually support our new facilities are being sunk into the ground . We remain proud of our achievements and both The Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph have ranked LAE among the top 10 A - level providers in the country, using relatively narrow measures of performance that largely ignore the school ’ s commitment to disadvantaged students. We remain the only school on either list with such an explicit commitment to social justice.
Alex Crossman Headteacher
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2023 RESULTS With both The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph again ranking LAE among the top 10 A - level providers in the country, we were delighted to congratulate LAE ’ s graduating cohort of students for the outstanding results they achieved with more than 92% of all grades at A* - B, of which 64% at A* - A.
LAE students have now moved on to a wide range of prestigious undergraduate courses and high profile apprenticeships around the country and abroad:
> 20% of LAE students secured places at medical school;
> 10% of students secured places at Oxford or Cambridge;
> 7% of students secured places on the most competitive degree apprenticeships in Law, Finance, Accounting and Engineering; > 40% of students secured places at one of the ‘ top four ’ London universities: LSE, UCL, Imperial and King ’ s College, London.
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Duke of Edinburgh
A life - changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement. Taking part in D of E will help you develop skills, confidence and resilience and provide you with some exhilarating experiences. The scheme aids in the development of ‘ soft skills ’ such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork and provides a fantastic way to evidence and demonstrate these skills being put into practice.
Summer Expedition, by Dami Kaleja
The excursion to Brecon Beacons with DofE was a truly life - changing adventure. It proved to be an odyssey of personal transformation and self - awareness. Situated in the heart of Wales, Brecon Beacons presents a breathtaking view of diverse and idyllic landscapes. The rugged terrain and awe - inspiring panoramas provided the setting for a series of demanding hikes that tested both my physical and mental endurance.
Our days were brimming with map - reading and orienteering
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aiye
trials, challenging us to navigate through the rough terrain. As we explored the Welsh wilderness, setting up camps and preparing our meals, we acquired invaluable life skills. Brecon Beacons introduced us to its diverse ecosystems, with its wildflowers, woodlands and streams, instilling a deep appreciation for nature and the significance of conserving such pristine environments. Beyond the physicality of the treks, my DofE experience taught me the importance of resilience and teamwork. The unpredictable Welsh weather - from sunshine to fog to heavy
rain - taught me the value of adaptability, planning and relying on our fellow team members. The camaraderie and shared moments of laughter and tears of joy stemmed from the joint struggles and victories we encountered. As my group returned, exhausted but invigorated, we carried with us a profound sense of achievement and gratitude for the moments we shared, which only an expedition like this could offer. My DofE expedition left an indelible impression on my character and perspective of the outdoors.
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Student Opportunities
Every year a large number of opportunities are available to LAE students. This is just a snapshot of the ones that have opened this term with more to come throughout the year. We continue to encourage all students to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities on offer which will help you develop your experiences, discover possible futures, and achieve your potential.
Essay Competitions
• The Monetary Policy Essay Prize “ What Causes High Inflation ” (£1000 cash prize) • The Brokerage & WCIB Essay Competition “ Opportunities & Challenges of AI Letter to the Prime Minister ” (£200 cash prize)
University Opportunities
• Cambridge STEM Smart: 16 month programme incl Cambridge residential for STEM students
• UCL: Built Environment Discovery Days
• K+: support and opportunities to get into the best universities (King ’ s College) • LSE Thrive: ten month programme working with LSE students and inspirational staff
Application Support
• The Sutton Trust Pathways: from work experience to employability skill sessions, to university and apprenticeship application support at home and abroad
Careers Opportunities, Mentoring and Volunteering
Career Webinars
Engineering:
LAEcture Series
• Building the
machines of the future
Finance:
Damian Pudner, Director of Institute of International Monetary Research (Economics) • Analysis and insight into trends in money and banking, and their impact on the world ’ s leading economies
• What it ’ s really like to work in banking and finance
Healthcare:
Dr Reem El - Fadl (History)
• Making a lasting impact on many lives
• What ’ s in a picture? Translating visual archives from colonial Italy
Rawand Soho (Science / MDV)
Law:
The Chemistry of Dentistry
• Graduate and apprenticeship entry routes
•
Maria Beatrice Giovanardi (Women ’ s Rights)
Technology:
• Language Bias and Gender Equality
• Opportunities in the world of tech
Daniel Sutton, Cambridge Lecturer
• Cambridge Tutorial on Herodotus
Construction:
Harvard
• Saving the planet with a career in global construction
Applying to US Universities
•
Architecture:
Trips
• The transformative power of design
Duke of Edinburgh
Tate Modern (English)
Education:
Tate Britain (Art History)
Mithaeum (Classics)
• Shaping the minds of future generations
Year 12 House Trips
Wellcome Collection
Media:
Carpenters Estate (Geography)
• Working in television and the media
Royal College of Physicians Medicinal Gardens (MDV)
Haringey Volleyball / Table Tennis
...and more
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The Gender Equality Network (GEN) - S
GEN at LAE is a student - led group that aims to promote to tackle misinformation, introduce campaigns on differe international campaigns/promote intersectionality.
