The Two Counties Trust celebrates Black History Month with annual student event

This inspiring gathering brought together 110 students and 20 staff from across the Trust for a day filled with learning and creativity.

The event kicked off with a welcome speech from Wilsthorpe School’s Headteacher Derek Hobbs, setting the stage for a day of exploration and engagement.

The first workshop, led by renowned poet Abíọ́dún Abdul, invited students to explore ‘African Wonders Beyond the Pyramids’. The students and staff delved into fascinating facts about Africa’s rich history and culture while creating posters and poetry to demonstrate their newfound knowledge.

Following the workshop, the Trust welcomed Professor Olivette Otele as the keynote speaker. As the UK’s first female Black history professor, Professor Otele discussed the significant contributions of Black individuals in Britain and Europe, emphasising their vital roles throughout history.

The afternoon featured a workshop designed to help students reflect on their learning from the morning sessions and develop assemblies to share with their peers, extending the learning beyond the day. Students had the opportunity to discuss what they wanted their assembly to focus on and collaboratively develop a clear plan for how they envisioned delivering it to their school community.

Wesley Davies, CEO of The Two Counties Trust, said:

“It was fantastic to see our students come together as one Trust for this important event. A key part of being a multi-academy trust is to provide students with broader opportunities and meaningful experiences.

“Today truly embodied our core values of ambition, teamwork, and honesty. I couldn’t be more proud of how our students engaged with the speakers and the message of the day.”

Abíọ́dún Abdul, said:

“All 110 students and teachers were very engaged during this YNAD Talks workshop, learning about architectural wonders across the African continent, then producing lovely posters as well as poems which blew me away. The Two Counties Trust are doing a great job stoking such enthusiasm, talent, and passion across their nine schools exploring the vast diversity of Black history, and long may it continue.”

Professor Otele, said:

“I loved every second of The Two Counties Trust’s Black History Month event. It was an incredible opportunity to speak to such a large group of students about Black history and share the stories of often overlooked figures from our past. Thank you to The Two Counties Trust for having me and creating this valuable opportunity for learning and reflection.”

Students echoed their positive experiences, with one from Springwell Community College saying, “Today was great as it expanded my knowledge of Black history narratives that have been forgotten.” Students from Selston High School noted that the event was “really informative and inspiring,” while Friesland School students shared their excitement about learning new facts and the impact of different backgrounds on British culture.