In the Spotlight

By Ms Jeanette Clayton, Head of History, Philosophy and Religious and Values Education (HPR)

It’s been an exciting year so far in the HPR department.

All students in Years 7—10 study RaVE (Religious and Values Education). Our RaVE teachers are Ms Natasha Davies, Rev. Andy Fleming, Mrs Jane Lilley, Mr Dylan Mordike, Mr Stuart Mitchell, Ms Kath Notley and Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger. Examples of Semester 1 RaVE units include In the Beginning, Parables, Spirituality and the Arts, and Living Our Values. In Term 1, Year 9 RaVE students went on an excursion to Goulburn for their unit on Spirituality and the Arts. They visited St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery and participated in a public art tour.

All Year 7—10 students also complete a semester of history. Our Year 7—10 history teachers include Dr Rebecca Barlow, Ms Jeanette Clayton, Ms Natasha Davies, Ms Catherine Gibson, Mrs Rebecca Hunter, Ms Sam Lonsdale, Ms Emily Ridge and Miss Georgia Sweeney. Year 7 history students study the ancient world, Year 8 students study the medieval period and Year 9 and 10 students study the modern world. In Term 1, Year 7 history students visited the National Museum of Australia. They toured a gallery on Australian history, took part in educational activities run by museum staff and had the opportunity to visit the Pompeii exhibition.

Students in Years 9 and 10 can elect to study philosophy. This semester, Year 9 students are exploring the unit I Think, Therefore I Am, while Year 10 students are studying Beauty, Sense and Influence. Our Year 9 and 10 philosophy teachers are Mr Jake Bailey and Mr Cameron Brown.

In the Senior School, the HPR department offers ancient history, modern history and philosophy. Ancient history students are studying a unit on the Roman Republic while philosophy students are examining knowledge and knowing. Year 11 modern history students are studying the American Revolution and Year 12 modern history students are exploring authoritarian states. Our senior teachers are Ms Jenni Bodell, Dr Rebecca Barlow, Ms Jeanette Clayton, Mrs Rebecca Hunter and Miss Georgia Sweeney.

In March, Radford student Natalie Tam was named the 2025 ACT winner of the Simpson Prize, a national history competition, for an essay she submitted last year as part of a Year 10 history unit. She was presented with her award at Parliament House and participated in an overseas study tour as part of the prize. Congratulations, Natalie, on an impressive achievement.

We also had nine students compete in the Senior Ethics Olympiad last week. They are to be commended for engaging constructively with other students on ethical issues.