The LAE Halloween Ball At the end of October half term, the GEN network, in a joint venture with the EMBRACE Network, organised the LAE Halloween Ball, raising over £400 for charity. The Halloween Ball was a great success for the Networks, with students in both year groups dancing and having great fun. There was a Best Dressed Individual and Group costume contest, with prizes available. The Ball raised lots of money for charity that GEN members voted for.
Inspirational Guest Lecturer GEN welcomed inspirational guest lecturer Maria Beatrice Giovanardi to LAE, and we learned about her work as a women ’ s rights activist, and her campaign over many years on social media to change Oxford ’ s negative depictions of women in their dictionary. In 2019, synonyms for ‘ woman ’ were incredibly derogatory, including
words such as ‘ baggage ’ and ‘ piece ’.
Students prepared their own questions, asking about her experiences as an activist and any advice on how to be an activist in the digital age.
Student Article
a culture of gender equality in school. The Network aims ent gender disparity issues and broaden awareness on
Relationship Research
We also welcomed a PhD Researcher from a top university to talk about Promoting Healthy Relationships. LAE students were able to participate in research on how young people view healthy / unhealthy relationships and GEN is excited to be part of this project, in hopes that it will bring future positive change.
Future Projects
In the Spring Term we hope to lead campaigns on intersectionality, FGM, Domestic and Sexual Violence and deconstructing gender stereotypes. GEN aims to work to encourage female students to have a voice when they enter the workforce, particularly women in STEM.
And don ’ t forget International Women ’ s Day on the 8 th of March. Following on from the success of our work on International Men ’ s Day, we will be holding student workshops and lectures for International Women ’ s Day.
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EMBRACE Network - Student Article
The Embrace network at LAE has worked on lots of exciting things during the Autumn term.
Halloween Ball
Core members of Embrace and GEN collaborated to coordinate an extremely successful ‘ Halloween Ball ’, which raised £400 for charity (see more on the GEN page).
Culture Day
The Embrace network was able to raise £323 during LAE ’ s annual ‘ Culture Day ’, with students dressing up in their cultural clothes and walking the runway to embrace their cultural dress. Culture Day was an amazing celebration of the diversity of the community here at LAE. We are grateful to everyone who took part and to those who donated who helped raise a grand total of £723 on behalf of the NBTA (National BAME Transplant Alliance), who promote awareness around the donation of organs and stem cells amongst BAME people.
Black History Month
During Black History Month in October, members of the Embrace network took part in delivering an assembly to explore what it means to be black and British. We commemorated the works of iconic black figures in a variety of different fields, for which a tutorial session was also organised. Also, co - leaders of ‘ Embrace ’ attended a talk regarding black struggles, featuring Adjoa Andoh, David Olusoga and Dr Makaziwe Mandela (the daughter of Nelson Mandela). These discussions were very intriguing as they gave the perspectives of a range of different people who were able to relate to each other.
Ishwinder Dhingra
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Thought Leadership: “A
Artificial intelligence will transform how students learn, teachers teach, and schools operate, concluded experts speaking at the latest LAE Thought Leadership Panel Event in November.
The event was hosted by Haakon Overli, co - founder and General Partner of Dawn Capital, at the fund ’ s offices in Soho. Haakon was joined by expert panellists Adrian Cox, Head of Thematic Research Deutsche Bank AG, Jonathon Simons, Head of Education Public First and Raymond Degiorgi, LAE ’ s Assistant Headteacher Research in Learning. The panel discussion was moderated by LAE Headteacher Alex Crossman.
