PPE Society

PPE Society this week was led by Mr Martin and Mr Gunning exploring the topic of Plato, democracy and whether voters get in the way?

Mr Martin introduced his discussion of Plato’s political philosophy by outlining Plato’s Ship of State analogy. This example highlights a contradiction: we demand expertise from pilots, doctors and engineers, yet for the complex task of governing society, we often prioritise popularity. Plato proposed the Philosopher King, a ruler equipped with the highest level of knowledge and skill, whose judgment would be completely free from the democratic pressure of needing to be popular.

Mr Gunning continued and drew parallels with modern political discourse highlighting how the incentive structure for politicians encourages short-term thinking and quick wins over more long-term, and perhaps painful, decisions for the greater good. As a group, this led to discussions about the recent budget announcement where we explored this tension further.

The session concluded with a discussion on how these issues could be combated with a recognition that such issues may be an unavoidable cost for our free participation in political choice.

Model United Nations

Earlier this half term our Model United Nations team took part in a two-day conference hosted by Wetherby Senior School in Marylebone. Representing Australia and Afghanistan, our delegates tackled a wide range of complex issues – from safeguarding the rights of women and girls living under Taliban rule to the environmental impacts of water-intensive data-centre cooling systems. The crisis debate, centred on the disappearance of a nuclear warhead over the Atlantic Ocean, led to some lively exchanges and impressive displays of diplomatic skill.

Special congratulations go to Keitu B, awarded Best First-Time Delegate in the Environmental Protection Committee, and Alex McN, named Best Delegate in the Human Rights Committee. Well done to all students who worked with such commitment on their research and resolutions.

Channing Sunrise

This week also marked the fourth session of Channing Sunrise, our new Politics breakfast club for pupils in Years 10-13. Over pastries and newspapers, students explored some of the biggest headlines of the week, including the Trump administration’s bombing of Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean – a story that sparked a fascinating discussion about presidential authority and the direction of US foreign policy in Latin America. It was a thoughtful and engaging start to the day, and we look forward to seeing even more pupils join us.