Museum Learning: A Collection of Collections

To preserve memories, to learn, to connect – and simply for fun – people collect things for all sorts of reasons. Our current exhibition, A Collection of Collections, celebrates this universal human curiosity. It showcases personal collections kindly loaned by members of our school community, highlighting the passions, stories, and histories that make each of us unique.

The aim of this exhibition was to bring people together — to spark conversation, curiosity, and connection through the things we treasure. From Miss McDonnell’s newspapers chronicling Ireland’s fight for independence to Mr Kidd’s impressive Air Max collection (including a pair from the year he was born), every display tells a story.

Visitors can also explore Ms Sheppard’s music vinyls — perfect for focus, relaxation, and dancing — and Mr Rider’s fantastic Funko Pops, bringing anime characters vividly to life.

Other highlights include:

• Mrs Bown’s “Music Across the Ages” series – a nostalgic journey through Now That’s What I Call Music albums.

• Mr Summers’ Art, Design, and Music collection – celebrating the creativity behind iconic sleeve artwork.

• Mr Broderick’s “What Has It Seen? Where Has It Been?” – a fascinating look at coins with stories to tell.

• Mrs Samra’s “Humble Magnets” – snapshots of happy memories from travels and family adventures.

• Mrs Adamjee’s “For the Thrill of It” – a stamp collection spanning time, continents, and cultures.

In House Tutor Time, students have been reflecting on their own experiences of collecting and memory. Do you or a family member collect anything? Are there objects from your past that evoke nostalgia or remind you of meaningful moments? These discussions have prompted wonderful personal reflections — and we encourage everyone to keep the conversation going at home.

Taking Learning Beyond the Classroom and Into the Community

Learning doesn’t stop at the school gates. Last academic year, our current Year 13 Health and Social Care students met members of the team at The Langley Haven Dementia Care Home. They learned about their day-to-day responsibilities and the meaningful ways they support residents’ needs.

This term, the students had the opportunity to visit the care home in person. They explored the reminiscence room and wider activity programme, putting their classroom learning into practice by engaging directly with residents. Through shared activities and conversation, students deepened their understanding of care, empathy, and the power of human connection.

Exploring How Punk Changed the World

This term, Year 12 students in House Tutor 3 have been investigating the question: How did Punk music influence society?

As part of their research project, students developed their critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation skills by exploring a range of cultural sources. They have:

• listened to songs by early Punk bands

• read original fanzines

• viewed archive images of Punk fashion and street culture

• analysed academic articles on social and political movements

Through this exploration, students discovered how Punk became more than just a music genre — it was a voice of rebellion, creativity, and identity.

A Museum, a Butterfly House, and an Aquarium

Our Year 10 Textile students recently visited the Horniman Museum and Gardens to gather inspiration for their GCSE portfolios. The trip encouraged them to look closely at pattern, texture, and form across natural and cultural collections.

They explored:

• the Natural History collection, examining form and structure in nature

• the gardens, observing shape and colour in flowers and foliage

• the aquarium, studying the movement and iridescence of aquatic life

• the butterfly house, sketching intricate wing patterns and vibrant colour combinations

Armed with photos and sketches, students are now developing their ideas back in the studio. These observations will form a rich foundation for their portfolio work over the coming term — a wonderful example of how museum learning can bring classroom creativity to life.