TEDx Croydon High School: Role Reversal

On Wednesday 25 September, Croydon High hosted our first official TEDx Youth Event and it was certainly an evening to remember for many reasons.

We were honoured, at the end of last year, to be invited to become part of the TEDx mission, a grassroots initiative created in the spirit of the iconic TED talks, to research and discover “ ideas worth spreading.” TEDx inspires communities around the globe to take part in events that uncover and share ideas that spark conversations.

It felt particularly appropriate to be starting our 150th anniversary year with an event that spotlights empowerment for women and instead of considering how our young women are prepared for the world around them, to ask instead how a world designed by men, needs to adapt to the women destined to take on leadership roles across all spheres.

This is why we titled our event Role Reversal: as a challenge to society to prepare for a generation of incredible young women who already demonstrate the self-belief required to navigate their futures with courage and conviction.

The Holt Hall was the venue for a gathering of 100 specially invited guests, including the CEO of the GDST, Cheryl Giovannoni with a number of Trust Office colleagues, some of our School Governors, and representatives of local schools and organisations. We were also delighted to welcome alumnae from a range of year groups, as well as staff, pupils and parents of pupils involved in the event.

Our speakers came from both the student and alumnae bodies, representing Croydon High in the best possible way and all wholly inspiring in their words and their demeanour.  Alumnae Dr Mayoni Gooneratne and Millie Mensah ‘came back to school’ to share their wisdom on subjects relating to general and also menstrual health, shining a positive spotlight on some of the most fundamental shared female experiences, with a range of fascinating insights and considerations.

Rachel Evans, Director of Digital Transformation at the GDST also spoke brilliantly, discussing amongst other things the very hot topic of AI within the tech landscape and viewing this through a feminine perspective.

Our Head Girl, Alice, inspired everyone in the room with her knowledge and her delivery of an outstanding talk, celebrating her passion for Classical Civilisation and asking why the original ‘Girlbosses’ of yesteryear are not given the recognition they so clearly deserve. There is no doubt that Alice is preparing to take her place among the leaders of the future and we are exceptionally proud of her.

Amelia, also in Upper Sixth and one our EDI prefects gave an equally exceptional and highly personal talk about her lived experience as a young woman of colour, from Croydon. Her words were equally moving and challenging, provoking real reflection in the audience as well as a recognition of Amelia’s talents as an orator; again, we were all so proud of her.

Anaiya in Year 10 opened the whole event with her wonderful poem, For how much longer must we fear our mediocrity. Her poise and faultless delivery set the standard for everything that followed, including an unforgettable rendition of This is Me from The Greatest Showman, sung by Fallon in Upper Sixth and accompanied by the supremely talented Mr Ting on guitar. Fallon’s performance had such power and panache – it was incredible to see the audience respond to it. The final piece of the evening brought together a Drama ensemble from Lower Sixth and Year 8 comprised of Suzie, Matilda and Zarah together with Naomi G, Ivy and Naomi T. and directed by Ms Bradley, with assistant directors Lily-Belle and Fox. In this original piece, based on the words of our own pupils, the Dream Gap girls reminded us that our dreams may change, and we are never too young – or too old – to dream a new one. The humour and poignancy of this piece really struck home and it was performed to an exceptional standard. Our sincere thanks to each performer and also, Ms Bradley, who created the script and brought such outstanding talent out of this group.

The atmosphere in the Holt at the end of the evening was celebratory and incredibly positive, with a genuine feeling of shared hope and belief in the possibilities of the future.  The event was filmed and will now go through the editing and approvals process established by TED, after which we look forward to sharing the content with the wider community via the TED platform and our own channels.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such an uplifting experience and particularly to our speakers and performers, who left us in awe.

Mrs Fran Cook
Director of Philanthropy and External Relations