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It has been an absolute whirlwind of a year in the Politics Department. Against a backdrop of non-stop political drama in both the UK and the US, our classrooms have been alive with fierce debate, sharp analysis and the occasional collective sigh at the breaking news alerts on our phones. But the real story of the year lies in how our students took their political passions beyond the classroom walls.
Our year kicked off with a classic London itinerary: a trip to the heart of British democracy and justice. Students spent the morning exploring Parliament and the Supreme Court, gaining a first-hand insight into where laws are made and challenged. Naturally, the intellectual weight of the morning required serious sustenance, which was successfully provided by a highly strategic pit stop for dough balls and pizza at PizzaExpress.
Later in the term, we returned to Westminster for the POLECON Student Conference at Methodist Central Hall. Students heard from an impressive line-up of politicians from across the political spectrum, providing a fantastic opportunity to witness real-world political sparring first-hand – and, of course, to decide for themselves who really had the strongest debating skills.
Speaking of debate skills, our Model United Nations (MUN) teams have been exceptionally busy. Representing everything from global superpowers to fictional rogue states, Channing students attended three major MUN conferences this year at Highgate School, Wetherby School and St Paul’s School. Whether negotiating climate treaties or resolving international crises, our delegates represented the school with characteristic eloquence, confidence and charm. Congratulations to Alex and Phoenix, who both received individual awards for their outstanding debating.
Back on home turf, we were privileged to welcome former Liberal Democrat leader and Cabinet Minister Sir Vince Cable to Channing. He delivered a thought-provoking talk to our Sixth Form students, joined by visitors from our partner schools, before engaging in an excellent question-and-answer session.
This year also saw the launch of two highly successful co-curricular clubs. The PPE Society has provided students with a space to dissect the world’s biggest issues through the triple lens of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Meanwhile, for the early birds, Channing Sunrise has quickly become the place to be on a Wednesday morning. There is truly no better way to digest the day’s headlines than by debating the front pages over a warm croissant and a coffee.