Last week, Oxford High School was delighted to host its inaugrual Academic Scholars’ Evening — a thought-provoking celebration of scholarship, curiosity and student voice, this year themed around ‘Communication’.
The evening opened with a poster showcase across the Dining Hall and Library, where guests explored a wide range of original student research. From the evolution of cryptography and ancient Roman postal systems to the role of chemistry in crime-solving and the environmental impact of digital communication, the posters reflected the depth and breadth of our students’ academic interests.
Some particularly striking projects included:
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How body language shapes human communication by Angela
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Cracking the Code: The Evolution of Cryptography by Sophia, Emily and Sheena
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Pain vs Pleasure: How morphine alters communication within the body by Eleanor
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The Internet is the 7th most polluting “country” in the world by Amy
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Communication with God: Religious Experience by Caoimhe and Malavika
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The language of nature: how animals communicate by Megan and Rahee
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Communication in the Adaptive Immune System by Angela and Lucy
At 6.50pm, guests moved to the Main Hall for the second part of the evening — a series of student presentations, introduced by the Head. Each one offered a unique angle on the theme of communication:
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Aneesa and Yumna opened the evening with Whispers of Time: How History Speaks to Us — a powerful reflection on the ways the past continues to communicate through artefacts, records, and memory.
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Nina, Mathilda and Clara examined Complaints Through the Ages in a witty exploration of how people have expressed dissatisfaction throughout history.
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Matilde-Iris and Jemima shared an insightful visual presentation on Visuals as Communication, looking at how we ‘read’ images.
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Sophia and Olivia asked a compelling question — What might communication look like in the future?
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And Yalan, Alicia and Alienor offered a bold and creative piece entitled You i i i everything else, encouraging the audience to reflect on identity and how it’s shaped by language and perception.
The student talks were followed by a short musical interlude from Angela, offering a moment of quiet reflection, before the audience welcomed our inspiring guest speaker: Kay Hannam, Director of Forensic Services at Thames Valley Police.
Kay spoke about her fascinating journey into forensic science — from her early career at crime scenes and in forensic labs to leading a nationally recognised transformation programme. With a BSc in Medical Biochemistry and an MSc in Forensic Science, Kay has led teams through pioneering developments in digital forensics, accreditation, and innovation in the field. Her talk gave students a first-hand insight into how science, communication and problem-solving intersect in high-stakes, real-world contexts.
The evening concluded with the presentation of Academic Scholarship Pins — a moment of pride and recognition for the students whose intellectual curiosity and academic spirit truly shine.
With drinks and canapés served throughout the evening, and conversations flowing between students, parents, and staff, the event was a joyful celebration of scholarship in its many forms. It also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of communication — not just as a topic for study, but as the very means through which we connect, challenge, and inspire.
Congratulations to all our academic scholars on a superb evening.