This term our Year 9 cohort have been exploring the theme of identity in a combined English and Drama real-world learning project, ‘What’s Worth Fighting For?’, and focusing on understanding where they come from, what influences their sense of self and how identities can evolve over time. Using poetry to explore the theme of identity further, this will encourage learners to reflect on how they can shape their own identities, overcome barriers and fight for their own beliefs, fostering resilience, self-awareness and a sense of agency in their personal growth.
Over two days, the whole cohort took an inspiring journey through Manchester and visited the People’s History Museum, the national museum for democracy, with stories of people who have come together to champion ideas that are worth fighting for. Year 9 learners explored the various galleries in the museum and were involved in a treasure hunt activity, searching for different influential characters around the museum.
A walk to St Peter’s Square led the groups to the Emmeline Pankhurst statue, a bronze sculpture created by Hazel Reeves, titled ‘Rise up, women’. Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the Suffragette Movement, is surmounted on a chair, depicting her addressing a mass demonstration. At this location, learners were met by a historian who gave an in-depth talk on the life of the suffragette and her campaign for women’s rights including her connections with the North West. The group asked engaging questions and tested themselves on their knowledge from the historian’s answers.
A visit to the Alan Turing Memorial, situated in Sackville Gardens, completed the tour where the historian tour guide spoke to learners about the pioneer of modern computing and one of the most influential men of the 21st Century. The information gathered from the visits has hopefully inspired learners to write and perform their own speeches for their GCSE speaking and listening assessments in English and Drama.
Year 9 learners presented their project journeys and shared their statements in ‘Speaker’s Corners’ to an audience of their peers and staff in various locations around the school site. A wonderful example of our Trivium Communication pillar and their commitment to the project – well done!
