History fans are delving into the past to learn more about hidden tales from years gone by as part of a new extra-curricular programme launched to expand students’ knowledge.
Highfields’ History Department has launched the new ‘Hidden Histories’ programme, which is open to all students from Years 7-13.
The newly-launched programme currently involves one lecture per half term, each looking at a different time in history, but there are already plans to expand the scheme to allow Upper School and Sixth Form students to present their own lectures in future.
Miss J Tappenden, Head of Humanities Learning School, said: “Hidden Histories is a school wide extra-curricular activity which welcomes all students to extend their learning beyond the classroom.
“We have an excellent knowledge rich, diverse and challenging curriculum in History, but it isn’t possible to cover every aspect of the past which is of interest to both our staff and students.
“Building on the success of our 2018 First World War centenary commemorations, where we ran a week-long programme of mini lectures on hidden histories of the war, we decided to roll the programme out on a more permanent basis to incorporate other untold stories, some of which build on curriculum learning, and others which are completely new.”
The first lecture, which took place on November 29th, was titled: ‘The Victorian Lunatic Asylum: Britain’s history with mental health’.
Presented by Miss Tappenden, the lecture provided a snapshot into this fascinating and dark past, whilst also supporting a school focus on well-being and mental health.
Miss Tappenden said: “The lecture examined how the reputation of Victorian lunatic asylums has been portrayed as a wholly negative one, but by learning how before them there was no support at all for people with mental disabilities, we were able to see the progression from the past to the present day.
“Students learned why these establishments came to have the reputation they did, and how attitudes through the 19th century and beyond changed until the foundation of the NHS in 1948.”
What is coming up next on the Hidden Histories programme?
The next Hidden Histories lecture is planned for Friday 31st January and will examine the story of Eileen Nearne, who served in the Second World War as a member of the Special Operations Executive.
Miss Tappenden said: “I won’t give too much of her story away as we want to save that for the lecture, but it involves capture and torture by the Gestapo (Nazi secret police) and escaping from a labour camp.
“What makes this story so special is that she is a relative of Spanish teacher, Miss Nearn, so this lecture has a lovely link to one of our very own members of staff here at Highfields.
“Not only is this a fascinating and exciting examination of some of the lesser known stories of the Second World War, there is a really strong cross-curricular link in this story, as it shows the real value and possibilities of being able to speak another language.”
