This week was Humanities Week, and the whole school assembly on Monday was led by Upper Sixth students, celebrating the power of Classics, English, History, Politics, Geography and RS. Head of Classics Miss Van Dal, who leads Humanities Week, introduced students Maggie, Anna, Suraya, Nell and Jacob, who each shared why these subjects matter far beyond the classroom.
“For me, the humanities have helped me make sense of the world,” said Jacob, reflecting on the recent Trinity Geography and History trip to Morocco. “The trip came alive because of what I’d learned in my lessons.” He spoke about how Geography and Politics helped him understand everything from the Atlas Mountains to Morocco’s water crisis, making the trip more memorable – not to mention the moment “Mr Hutchings fell off a camel in the Sahara Desert!”
Maggie spoke about the emotional depth and empathy that both Classics and English inspire, stretching hundreds of years of human feeling: “There is little difference between the pained love of ancient poets and modern playwrights.” She shared how theatre trips such as Oedipus and The Duchess of Malfi helped her see “captivating stories come to life on the stage.”
Anna highlighted how humanities and science work hand in hand: “Humanities and STEM don’t oppose each other, they complement one another.” She reflected on how medical ethics and cultural sensitivity make the study of human experience vital in every field.
Suraya explored the overlap between Geography and Religious Studies through “geoethical debates” on fairness and climate justice, inspired by the play Kyoto, which dramatises UN climate negotiations.
Nell discussed ethical questions at the crossroads of Biology and humanities, from designer babies to the use of Ozempic, showing that “science and the humanities aren’t opposites – they’re both vital to understanding and interpreting the world.”
To celebrate humanities this week, there was a programme of dedicated societies, from ThinkSoc and LitSoc to Classics and Politics Societies, plus a visiting speaker event on Wednesday in the Mitre Theatre.
We welcomed two fantastic guests: Lord Charles Banner (Classicist, KC and Member of the House of Lords) and Guy Jones (New Work Manager at Shakespeare’s Globe) who spoke about the impact the humanities had on their learning and how it shaped their careers. More on that soon!
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