LEARNING UNFOLDED

A medley of lectures

Upper Sixth Formers have been busy researching and creating their EPQ projects, and this week have been presenting their findings. Toluwanimi completed a highly topical EPQ on the status of China on the global stage, arguing that the country's economic and technological advances have greatly increased its influence, but that Western powers are still reluctant to acknowledge China as a superpower.

Last week, Anna Mills (OA 2018) came back to deliver a talk on what it's like to work in engineering. We also welcomed back Michael Slotema (OA 2023) for returning from China to give some students an insight into what it's like to live there. This week we enjoyed a visit from Euan McGonagle (OA 2014) for the latest What’s it like to work in talk focusing on the Civil Service, with a brilliant range of questions from pupils. A big thanks to Anna, Michael and Euan for sharing more about their experiences.

Last Thursday, Sixth Form students attended an insightful lecture by Elizabeth de Jong, CEO of FUELS Industry UK. The engaging session focused on the influence of pressure groups on politics, using a real-life case study to illustrate their impact. Throughout the lecture, de Jong provided a detailed analysis of how pressure groups shape political decision-making, highlighting both their positive and negative effects. The thought-provoking discussion left students with a deeper understanding of the complex role these groups play in modern politics.