TEDxAlleyns School Youth: the Alleyn’s School community asks how we can be All We Can Be

October 23rd 2023

The inaugural TEDxAlleyns School Youth event took place on Friday 20th October, to an audience of over 800 people including pupils from Alleyns and from nearby Trinity Academy, Brixton, as well as Alleyn’s parents, staff and alumni across three events in the School’s MCT theatre.

A first of its kind at Alleyn’s, the TEDx event saw 30 talks throughout the day, each taking unique, personal and thought provoking insights into the overarching theme of "All We Can Be." Speakers drawn from pupils, staff, parents, and alumni took to the stage to explore a rich variety of subjects across society, technology, science, healthcare, learning and culture.

Talks of an electrifying nature

Alleyn’s Senior Deputy Head, Andy Skinnard, set the tone with an inspiring talk on the moral imperative of striving to be the best versions of ourselves, citing four female philosophers - Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot and Mary Midgley- who changed the academic landscape in the wake of the First World War; while Deputy Head (Academic) Dr Tom Durno spoke about how breaking down the myth of genius in Romantic-era England can help us work together to reach higher creative potential in today’s world of digital innovation.

Year 13 student Ella spoke about the Dangers of a Knowledge Hierarchy and the need for critical thinking; Year 5 student Luca delved into the transformational potential of ChatGPT – and what to watch out for in the changing world of AI; and Ren in Year 13 spoke about how Asian Pop Culture sets out a more peaceful path for geopolitics and soft power.

Alleyn's alumni

Alleyn’s alumna and We Rise In Founder Faith Locken (Roper’s 2011), spoke about how her programme of reverse mentorship helps bridge cultural divides to improve understanding and achieve acceptance between different communities; and CEO of Genomics England Chris Wigley talked about how the groundbreaking work around genome sequencing opens up personal and unique treatment options. Finally, Felix Barrett (Tulley’s 1996), an alumnus and Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Theatre Company, finished the day with a captivating talk on "The Power of Breaking the Rules and Deviating from Expectation," which paid tribute to the influence of two of his Alleyn’s teachers on his life and left the audience invigorated and inspired.

An undeniable triumph

Organiser and Alleyn’s Assistant Head (Director of Studies), Aidan Sproat-Clements, said, ‘TEDxAlleyns School Youth is the result of our desire to explore the depths of thinking from our creative and inspirational community. We want to inspire people to discuss ideas with one another and come to a greater understanding about how we can, as a community, contribute to the sum of universal thinking.

‘Importantly, TEDxAlleyns School Youth gave an incredible platform for pupils from Year 5 to Year 13 to speak on subjects close to their hearts to an enthusiastic and receptive audience, which in itself is a phenomenal thing’.

Grateful thanks

We are incredibly grateful for the kindness of all our supporters who have made this event possible through generous financial contributions and gifts of time and specialist expertise.

In particular, our thanks to alumni Sophie de Salis (Spurgeon's 2015) and Ted Rosner (Spurgeon's 2006) for their support for the TEDxAlleyns School Youth Bags of Thought. Both Sophie and Ted are themselves wonderful examples of the All We Can Be theme, making a difference to the world through sustainability initiatives and the social enterprise Redemption Roasters, respectively.

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