“ A.I. as a general - purpose technology, rather like electricity, with so many potential user and consumer facing
applications that we can ’ t possibly predict them all, ” said Cox, framing the debate.
“ The UK government believes education will be impacted by A.I. more than any other public service—more than health, more than welfare, more than defence, ” said Simons. The potential for A.I. was almost infinite: from personalised learning platforms allowing students to achieve content mastery at their own pace and in their own style; to applications enabling teachers to shed mundane tasks and instead focus on mentoring students; and wider school system platforms supporting admin tasks and providing performance - driven analysis of educational data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
A.I. in Education”
“ We are fairly sceptical about the prospect of holographic teachers replacing real teachers, ”
said DeGiorgi, “ but there is no doubt that what we teach and how we teach will change radically. ” Only time will tell if our expectations and excitement around the potential for A.I. will be fulfilled and our hope is that whatever the future brings, access to effective and trustworthy solutions will be a level playing field for all students, no matter their background.
LAE Thought Leadership events bring together industry experts, friends, alumni, teachers, and students for informed discussion of key issues affecting education, the workforce and society as a whole. We have been extremely fortunate with the calibre of experts who have joined our Panel Discussions over the years to discuss topics such as “ Diversity and the Workplace of the Future ” in association with Deutsche Bank and “ Social Mobility in the Workforce ” in association with Howden Group Holdings.
LAE Cultur
re Day 2023
International Men’s Day
The Gender Equality Network (GEN) believe that all issues to do with any gender are important and this year we worked alongside the Mental Health Network (MHN) to celebrate International Men ’ s Day on November 19 th . We explored what ‘ toxic masculinity ’ is, compared to positive examples of masculinity, and how expectations of gender roles can negatively affect everyone. One example being the stigma around men expressing emotions due to the perceived association of weakness being stereotypically feminine and/ or weak. Alongside the MHN Network, we worked to promote the importance of mental health
and expressing emotions. We found it interesting how gender stereotypes
could create cultures of isolation, homophobia and misogyny. We worked to raise awareness through placing posters around the school, advertising useful research and websites. Our work was influenced by a survey of male students, asking questions based on International Men ’ s Day. Here are some of the responses we received:
"Expectations of [some] gender roles hurt both men and women. For example, men being always 'stoic' and 'strong' puts pressure on men and stops us talking about our emotions, which affects mental health"
We look forward to creating a campaign next M
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- Student Article (GEN)
“ I would like to feel more comfortable with my friends to open up ”
"Those who don't fit traditional gender stereotypes can face discrimination. We instead should encourage others to express themselves freely"
" “ Being able to show your emotions and talk about them requires a lot of energy and strength. It should be seen as a very powerful thing as communicating your feelings is such an important thing to do."
“ Toxic masculinity involves the rejection of certain ideas/actions in fear of appearing to be effeminate while positive masculinity consists of ignoring the status quo and acting however without fear of criticism."
"Positive masculinity embraces the fluidity of masculinity and how it is not a defined way of being. It reassures men who fail to reach the “ standard ” toxic males set, by reminding them that the thinking of toxic males is flawed, unrealistic, impractical and detrimental to one ’ s mental, physical and social wellbeing."
Remember:
If you need support, contact a Wellbeing Ambassador
Call 116 123 or 0800 1111
Or contact MIND
March for International Women ’ s Day.
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LAE Social Media
This year Year 13 LAE students Emmanuella, Yonas, Chris, Jomera and Aisha, with the support of Ms Llego, have spearheaded a new Social Media Campaign via TikTok. Our student Social Media Leaders are managing the @LAE_stratford TikTok account and creating short films to highlight both the studious and the fun side of being a student at LAE. We are looking forward to the expansion of the Social Media team with new Year 12 representatives joining in the Spring.
A Day in the Life of an LAE student
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Culture Day
Black History Month
Open Day
23
GEN at LAE is a student - led group that aims to promote to tackle misinformation, introduce campaigns on differe international campaigns/promote intersectionality. I recently discovered, to my horror, that the gifts in ‘ The 12 days of Christmas ’ all consist of common names for birds and that the singer ’ s true love is probably an ornithologist who needs to be investigated for animal cruelty. Discussing this with friends, we were brought back to the age - old question of ‘ Have you ever seen a baby pigeon? ’ You would think with the mass abundance of pigeons on the streets and skies you would manage to catch a glimpse of these elusive creatures, yet they still manage to remain out of sight of the public. The Age of the Dinosaurs; How prehisto have impacted human aging - Student
Why is this the case? Well, it so happens to be that baby pigeons, also known as squabs, spend all their youth in their birth nests, going from a scraggily looking ball of puff to your everyday pigeon, indistinguishable from every other on the street. However, this left us with more questions than answers: if every pigeon looks the same when they leave the nest, how are you able to differentiate ages?
