Festival of Ideas: Curiosity in action

Trinity’s annual Festival of Ideas returns next week, bringing together students from across the school for a week of creativity, challenge and discovery.

This year’s theme, Curiosity, has shaped a rich programme designed to encourage students to explore ideas beyond the classroom and consider how questions can lead to real-world impact. The Festival builds on earlier work in the Trinity Extension Award, where students reflected on what it means to be curious in their learning and wider lives in an independent project.

The week includes a wide range of activities, from academic workshops and creative sessions to performances, trips and enrichment opportunities. Highlights include TED-style talks in the library, lunchtime concerts in the Recital Hall, and evening events such as the Festival of Ideas Conference and Opera for a Summer Evening.

Festival of Ideas Conference

One of the highlights of the week is the Festival of Ideas Conference, which brings together three high profile speakers from different fields to inspire our students. We are delighted to welcome:

• Sir Robert Francis KC, who will reflect on curiosity in medical law and public inquiry work.
• Libby Gray of Unlocked Graduates will explore how curiosity can drive social change and reduce reoffending.
• Former student Tom Livesey (Class of 2007), Co-founder of Thriva, will share how entrepreneurial thinking and curiosity in technology can help solve real-world health challenges.

All members of the Trinity community are warmly invited to join us for the conference next Wednesday 24 June from 4pm-6.15pm in the Concert Hall. More details on the event can be found on the events page.

Activities Day

Across the week, students will also take part in a broad range of enrichment experiences, including a dedicated Activities Day on Thursday featuring workshops such as GameJam, Model United Nations, Playwriting, Astronomy, Sports Nutrition and Chinese cooking, psychology experiments, journalism, diplomacy through games, and local history projects exploring Croydon.

Lunchtime performances add to the atmosphere, including a Violin and Piano Recital by Fourth Year Oliver and Mr Iliushkin, and a Mozart Piano Concerto performed by students Oliver, Georges, Charu and Lucian.

The Lower School Drama production of Prometheus opens on Thursday 25 June and the week concludes with Field Day on Friday, giving students a chance to enjoy time together away from school on trips or volunteering for local community groups after a packed programme of ideas and experiences.

We hope all students enjoy learning without limits this week, as they prepare for the final days before the end of this academic year.