A Celebration of Teaching & Learning

On Monday 22 June, we held our Teaching and Learning celebration event, showcasing the wide range of research that both staff and students independently complete at Berkhamsted. Held in the Zaha Hadid building, the event brought staff, pupils, and parents together to celebrate Berkhamsted’s spirit of intellectual curiosity. The flexible classroom spaces and meadow quad were dotted with display boards featuring HPQs, EPQs, independent research projects, and other pupil undertakings from across the year. 

Berkhamsted’s strong research culture begins with its staff, many of whom attended to present a range of academic projects. From Berkhamsted Bites, short-form research projects, to longer Action Research Projects, it was fantastic to see staff not only share their findings but also engage in discussion with colleagues from across the Schools Group. Research ranged from Literature pedagogy and open-space enquiries to investigations into early years care, reflecting the vibrancy and intellectual engagement of Berkhamsted staff. 

It was also wonderful to see representatives from Berkhamsted’s distinctive curriculum offerings, explaining the purpose and design of Year 9’s ‘Learning Edge’ and the Year 10/11 ‘Learning Pathways’ programme. Teachers spoke with parents and pupils eager to understand how these research-informed opportunities evolve to support effective learning. 

Over 30 pupils attended to display their HPQs (Year 10, Higher Project Qualification), EPQs (Year 12, Extended Project Qualification), and independent research. Pupils stood confidently beside their display boards, explaining their work to visitors and defending their scholarly decisions with assurance. Projects ranged widely: from religious ethics and sporting governance efficiency to explorations of Vikings in Victorian times. 

Pupils who had undertaken their own independent research also presented. George (Year 10) shared his work on early 20th‑century populism in Russia, while Kian (Year 8) presented his engineering project investigating AI’s capability in constructing supportive bridges. George commented, “My favourite part was having an interview with [Head of Politics] Mr Moseley.” The support and expertise of teachers play a crucial role in helping pupils embrace their intellectual curiosity. 

Many Sixth students also attended, explaining their super-curricular opportunities, such as the student-led blog, ‘The Crossbencher,’ or running intellectual games for visitors. Several incorporated elements of their own studies in these knowledge tests, including games based on psychological theories and historical timeline gap‑fills. The enthusiasm of both the presenting students and the engaged visitors was unmistakable. 

At the centre of the room were copies of Berkhamsted’s latest research publication: Issue 7 of the Berkhamsted Research Journal. This edition represents a year of written research at Berkhamsted, from long‑form staff projects and literature reviews to Year 7 curiosity journals and Sixth Form extended subject essays. 

Read Issue 7 of ‘Research at Berkhamsted’

It was inspiring to see such a rich variety of research gathered in one place, showcasing not only the intellectual curiosity of our community but also the way that our people come together through shared academic pursuits. Thank you to every member of staff and every pupil involved in the evening. We look forward to seeing what is produced next!