Lectures and Speakers

LECTURES AND GUEST SPEAKERS

PPE Forum

For the opening PPE Forum we welcomed Charles Moore, former editor of the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, and official biographer of Margaret Thatcher. Charles talked about the intersection of History and Biography, and offered a range of fascinating and unique insights into the life and career of Mrs Thatcher. In February the PPE Forum heard from Dr Johanna Thoma from the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and from Dr Yaron Brook, Chairman of the Board of the Ayn Rand Institute. Dr Thoma gave an insightful paper on procrastination and policy formation and Dr Brook spoke about the morality of inequality.

Author Paul Dowswell on Historical Fiction

We were delighted to welcome author Paul Dowswell, recipient of the Trinity Schools Book Award 2019 for his novel Ausländer, to the school to speak to Years 9 and 10 about his works of historical fiction with an emphasis on the Cold War and totalitarian states. Paul gave two informative talks that detailed what it was like to live behind the Iron Curtain and gave invaluable advice to budding Year 7 and 8 writers who joined him in the Library over lunch break.

Alice Fraser

Project Coordinator, V&A

Sixth Form Art History students were treated to a fascinating lunchtime talk from Old Dolphin Alice Fraser (Class of 2010) who spoke about her role as Project Coordinator at the V&A and her career path since leaving Godolphin. Having loved every minute of reading, researching and writing at university, Alice explained how she initially looked for work using these skills before becoming Project Manager at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Working with architects, designers, curators, restorers, educators and finance departments, Alice oversaw the complete redesign and refurbishment of the Raphael Court which houses the world famous Raphael Cartoons.

Sixth Form Enrichment Programme

The weekly enrichment slot in the Sixth Form timetable allows students to attend a variety of events and sessions that add something a little different to the school week. In the Spring Term, Upper Sixth students attended two powerful talks from guest speakers: the first from Peter Hall on overcoming alcohol and drug abuse; the second, a presentation from Hibo Wardere, a female genital mutilation awareness campaigner.

Lecture for Sixth Form Philosophers

In February Professor Andrew Fisher from the University of Nottingham delivered a lecture and seminar to Sixth Form Philosophers and IB students about the concept of knowledge in ethics. He also ran a lunchtime session on undergraduate study of humanities at university.

Smoothie Talking

Co-founder of Innocent Smoothies, Richard Reed, led a fascinating assembly and Q&A session talking about his own journey and emphasising to students the idea that ‘everything big starts small’. In the Q&A session Richard stressed the need to take risks and how the ‘joy of the entrepreneur is to keep turning a no into a yes’. Later in the year, Richard spoke to our Sixth Formers as part of their Academic Enrichment programme about his experience of entrepreneurship from the challenges of starting up a business to brand development.

Sixth Form Lecture Series

Now into its fifth year at Godolphin, the Sixth Form Lecture Series offers students the chance to attend lectures delivered by members of staff on a broad range of topics. The theme for this year’s programme was ‘Crossing Boundaries and Borders’ – with topics ranging from international espionage and power politics in the 1970s; to whether empathy is taught or innate – and it proved a valuable opportunity for students to explore subjects in greater depth and offered fascinating insight into the range of expertise and interests of their teachers.

Body Positivity

We were delighted to welcome back Old Dolphin and former Head Girl, Issy Roberts (Class of 2019), as part of our Body Positivity Day organised by the Head Girls Team. Issy spoke at the lunchtime forum on challenging the ways in which society presents and views the physical body. This prompted really inspiring discussion from the girls on their own perceptions of themselves and the challenges they face living in a digital age where everything can be faked or fixed.

Tenner Challenge

Old Dolphin and entrepreneur, Lily Bourne (Class of 2004), visited the school to launch the Year 7 ‘Tenner Challenge’ as part of our ‘Futures’ programme. Lily set the tone for the event with a keynote speech focusing on her numerous business ventures before students got into groups to begin the challenge. With crisp £10 notes in hand, Year 7 planned how they were going to use or invest the money to generate profit with all proceeds raised through the ‘Tenner Challenge’ donated to the school’s Bursary Fund.