Compared to humans, most birds, reptiles, and amphibians do not tend to have any significant physical identifying factors of aging. You would often see documentaries of cute little silver or brown baby penguins waddling in - between their parents' feet, but what lies for its future behind its adult feathers? If pigeons are not dying gruesome deaths, how can you tell when one is nearing its end? Well in this case humans are the outlier; we have a rapid marked aging processes and can easily distinguish the difference between a 10 - year - old and King Charles III. Other animals like insects display physical aging characteristics as seen in both metamorphosis types. In complete metamorphosis the difference is seen in distinct stages; egg, larva, pupa, and adult. While incomplete is more ‘ human ’ in gradual aging, going from egg to nymph to adult. These stages are a result of years of selection pressures and are an evolutionary
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oric domination may t Article
e a culture of gender equality in school. The Network aims ent gender disparity issues and broaden awareness on advantage, and I ’ m sure you are sitting behind your screen wondering ‘ How on earth is having wrinkles helping me? ’ Let me be the one to tell you - it is not. A new evolutionary hypothesis named the ‘ Longevity bottleneck ’ has placed dinosaurs at the center of this aging problem. Professor João Pedro de Magalhães published a study detailing how due to millions of years of dinosaur domination in the Mesozoic era, mammals have undergone an intense evolutionary pressure to rapidly reproduce to increase the chance of survival of the species. This may have led to the loss or inactivation of genes that coded for ‘ long life ’ - such as genes associated with tissue and DNA regeneration and is the reason that we are all wrinkly today. Most mammals have evolved from synapsids which were small, short - lived organisms that were at the bottom of the food chain. Compared to most birds, reptiles and amphibians who originated from the mighty sauropsids, the largest animal during the Mesozoic era. Due to their colossal size, they were more easily able to avoid attacks from predators, leading to a longer, larger lifespan. As synapsids were constantly reproducing and evolving, the genetic information for ‘ long life ’ may have been lost as they typically had shorter lifespans, so the code was not needed anymore. However, at the end of the Cretaceous period where the dinosaurs went extinct, mammals dominated and diversified, where lifespans started to vary from short - lived species to large, longer living species and this is how we ended up with the short end of the stick of life. So, there you have it folks, the dinosaurs are once again the problem. Should have wiped them out sooner!
Evelien David, Year 13
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Latham & Watkins Community Partnersh
We are delighted this year to have entered a multi - year partner law firm, Latham & Watkins and we are honoured to welcome S Board of Governors.
Latham & Watkins has an outstanding global reputation and shares LAE ’ s commitment to inclusion which is vitally important to the long - term prosperity of the UK ’ s legal profession and to our wider society. The support offered by Latham will assist LAE in continuing to provide a first - class sixth - form education for ambitious, hard - working young people from one of the most disadvantaged parts of the UK. “ The collaboration is rooted in a shared belief in the power of education to positively influence life outcomes, and an abiding commitment to equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to help them reach their full potential, regardless of background. LAE provides students with life - changing education and empowering opportunities, and we are incredibly proud
to play a part in supporting its efforts to eliminate educational disadvantage and create lasting impact. ”
Stephen Kensell, Managing Partner Latham & Watkins London
hip
rship with premier global Sophie Lamb KC to our
The benefits that our community partnership with this renowned law firm will bring to LAE students are manifold including:
A programme of professional mentoring aligned to the LAE pathways, Latham & Watkins staff will help students develop their skills and pursue their academic and personal goals.
Bespoke and tailored lectures via the LAEcture Programme
Talks and workshops within the LAE Pathway to Law
Sophie Lamb KC, International Arbitration Partner Latham & Watkins London LAE Governor
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LAE Student Council: Change through Voi
At LAE students ’ voices are listened to, heard and respected due to the presence of the Student Council. The Student Council represents the intrinsic values of our school community and upholds the integrity of democracy. Each council member has been elected by their house through a voting system and is held to the highest of standards. Meeting every week, we raise vital issues that concern all students and consider solutions to resolve them. This half - term council members have been busy with the establishment of the Anti - Islamophobia committee and all of its work around school, as well as planning of this half - term ’ s personal development day.
