Our Year 10 students have been working closely with the History Department this term as preparations begin for The Great Debate 2026!
This national public speaking competition, run by the Historical Association, challenges students to explore the importance of public and personal records in uncovering the stories that shape our local and national history.
Ten enthusiastic students have volunteered to take part, and this week they were delighted to welcome Julia and Maureen, archivists from Redditch Library. Together, they delved into fascinating historical records — including handwritten diaries from local health visitors, minutes from 19th-century medical board meetings, and court case records from across Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
Through these remarkable documents, students uncovered vivid details about life in and around Studley, from the medieval monks of Studley Priory to the transformative years of the Civil War.
Inspired by their discoveries, our young historians are now ready to begin crafting their speeches. A huge thank you to Julia and Maureen for sharing their time and expertise — we look forward to welcoming them back in November as judges for our Studley Speaks competition!
