Last week, at very short notice, we were lucky enough to host Shabana who, in her teens, set up a boarding school for young women in Afghanistan. She was astonishing – talking to us of her life under a regime which did not recognise the rights of women to be educated. A diminutive figure, she spoke powerfully about the importance of female education, and what an outrage it is to be in a world where a country can ‘get away with’ not educating its female citizens. She rightly asked the purpose of education if not to help and free others. I know that several students were really moved by her words and one of the questions asked ‘what can students of my age do to help?’
Today in assembly I mentioned the death of Mahsa Amini and how important it still is to a school like Oxford High with a history of championing less heard voices to be aware of what is happening across the world. At lunchtime, a student came to talk to me about how we, as a school, could respond. She wanted us to show solidarity with the women of Iran and wanted to reach out and acknowledge their fight.
Most young people, in my experience, are social activists but at Oxford High School over and over again students are moved to act and make an active difference. Again, this Wednesday, Cherry and a group of Sixth Formers put on a conference on North Africa and the Middle East which was accessible to hundreds of schools and students across the UK. Streamed online the students wrote and gathered the speakers, moderated the question and answer session and ran it seamlessly.
Last night, at our Sixth Form Open Evening, Katherine (our Head Girl) spoke eloquently and passionately about her time at Oxford High School and how she had found her love of History and the freedom to be herself. And it wasn’t just her. As I walked around the different classrooms students were talking about their subjects with confidence, energy and enthusiasm .
In these days of changing a picture on social media to demonstrate allegiance to a cause or to like a post I find this incredibly encouraging. To speak and to be heard is a privilege; to bear witness to students who then act for the benefit of others at the heart of our school. If they are already changing the world at 15 then they will be able to tackle any challenge beyond. We are in safe hands and I can’t wait to see what they bring.
With warmest wishes
Marina Gardiner Legge