News Mind and Matter: Sixth Form Enrichment Programme 24.09.2025

The Sixth Form Enrichment Programme aims to help students discover where their academic passions might lie and to inspire them to explore beyond the curriculum, either delving deeper into one of their academic subjects or discovering something new. For the Lower Sixth, this can be particularly useful as they think about the areas they would like to study for their Extended Project or Extended Essay. For Upper Sixth students, the topics can enrich their knowledge and thinking, adding to their academic confidence and enhancing their preparation for university.

The series of lectures is delivered by staff with a particular passion and enthusiasm for a topic beyond the academic syllabus and this year is based around the theme of Mind and Matter. This year’s fascinating talks include:

From International Relations to World Literature: what is ‘Uneven and Combined Development’ and why does it matter? Dr Christie

Word Hunters: How Children Learn Their First Words Dr Vicenik

Molecule Murals: a creative practice beyond the classroom Ms Cembrowicz

Nothing really matters: an exploration of time, meaning, and the terror of futility Dr Ridley

Where boundaries blur: mind/body, an unhelpful dualism Ms Clark

Can’t Help Falling In Love?: A Literary History Mrs Moule

How much is enough? Mr Holgate

The changing status of handcraft in western art Dr Williams

Mrs Thatcher: Conservative Revolutionary? Dr Woodberry

Ashoka the Great: the emperor who ruled by nonviolence and compassion Mrs Golding

Mind and Matter: Volcanoes, Fireworks and Lightning Mrs O’Shea

A mind contemplating matter – how do we know anything in science? Ms Scordoulis

Dreams, objects, and the Unconscious: Surrealism and the bridge between mind and matter Ms Dubois

Not Fair: AI and Social Justice Ms Virdee

Composing the moment: the use of music in modernist writing Mrs Jay Ellis

Barcelona: on the edge? Mr Sumner