City of London Freemen's School - Free Minds

Welcome to Free Minds

We want our Sixth Formers to be articulate, knowledgeable, rational and tolerant of others’ viewpoints. We want them to be imaginative and not narrowly focussed in their learning.

The aim of the Free Minds programme is to inspire our students about learning for the sake of learning by engaging the whole of their minds in a wide range of subjects.

The programme is free in the sense of free from an examination curriculum, even though academically rigorous in its own right, but also liberal with a small L, open to a range of viewpoints and taking interest in the wider world around us. It follows the format of a university ‘Liberal Arts’ programme as found in the US, and increasingly in UK higher education such as the degree course at King’s College, London. This sort of course is exceptionally highly regarded by employers. It builds on the great academic strengths of the teachers at Freemen’s who hold over 100 degrees in a wide range of disciplines.

Lower 6 students (apart from those doing Further Maths) will pick five courses, one from each ‘faculty’. Each course will last for six weeks and consists of a one hour seminar per week. Students will rank their choices in September and as many of their first preferences as possible will be allocated.

ARTS FOUNDATIONS

LANGUAGE SCIENCE

WORLD

WHAT IS JAZZ? COURSE CODE:

A1

The course “What is jazz?” is an engaging and comprehensive exploration of this captivating genre. Students embark on an enlightening journey through the history, cultural significance, and key characteristics of jazz music. From its roots in African rhythms and the blues to its evolution into various subgenres like swing, bebop, and fusion, this course delves into the rich tapestry of jazz. Through insightful discussions, interactive activities, and immersive listening experiences, students will gain a deeper understanding of jazz’s improvisational nature, complex harmonies, and iconic figures. By the end of the course, participants emerge with a newfound appreciation for jazz’s unique contributions to the musical landscape and a broader perspective on its lasting impact.

FILM MUSIC COURSE CODE:

A2

An introduction to film music. To examine the development of film culture, exploring the interaction between music and film. Students will explore some of the film repertoire and its style and effect on the film, ranging from the advent of popular music through to the present day.

EXPLORING THE WORLD OF HAROLD PINTER COURSE CODE:

A3

The six-week practical drama course on Harold Pinter is designed to immerse students in the captivating works of one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th Century. The course delves into Pinter’s distinctive style, examining his use of dialogue, subtext, power dynamics, absurdity, political and social commentaries, as well as his exploration of time and memory.

Throughout the course, students engage in practical drama exercises that encourage exploration and experimentation. They learn to embrace Pinter’s unique style, analyzing and embodying his techniques through scene work, improvisation, and discussions. Supplemental materials and historical context are integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of Pinter’s legacy.

Foundations

THE HISTORY OF TIME

COURSE CODE: F1

Have you ever wondered what time is? Why people started tracking time? How they did it? How time, and the pursuit of its measurement, have differed across cultures and been wrapped up in the history of human civilization? Have you ever wondered why there’s never enough time? Why we have ‘time to kill’? Why some people are happy being late, whilst others must always be early? Have you ever counted down to an event, or wondered why sometimes time seems to fly by and at other times it crawls?

‘The History of Time’ takes a look at humanity’s relationship with time since the dawn of, well, time. The course introduces you to the pursuit of ever more accurate time-keeping that has been fascinating engineers since time immemorial. We will look at how time works on scientific, engineering and on a personal level. We shall investigate why the most important commodity in our lives is often squandered by the young whilst it makes bankers rich. We shall see how time is important to both the sciences and the arts, from mapping the universe to conveying important ideas in Shakespearean plays.

Through a mixture of lecture and practical experiment, seminars will look at theories of time, the challenge of its physical measurement, and its societal impacts.

SUSTAINABILITY; THERE IS NO PLANET B

COURSE CODE: F2

How sustainable is our current lifestyle, individually, nationally and globally? We hear regular headlines about climate change, reducing plastic consumption, the issues surrounding the use of palm oil, our carbon footprint, and environmental impacts of all of these. How do we deal with these interconnected factors, in seeking to make

decisions about how we live in a sustainable way?

The aim of this course is to discuss, research and debate the issues we face in finding practical solutions to living responsible, sustainable lives.

WHERE ARE WE? AN INTRODUCTION TO OUTER SPACE

COURSE CODE: F3

We are stardust. The nearest star to us, apart from the sun, is 6,000,000,000,000 miles away. There have been over 5,000 planets discovered orbiting in other solar systems. The fastest humans ever travelled was 25,000 mph when returning from the Moon. There are currently 6 people in space and humans are going back to the Moon in the Artemis programme!

