Ice And Fire Workshop: Human Rights Enrichment Day
Year 10 and 12 took part in a day of insightful activities about human rights, led by Ice And Fire. Pupils began by watching a documentary following six young asylum seekers from Syria, Sudan and Somalia during their first months in the UK, before researching key immigration terms and reflecting on what they had learned. They then rotated around three stations exploring the asylum process, including the UK Citizenship Test and visa routes. In the afternoon, they watched a verbatim drama about LGBTQ+ experiences and human rights, before writing poems expressing gratitude and loyalty. Overall, the day broadened understanding of lives beyond our own experiences.
Amari P and Priya S
Year 10
Your Voice and Mine Workshop
Year 9 explored how accents and languages shape identity, discussing the assumptions people often make based on the way someone speaks, such as where they come from, their age or their social class. They considered whether these assumptions can be positive or negative and the impact they can have on individuals. Pupils were surprised to learn that over 300 languages are spoken in London, with Bengali, Polish and Turkish among the most widely spoken.
After writing their own poems, Year 9 attended a workshop led by Shermya Modupe, a Croydon High alumna and young poet. She shared a poem about her name, identity and the effects of mispronunciation. Students then performed their own work, including a powerful poem and rap about stereotypes and identity. The day concluded with an exploration of London’s linguistic diversity and the origins of Multicultural London English, highlighting the importance of understanding different backgrounds and experiences.
Dejonai D and Maryam M
Year 9
My Life in Illustration
Years 7 and 8 took part in the My Life in Illustration workshop in the 3D Design labs, led by Mrs Wicks, Mrs Barnett and Croydon High alumna, Millie Mensah. Pupils worked in groups to create a short children’s book based on a topic and storyline of their choice. As an added challenge, they could use only 10–20 words per page, encouraging them to think creatively and carefully about their ideas.
The workshop developed teamwork, collaboration and listening skills while pushing pupils to think outside the box. Year 8 pupil Inarah S said she loved the experience and found it very interesting.
Lily O
Year 8
Football Masterclass with London City Lionesses and Premier League Football Manager, Gary O’Neil
Our U11, U13 and U15 football teams were visited by Croydon High alumna, Mya, who spoke about playing for Dartford FC and representing Grenada. Followed by a skills workshop with the London City Lionesses and Gary O’Neil, manager of Premier League club Ipswich Town.
Behind the Scenes for KS3 Production of The Odyssey
Pupils in the backstage production of The Odyssey were actively creating the very props and sets that would tie the whole performance together. These included a cardboard hand made from rolls, paper straws, and string, held together with a hot glue gun to make it look more lifelike. These would be used for the Cyclops in the play. Hand-drawn maps were also created on tea-stained paper, while origami birds were crafted from cardboard.
In the Drama Courtyard, the girls gathered to create signs to hang on a washing line and display during the performance. The signs were intricately painted with precision and perfection.
Overall, hundreds of detailed props were designed for the performance. It was clear how hard everybody had worked, and that the school production would not be the same without their effort. Huge congratulations to everyone who worked backstage, as their contributions made The Odyssey a truly thrilling show. Watch our backstage highlights!
Amari P and Priya S
Year 10
A Journey Through Dance: From India to Ireland
We experienced different styles of Indian Dance with Mrs Jijin, who has a background in the Indian classical style Bharathnatyam. It was an incredible experience which allowed us to learn the history of each style and learn about India’s culture. We strengthened our teamwork and resilience skills as we guided each other with specific steps in the choreography. At the end, we were able to put on a small show of the different dance styles represented in India, which we all enjoyed greatly.
Year 10 pupils took part in exciting dance workshops exploring both Irish and contemporary dance. In the Irish dance workshop, pupils learned about Irish culture and traditions while mastering new steps and techniques. They worked hard throughout the session and were proud to showcase their performance to an audience, as well as to pupils taking part in the contemporary dance workshop.
Meanwhile, our contemporary dancers explored the theme of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, using movement to express the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. Through creativity, teamwork and performance, pupils developed new skills while gaining a deeper understanding of both cultural traditions and global issues.
Glass Fusing Workshop
Year 10 enjoyed a glass-fusing workshop in which they created individual jewellery pieces. They learnt how to cut glass using specialist tools; we can’t wait to see what they look like once they have been fired in our clay kiln.
Thank you to all our visitors for running such brilliant workshops and giving our pupils an incredible experience during Arts & Innovation Week.
The Ivy Times
Learn more about Arts & Innovation Week 2026 on the Ivy Times Spotify.
