Events

Professor Jon Davis is Director of the Strand Group at King’s College London. His research and work focus on the contemporary history British central government. He is the co-author with The Independent’s John Rentoul of ‘Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered’ which became the basis for BBC Two’s five-part documentary series ‘Blair and Brown: The New Labour Revolution’. Professor Davis’s Cabinet Office-sponsored PhD was published as ‘Prime Ministers and Whitehall, 1960-74’ in 2007. 

Professor Davis lectures at King’s College London on the history of Prime Ministers and Chancellors and on modules partnered with No.10 Downing Street. Before joining King’s, Professor Davis spent a total of eighteen years at Queen Mary, University of London, and rose to be a Lecturer in the Department of History, Director of the Mile End Group (2004-14), overseeing more than 100 increasingly high-profile events over more than a decade, and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs. 

Students Award Ceremony 2023

Student from Attlee Academy
Victor Radev’s speech for the Attlee A’ Level Academy Awards 27th June 2023

“Good evening, everyone. I hope you’re having a great time. It is an enormous pleasure to see some familiar faces and some new ones, and, of course, to be asked to give a speech. I stand here tonight with my heart brimming with joy and sadness. While this speech presents me with an opportunity to thank so many people in this room, it also means that my college days have drawn to an end, and what a journey it has been! I’ll be honest, I don’t often make the right choices, but enrolling at the Attlee A Level Academy has been by far the best decision I have ever made. It has provided me with life-changing opportunities, amazing memories, role models, and friendships that I will cherish for life. I wasn’t wrong to think that the college was named aptly after one of the most influential figures of the 20^th century, the late British prime minister Clement Attlee, who reflected in an utmost manner our core British democratic values, equal opportunities for all, and the desire to nurture, guide, and develop young people like me who come from a humble background. He taught us that having the right ethos and hard work can result in success.”

Award Ceremonies are always the highlight of the academic year. A time for reflection and celebration as young people move on in their lives to university and employment. The event at the Attlee A’ level Academy on 27^th June was no exception.  As students, friends and families gathered at the Poplar campus of New City College you could feel the buzz. I was delighted to see colleagues from the Academy and fellow trustees, Martin and Mohon, among those gathered to celebrate the success and achievements of the Attlee A Level students.

After a warm welcome from the Principal, Alison Arnaud, the ceremony was led by Sulliman Peerbacos, the Director of the Attlee A Level Academy.  Before each presentation we heard a little about the winners, accompanied by a short video, showing their journey through the Academy, their success and achievements. Some individuals had overcome many barriers and hardships to reach their goal and this was heart warming. 

Between the presentations there was a poetry reading by Avril Forbes of a work she had written especially for the evening.  Avril, who won two prizes, was the proud recipient of the Deputy Principal’s award for outstanding achievement.

The guest speaker was Victor Radev, the winner of our first Attlee Essay Writing Competition. It was lovely to see Victor again and hear how he is progressing in his studies.  He gave a very moving speech which is below for you to read. He is a great ambassador for the Academy and the Attlee Foundation.

Further presentations followed and then, after a lot of clapping and cheering the evening came to a close with a delightful piano performance by Daniil Kucalov. Daniil was also the recipient of the Ambassador of the Year Award.

Over the past year our links with the Attlee A’ level Academy have strengthened, and it was a great pleasure to attend the Awards Ceremony, building on our relationship and extending our support for the people and area of London that Clement Attlee so loved. 

The Attlee Foundation

Opportunity For All