If you want to find out how space began, what Einstein means by space-time, which star constellation is which, how Richard Branson plans to send tourists to space, whether the Star Wars films are based on fact or fiction or whether aliens exist, then this is the course for you! You only need scientific knowledge to GCSE level and the seminar titles and related questions will be:

• Earth (where are we?)

• The Big Bang (how did it all begin?)

• Aliens (do they exist?)

• Stargazing (do you know the night sky?)

• Exploration (how have we explored?)

• Black Holes

• Sci Fi films

CHINA IN 6 WORDS: UNDERSTANDING AN ANCIENT AND MODERN SUPERPOWER COURSE CODE: L1

Debate about China in the British media largely alternates between discussion of China’s rise as a global economic powerhouse and fear that China poses a threat to our political system and values. Have you ever wondered what China is like beyond the superficial headlines? Which factors have influenced China’s historical development? Which forces continue to shape the country that it is today? And are China and the UK as fundamentally different as the headlines imply?

This course explores the fascinating country of China through the prism of 6 key words –Nation, Family, Language, Education, Tradition and Development. We will cover topics including China’s dynastic history, Confucianism, the development of Chinese characters, the One Child Policy, the pressures of the education system, festivals, superstitions, technology, censorship and the environment, as well as many more. Each lesson will incorporate a mixture of historical sources, academic writings, newspaper articles, videos and my personal experiences of life in China to inspire discussion about these six ideas. If you are interested in learning more about one of the world’s most populous and influential countries, then come and join us!

THE GREEK THEATRE

COURSE CODE: L2

If you have ever stood in awe at the scale of an ancient open air theatre, if you have wondered what attending the theatre in ancient times must have been like, if you are grabbed by an interest in the civilisation of the ancient world, if you love a good drama, if you like Greek mythology, if you are thirsty for stories, if you like festivals, carnival atmosphere and celebration then this course is for you.

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS

COURSE CODE: S1

Science is breaking news all around us, all the time. Discovering new planets; sending astronauts to the International Space Station; use of nano-wires in extra long-life batteries; predicting and discovering the potential existence of 5 quark particles are just a few examples of some of the frontline stories we have seen hitting our news in the past year or two. This course is all about reacting to the most exciting and interesting scientific discoveries as they are breaking news. You will be given the opportunity to identify the most current scientific affairs as they are happening, to research the background to the discovery, to understand the science behind it – at A Level and depth determined by yourselves; to discuss and share your discoveries with your peers and to evaluate the impact of the news on our lives. This course really has no limits to the knowledge you stand to gain, and discoveries you may make, about any aspect of our universe.

DISSECTION IN SCIENCE

COURSE CODE: S2

Why is dissection still part of the science syllabus? Is this an outdated and needless practice or does it offer students the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of how organisms work? During the series of six lessons students will have the opportunity to develop their dissection skills on a variety of organisms. The culmination of the course will be a debate about the value of what students have learnt from the experience.

HOW TO CONTROL ANXIETY

COURSE CODE: S3

Do you ever get anxious? Do you wish you could manage your anxiety better? How does what we think affect how we feel? How does what we feel affect how we behave? How does what we do affect how we think? Emotions, thoughts and behaviours are all interconnected. Understanding this can help us deal with difficult emotions such as anxiety. In this course we look at how our thoughts can affect how we feel, with a specific focus on anxiety. You will also learn some techniques that you can use to help manage anxiety better.

World

HISTORY THROUGH FILM COURSE CODE: W1

An introduction to topics in History through Films such as Vietnam in ‘Born on 4th July’, China in ‘The Last Emperor’, History at the Movies, truth or fiction, and East Germany in ‘The Lives of Others’. A course for anyone with a love of Film and History!

SOUTH AFRICA IN THE 20TH CENTURY COURSE CODE: W2

Ever heard of Nelson Mandela? Of course you have! At the age of 19 I hadn’t, even though I was born and raised in South Africa. Do you know why he is famous? Do you know why he was imprisoned? This course will explore aspects of South Africa’s history through documents, poetry, song, film, and newspapers. We will uncover the devastating impact of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902, explore the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, consider the establishment of apartheid in 1948 in the wake of two World Wars, and conclude with the optimism of the last decade of this century with the release of Nelson Mandela. Bring your own device, your inquisitive eye, your empathy and your energy to explore.

JUSTICE ON TRIAL COURSE CODE:

W3

Is the British system of criminal justice fit for purpose? In this course we will put the justice system on trial by asking what justice means - and whether our courts are delivering it. We will examine real cases and consider the sentences imposed, how the judge arrived at the sentence, and whether they got it right. The course will be a mixture of discussion and reading. We will look at sentencing guidelines, judges’ sentencing remarks and judgments of the Court of Appeal.