One of Britain’s best school-based Sixth Forms hosts call from global science expert

By Samara, 16, Jill Dando News

One of Britain’s best school-based Sixth Forms hosted a call from a global expert to mark International Darwin Day.

The King Alfred School Academy Sixth Form‘s Human Evolution Society, hosted a talk with Dr Andrew Macrae, a Professor of Environmental Microbiology at the University of Rio de Janeiro.

He discussed Darwin’s visit to Brazil in 1832 and his research into evolutionary biology with the Somerset students.

It was followed up with a quiz and a talk by Head of Sixth Form Jonathan Gaskell talking about the oldest human skeleton ever found (known as “Ardi”) dating back to 4.4 million years ago.

Student Grace Huggins hosted the event which prepares students brilliantly to help them get to the world’s top universities.

Mr Gaskell said: “Our Sixth Form Form Human Evolution Society is part of our super-curricular provision that helps prepare able students for prestigious courses at the world’s best universities including Cambridge and Oxford.

“Grace, Olivia and other Year 12 members are gaining the breadth of knowledge and confidence required to impress the very best institutions.

“It’s a great experience for our sixth formers to engage with academics from across the world who are pioneering new research areas.

“Big thanks to Professor Macrae of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for joining the group to talk about Darwin's influence on microbiology and his own genomic research.”

The King Alfred School Academy (TKASA) has had a tremendous few years and is soaring in exam results, curriculum provision, pastoral support and with its high-performing school-based sixth form.