The Two Counties Trust Celebrates Black History Month with Annual Student Event
This October The Two Counties Trust hosted its annual Black History Month celebration at the Museum of Making in Derby. The event united 110 students and 20 staff members from across the Trust for a day of exploration and creativity focused on Black history and culture.
The day began with a warm welcome from Wilsthorpe School’s Headteacher, Derek Hobbs, setting the tone for the learning ahead. Students participated in workshops and listened to influential speakers.
Renowned poet and writer Abíọ́dún Abdul led the first workshop, inviting students to explore ‘African Wonders Beyond the Pyramids’. They uncovered Africa’s rich history and cultural contributions, creating posters and poems to express their learning. Abdul praised their creativity, saying, “The students and teachers were very engaged, producing lovely posters and poems that 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.”
A highlight of the event was the keynote talk by Professor Olivette Otele, the UK’s first female Black history professor. She highlighted the often-overlooked contributions of Black individuals in Britain and Europe, stating, “It was an incredible opportunity to speak to such a large group of students about Black history. Thank you to The Two Counties Trust for having me and creating this valuable opportunity for learning and reflection.”
In the afternoon students participated in a workshop to turn their newfound knowledge into action by collaboratively developing assembly plans to share what they learned with their peers. This approach ensures that the conversations continue within their school communities.
Wesley Davies, CEO of TTCT, 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.”
Students across the Trust expressed their enthusiasm, with one from Springwell Community College noting, “Today was great as it expanded my knowledge of Black history narratives that have been forgotten.” Others from Selston High School found the event “informative and inspiring,” while students from Friesland School shared excitement about the impact of diverse cultures on British society.