The Anti - Islamophobia Committee
The student council is a v to voice their concerns a of the LAE, one that, with for and by s
Here at LAE, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, and that ’ s what a few students did. Seeing the need for an Anti - Islamophobia committee, they petitioned teachers for its creation. The Anti - Islamophobia committee is a branch of the student council that works on raising awareness on the causes and
consequences of Islamophobia. This half term we have managed to raise £800 through two carefully planned out fundraisers: selling Krispy Kreme donuts in the Agora and selling lollipops that students could send to their friends, either anonymously or with a message. Not only did this raise many smiles and encouraged acts of kindness, but it also raised funds for a very important cause. All the money raised thanks to the hard work of the committee was donated to Islamic Relief Worldwide , a non - profit organization that aims to save and transform lives. Thanks to their hard work they have been shortlisted for the “ leaf - ing a legacy award ”, which is an award given to institutions which participate in charity week for the first time. It signifies new beginnings and the start of a long chain of fundraisers to help a multitude of people. The Anti - Islamophobia Committee have also held successful assemblies, educating students on issues regarding Islamophobia. Through these
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ice - Student Article
assemblies students have been taught about events that have caused a rise in Islamophobia and ways in which they could be combatted.
Advisory Student Referendum
The student council has another temporary committee which stands on behalf of the upcoming advisory referendum. The necessity of representation has led to students creating their own - in - school referendum. A great way to increase the transparency of the educational system at LAE, but also a significant step towards getting to know each other a bit more. The referendum revolves around the idea of ‘ free choice ’, it presents various options of interest around A - levels
and gives the students the opportunity to vote on behalf of what they prefer more. Options for vote are:
vital route for students and ideas for the future your help, will be built students.
4 A - Levels & Super - curriculars
3 A - levels plus+ & Super - curriculars
LAE students have the ability to express their views and make them clear for the community.
Members of the student council have been resilient in organising both the logistics and the practicality of the referendum. From brainstorming ideas from the referendum to creating ballot boxes from old shoe boxes, everyone has participated in the planning and creation of the ‘ big day'. We await the announcement of what has been the most popular option. The referendum serves a dual purpose; firstly, to give voice to LAE students to make sure their values and preferences are heard and secondly to replicate the voting system, create a realistic environment in which students can feel safe and demonstrate how the voting system works in Britain, allowing us all to gain thorough knowledge as future voters. Either through minority representation or voting systems, LAE student council is successful in representing the most important element of our school - LAE students.
Ilinitchi Mirela & Karwowska Olivia
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Alumni Advice
Dear LAE Student
I hope the demands of school life, and the shorter, colder days of winter, are not getting you down. An affirmation that I have always found useful is that I am proud of myself for my goals and proud of my resilience in sticking to them, regardless of any barriers. Many of you will currently be navigating the challenges of aiming for careers that are new to your family and your direct community. Try to appreciate that the perspective your lived experience gives you is unique and the resilience that you develop will make such a difference to your ability to enjoy and appreciate life. We should all celebrate our 'thick skins' as we achieve in an academic, working and social world that has not traditionally been set up for us. At some point in the future, if you feel able, find a way to share the unique journey you have taken and lessons you have learned with younger people who are in a similar position to yourselves now. This could be achieved in many ways including going back to speak at your school; writing a blog of your experience; volunteering at access days and events or even participating in committees that can bring about change in academia or your place of work. Achieving inclusivity requires feedback and action; only those who have gone through it know the real challenges, and therefore some of the solutions, to improving ethnic and socio-economic diversity in underrepresented settings. Reflecting on my journey gives me a personal sense of purpose when I feel a little lost in my day-to-day tasks. I hope it is somewhat helpful for you too as you continue on your journey to doing amazing things! Ella Henry LAE Cohort 2016-2018, University of Cambridge (BA and MPhil), University of Colorado Boulder (PhD)
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If you have news, editorial or a point of view you would like to see published on the LAE website or in LAE News, email news@lae.ac.uk
Address: Broadway House, 322 High Street, Stratford, London, E15 1AJ
Telephone: 020 3301 1480 E - mail Address: office@lae.ac.uk
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