SE Academic Review 2023

ST EDWARD’S, OXFORD

An introduction from the Warden

Welcome to the first edition of the St Edward’s Academic Review, a publication which celebrates the very best of the School’s academic culture. In its combination of work by pupils and their teachers, the Academic Review is an expression of the School as a community of learners, united in their pursuit of scholarship.

Teddies is a vibrant and inspiring place in which to live and work, not least for the breadth of interests amongst the pupils and teachers. The Academic Review reflects that diversity - read on to learn about Richard III’s foreign policy, symbolism in artists’ depiction of nature, the effect of stretching on hockey performance, and much more. These fascinating essays are interspersed with stunning work created over the last year by pupils in the Art Department, a very different but equally inspiring form of expression and communication. I hope that you enjoy it. We are already looking forward to sharing next year’s edition with you.

All of us at Teddies are working to foster in our pupils a life-long interest in the life of the mind. Our pupils’ ability to question, to reflect and to communicate is one measure of our success as a school. I hope that you will share my view that the evidence of the Review is compelling. For me, it is the definition of scholarship: building on the work of others to find new ways of thinking, making connections between subjects and across centuries of learning, expressing ideas with clarity, conveying passion, inspiring enthusiasm, and leaving us curious to read more widely, to think more deeply and to develop new ideas of our own.

Introduction from Hugh Stevens, Director of Teaching and Learning

It was a source of real enjoyment reading through the many submissions and I was inspired by the thirst for learning within our school and the passion which pupils and staff have for their chosen subject areas. It was a considerable challenge to select the small handful of highlights presented in this journal, which I hope you agree, are remarkable.

The inaugural St Edward’s Academic Review is a representation of the depth of academic interest and ambition that are integral elements of our community at St Edward’s. When the idea of an academic journal was first proposed, Heads of Departments enthusiastically submitted vast amounts of work for consideration in this publication.

Cover image: Eloise Firth

All of the essays and artworks published in this edition of the Academic Review have been written by current pupils or 2022 leavers, with the exception of the essay entitled ‘How useful is the global history approach to historians of Medieval Europe?’ which was written by HM of Apsley and Teacher of History, Huw Thomas.