Acland Burghley students reach the National Theatre

MORE than 700 Acland Burghley School students, staff and volunteers visited London’s iconic brutalist landmarks on foot this week in a huge fundraising effort.

On Monday, July 22, the school embarked on the sponsored “Brutal Walk” to transform its  Grade II-listed assembly hall into a creative hub for students and the local community. Students from Tufnell Parkcarried placards, banners and flags featuring brutalist art made in school to attract attention and donations from the public.

The walk was a culmination of a two-week festival, which engrossed the students in brutalist architecture before their visits to the Barbican, Brunswick Centre, South Bank and National Theatre.

The fundraising drive has been endorsed by actors including Tracy-Ann Oberman (The Merchant of Venice), Samantha Spiro (Sex Education), Adam James (Mr Bates vs the Post Office) and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered).

Actor Anna Maxwell Martin, lead actor in Motherland who lives nearby, said: “I think it’s so important that we have a really excellent arts space in our community for young people who can feel inspired and feel that they have choices too.”

If you would like to sponsor the students’ Brutal Walk and support the school’s Hall for All appeal, visit hallforall.org