Museum Learning: Understanding the World, Understanding Each Other

It has been a powerful and thought-provoking term across the humanities and arts at The Langley Academy, with students engaging deeply in literature, history, music, and cultural studies. From exploring Dickens’ moral messages and remembering those lost in conflict, to investigating punk’s impact on society and writing empathetically about war, students across year groups have shown maturity, curiosity, and a growing understanding of the world around them.

A Christmas Carol – Exploring the Spirit of ‘Active Good’

What can Charles Dickens teach us about the true spirit of Christmas? This term, students have explored the concept of “active good” through our exhibition on A Christmas Carol. Although the world has changed significantly since the novella was published in 1834, the questions it raises about responsibility, compassion, and social justice remain as relevant as ever.

Year 10 English students have used the exhibition to explore key GCSE themes, including Marley’s chains and the consequences of greed, Dante’s influence on Dickens’ moral message, the shifting nature of memory in the Ghost of Christmas Past, and the call for compassion embodied by the Spirit of Christmas Present. This work has encouraged students to think deeply about morality, empathy, and the choices we make as individuals.

Remembrance Day – Refusing to Forget

On 11 November, all staff and students observed a two-minute silence in memory of those who gave their lives in conflict. Two students laid wreaths in front of our powerful exhibition by Belgian photographer Eric Compernolle, whose work captures moments of remembrance connected to the First World War and the Ypres Salient.

The exhibition explores how the legacy of war continues to shape communities in the Ypres region and families across the world, including those of New Zealand forces and the Māori Pioneer Battalion. We are grateful to Eric Compernolle and Talbot House for allowing us to use these images, and to our Museum Council students for their thoughtful and sensitive curation. It was a moving and meaningful way for our school community to reflect and remember.

How Did Punk Music Influence Society? – Year 12 Research in Action

Year 12 students in HT2 have been developing their research skills through an in-depth enquiry into the question, “How did Punk music influence society?” This project has challenged students to think critically, analyse sources, and evaluate differing viewpoints.

Students have listened to early punk bands, read fanzines, explored archive images of punk fashion, and analysed academic articles to inform their writing. They have also developed a strong understanding of referencing and academic conventions. The result has been a thoughtful exploration of how music can shape identity, challenge authority, and influence social change.

The Power of Words – Conflict Poetry in Year 8

Year 8 students explored the lives and experiences of those affected by conflict through the analysis of powerful objects and archival material, including a 1918 rifle, a military whistle, a Second World War helmet, and a soldier’s medal.

Using these sources, students created character profiles to support a piece of creative writing, developing their ability to write with empathy, imagination, and emotional depth. This work helped students to better understand the human impact of conflict and demonstrated how literature can give voice to those whose stories might otherwise be forgotten.

Learning with Purpose

Across all of these projects, students have shown curiosity, sensitivity, and a willingness to engage with complex ideas. Whether exploring morality through Dickens, honouring the memory of those lost in war, questioning social change through music, or writing creatively about conflict, our students are developing not only academic knowledge but also compassion, perspective, and critical thinking.

We are incredibly proud of the maturity and depth shown across these areas and look forward to building on this rich learning next term.