WHOLE SCHOOL BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROJECT

Newham Listens:

What do we hear when we listen to our community?

Over the month of October the Middle School took part in a project we are naming ‘Newham Listens’ with the essential question What do we hear when we listen to our community? Over the course of the project, each coaching group was assigned a local person of note who represents Black Excellence, having found success in their chosen field. Some of the artists, authors and cultural figures we focused on were subjects in an interview series - ‘Newham Talks’ - designed by the actor, rapper, songwriter and MC Kano, who is a local himself, growing up in East Ham. The series highlights Kano’s ‘hometown heroes’ and includes actor Idris Elba, Olympian Christine Ohuruogu, author Dr. Joy White and more. We also hosted live meetings with our local councillors Charlene McLean and Terry Paul. During the project, students learned about these local figures and responded to what they find out through writing, discussion and art work. Portraits of each of the people focused on have been created and will form part of a ‘talking posters' which we plan to offer as calendars for purchase. QR codes will be included on each month where recordings of students’ responses can be listened to.