The students enjoyed talks from a range of speakers, all experts in their field, and a wide range of topics from both within and beyond their curriculum were discussed. Professor Simon Harding spoke about his eye-opening work on the topic of street gangs, violence, and drugs, and how drill music and social media can glorify a dangerous lifestyle. The infamous Professor Ann Oakley then spoke about her work on feminism and the impact of gender within the family and society, and later Professor Jason Ardy spoke candidly on the impact of racism in our society, especially in the education system. After lunch, the students delved into a world where politics and sociology collided as they listened to Lord David Finkelstein; a leading British political journalist. Finally, and arguably the favourite speaker amongst the students, the human rights barrister Dexter Dias KC spoke about four very interesting cases that he had been involved in recently, on some particularly heavy topics including FGM, murder, child abuse, grooming, and neglect. His story of his involvement, and how he came to enter the world of human rights law on the back of his resistance to the apartheid system in South Africa, was particularly gripping and inspiring for the students.
“ The day was hugely insightful and interesting for our pupils. They gained a huge amount by listening to such brilliant people in the field of sociology, which was particularly inspiring for those going on to study sociology at degree level and beyond. ” Rebecca Bownas, Head of Geography and Sociology