This month is Black History Month and on Wednesday the History Prefects (Violet, Emily, Mary, Ruqayyah) delivered an assembly to Year 7 on Windrush, marking its 75^th anniversary. We were lucky to have a guest speaker to join us, our very own Miss Ballie-Whyte, who has family connections to the Windrush Generation. The Prefects gave Year 7 an outline of the historical background, explaining what exactly Windrush was, the discrimination faced by those who came to the UK, and what life was like once they got here. But we didn’t just focus on the journey, we also looked at the impact that the Windrush Generation has had and the vital role played in areas such as healthcare and the Arts, to name but two. As King Charles once said, “It is crucially important to recognise the immeasurable difference the Windrush generation has made to Britain”.

In a Q & A led by the Prefects, Miss Ballie-Whyte gave us a real insight into Windrush as someone with personal connections. Year 7, who had some brilliant questions, were eager to ask her about her family’s experiences and what life was like for those belonging to that generation. Miss Ballie-Whyte also gave us an important reminder – understanding other people’s cultures and being willing to learn is the best way to combat discrimination in the UK. We must all try to learn about each other’s heritage and culture! Leading Wednesday’s Life Skills was our last duty as History Prefects before we hand the baton on to the Lower Sixth, and we are very happy to have had the opportunity to educate the Year 7s. We hope that they enjoyed the assembly!

Ruqayyah, Upper Sixth