Celebrating Black History Month

Throughout October, pupils at Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School, part of The Goldfinch Trust, have been celebrating Black History Month through a range of activities exploring Black history, culture and identity.

This year's celebrations have placed a particular emphasis on student voice, encouraging young people to share their perspectives and learn more about the contributions of Black communities to British society.

Putting Student Voice at the Heart of Black History Month

A key focus this year has been hearing directly from our pupils about what Black History Month means to them.

Young people across all six departments of the school have taken part in interviews, sharing their views, experiences and reflections. Their contributions have helped shape a prominent display at our Bethlem site, putting pupil voices at the centre of the celebrations.

Exploring the Windrush Generation and Black British History

Through Citizenship lessons, pupils have explored the journeys and contributions of the Windrush Generation, alongside researching influential figures in Caribbean and British history.

Across the school, pupils have also taken part in group readings and discussions of Benjamin Zephaniah's poem 'The British', exploring themes of identity, diversity and multiculturalism.

Celebrating Black Culture Through Music

Music lessons have provided another opportunity to explore Black history and culture, with pupils learning about the connections between Caribbean sound system culture and Bristol's Trip Hop scene.

Further lessons will explore the history of hip hop and the influence of Black artists and musical movements.

Black History Beyond October

At Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School, celebrating Black history extends beyond October, with activities and experiences taking place throughout the academic year.

These include:

• Visits from cultural artists and musicians, including djembe drumming workshops.
• Trips to the Black Cultural Archives for Windrush workshops.
• Exploring Black history, literature and music across the curriculum.

Plans are also in place for spoken word artist Adisa the Verbaliser to work with pupils across our school sites.

Celebrating Our Pupils

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, curiosity and thoughtful contributions shown by our pupils throughout Black History Month.

While Black History Month provides an important opportunity for reflection and celebration, this learning continues throughout the year.