On Thursday 22 June, I accompanied Year 10 students to Sydenham High School for 'The Sydenham Symposium: A Humanities Festival' during which the students enjoyed a number of lectures and workshops, collaborating with students from other London schools.

The festival kicked off with a thought-provoking talk from Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood. She spoke about her route into politics and the changes she has made as a Labour MP. The day then moved into historical fiction, with Dr Lydia Syson who introduced the volatile history of 19th century France. Ambassadors from the Royal Geographical Society then led workshops on air pollution and urban sustainability. The day concluded with an exploration of the fascinating language of the Ancient Greeks and a fully participatory workshop exploring Greek drama.