Freedom and Festivals

Year 11 pupils had a thought-provoking and highly engaging talk from Zoe Shuttleworth at It Happens Education about Freedom and Festivals in their PSHE session on 2 March.

Responding to a survey carried out with Year 11s ahead of the event, Zoe set out to address any specific questions or concerns they might have about what to expect and how to remain safe at festivals this summer. She aimed to give pupils the basic knowledge of the risks of substance use to help make them better partners, siblings, friends and citizens, armed with the knowledge they need should they, or someone they know, ever need support in the future.

She explored the teenage brain and explained how the prefrontal cortex continues to develop until we are 25-27 years old and how this can mean young people are more programmed to take risks and mirror behaviours to feel a sense of belonging.

She encouraged pupils to press the pause button and surround themselves with friends they trust and who know them when going to festivals.

Zoe used the menti app throughout her talk, so that pupils could interact with the session in real time, answering questions or offering their viewpoint on a subject.

Thank you, Zoe for such an engaging and thought-provoking talk.