Events

from The Mitre 2022

Visits and Expeditions

Reviving Black history

To mark the opening of Black History Month, the school hosted academic and writer Professor David Olusoga OBE, who discussed the erasure of Black figures from historical events and the need for an updated curriculum.

Prof Olusoga appeared via Zoom in November to deliver a live lecture and Q&A session to Middle and Upper School students, parents and alumni, hosted by the History department. Prof Olusoga is best known for his public history work on the BBC’s The World’s War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire (2014), Civilisations (2015), Black and British: A Forgotten History and has also published extensively in print, winning the LongmanHistory Today Trustees award (2017) and PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize (2017) for his books.

After the talk, he took part in a panel discussion of his ideas with Sixth Form students Zoe Makele, Mel Aigbogun, Safiya Tiotto-Smith, Kai Patterson, Abigail Daly and Josh Muyobo, and chaired by head of History Mr Paul Murphy. As well as the students and staff filling the concert hall, the event was available to watch live for parents and alumni remotely.

Zoe said the talk had opened many people’s eyes to the contributions of Black people to major world events. “His talk shed light on the horrifying fact that black people have been erased from British history,” she said. “One could even describe certain areas of History as having been ‘white-washed’.”

Headmaster Mr Al Kennedy commented that it was “a very stimulating and valuable experience for everyone present”. The issues raised by Prof Olusoga were also on the agenda for lessons during the month of November. In History, there were discussions about Black history in the curriculum, and in Music, students were presented with a daily introduction to a black composer or musician. In Drama, Sixth Form students analysed the National Theatre’s Death of England: Delroy - a one man show about the black British experience of a man growing up in London; and others watched a modern retelling of Athol Fugard’s Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act, set in the Apartheid of South Africa.

Ms Audrey Lenihan

The price of disenfranchisement

The consequences of the omission of Black Britons in the past is that people are not aware of the sacrifices and impact that Black people have had in British society. Audience members expressed their shock to hear that, despite people of African ancestry being present in Britain since the third century, school history books have repeatedly failed to acknowledge this. They ranged from the diverse group of black Tudors and Elizabethans living as “free people” in Britain, to the black soldiers and sailors that fought on the frontlines in World War II.

Professor Olusoga further gave a particularly detailed account of one such example, associated with one of Britain’s most famous paintings. Black sailors are recorded as being at the Battle of Trafalgar, and in Trafalgar Square, a black man is clearly featured on one of the bronze reliefs at the base of Nelson’s column. One such sailor, John Ephraim, was aboard the Temeraire, the ship made famous by JMW Turner in his painting The Fighting Temeraire. As Professor Olusoga said, “a history with gaps in it is not a truthful history”.

The panel also felt strongly about the limitations of black history in the national curriculum and examination board. For instance, Black Liberation Theology, which was initially a part of the RS specification, has been removed, in spite of its significance to history. This can also be seen as an example of institutional racism within the wider education system. Students and staff at Trinity are in discussion to make reforms to our history curriculum. This will act as the start of a really positive change in our community, and its recognition of the contributions of Black Britons to our combined history. Zoe Makele, Upper Sixth

Life, death and biscuits

In May, Trinity welcomed author and nurse Anthea Allen, who shared her experience of being a nurse in the NHS – the subject of her recently published book.

Anthea Allen is a Senior Sister in the Intensive Care Unit at St George’s Hospital, and has been caring for patients seriously ill with Covid throughout the pandemic. Her book, Life, Death and Biscuits, is a diary of her experiences.

Her visit to the school was especially informative for medical applicants and others who intend to work in medical settings in the future. Lower Sixth Former Dionysios Sevastakis said the talk was “thought-provoking”.

“It was a really useful insight into what an ICU nurse working on the frontline during the pandemic looked like, and how it emotionally impacted the staff, as this wasn’t mentioned enough in the news,” he said.

“It just goes to show how much hard and emotionally draining work was going on while we sat at home.”

Head of Religious Studies Mrs Kate BeresfordMiller added: “It was fascinating to listen to Anthea’s account of the last few years and to learn more about the NHS response to Covid. We’re so grateful to her for taking time out of her busy working life to come and speak with us.”

Ms Lucy Fisher

Dancing in the New Year: The school marked the start of Chinese New Year in February, a celebration lasting 15 days and ending with the Spring Lantern Festival. In assembly, a group of students performed a spectacular lion dance, a tradition believed to ward off evil spirits and ensure the smooth running of a new year.

Inspiring change

Stuart Lawrence, the brother of murder victim Stephen Lawrence, has visited Trinity twice this year to speak to students and inspire them to fight racism.

Mr Lawrence visited the school in September to speak to staff and students from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee as well as members of the African Caribbean Society (ACS). In May, he returned to address the Third and Fourth Year.

Mr Lawrence’s older brother Stephen was murdered in 1993 by racists, weeks before Stuart was due to take his GCSEs. The bungled investigation later led to the Metropolitan Police being branded “institutionally racist”. His advice to young people was to “be a disrupter”. He said they should stay respectful, but where they see injustice or racism they could try asking difficult questions, listening to different points of view and suggesting changes. During the visit Mr Lawrence was also taken to see the Pledge Tree, created last year to allow students to focus on positive change they could make to support anti-racism. He was visible moved by the tree and said how much he loved it as a focal point for Trinity’s commitments.

Head of Religious Studies Mrs Kate Beresford-Miller said “It’s clear that he had a great impact. Stuart’s ability to engage and connect with young people is inspiring.”

During his first visit, he was interviewed in by Upper Sixth Formers Yash Shetty and Zoe Makele, before taking questions from the audience. He was asked about how to strengthen anti-racist attitudes in school, as well as the work left to do to tackle racism in the UK, specifically in the media and the Metropolitan Police. Yash Shetty said that speaking to Mr Lawrence was “incredibly energising”.

“It definitely prompted me to think about what I could be doing to stand up for my own values,” he said.

Shakanya Osahon agreed, saying: “Stuart highlighted the power we have, even as individuals, to establish a better and more compassionate future.”

Mr Lawrence returned in May to speak to the Third and Fourth Year where he shared his story of the murder of his brother. He described how he had not wanted the trauma of what happened to stop him becoming a change maker in the world.

He also announced a competition for both year groups, to design a piece of graphic art with the theme of anti-racism. Later he again met with members of the ACS and EDI committee.

Mrs Beresford Miller added: “Stuart spoke passionately about his hope for a future where we can stop focusing on race and focus more on issues that affect us all, such as the environment. He inspired us all to challenge hatred where we hear it and to stand up for a more equal world.”

Ms Audrey Lenihan and Mrs Kate Beresford Miller

Last hurrah

The Upper Sixth Formers left Trinity in June, and we said goodbye to them with the now-traditional send-off.

They enjoyed a fancy dress “sports day” on their final Games afternoon; then on their last day, after formal photos in their form groups, they enjoyed barbecue food and fun activities in the sports hall due to rain moving the festivities indoors.