Peter Radford Returns to Charters!

We were thrilled to welcome Peter Radford back to Charters School this week, this time guiding our Year 10 students through an enlightening and empowering workshop exploring misogyny, masculinity and sexual harassment.

He began by telling the students that Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, "all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights", but that in reality, many women are not treated equally or fairly.

Peter encouraged students to look within: to challenge their assumptions, question embedded stereotypes, and understand how unconscious bias can subtly shape our interactions with women and girls. These workshops revealed how seemingly small remarks or behaviours - even those made “in jest” - can have a profound effect on colleagues and classmates alike. Small, conscious choices matter, and the film below subtly asks: "When did doing something "like a girl" become an insult?"

Peter’s sessions were thoughtfully interactive, enabling students to reflect on their own language, actions, and attitudes in both school and everyday life. He emphasised that understanding the root of our biases is not about blame, but about awareness and growth. The workshops also focused on:

• systemic discrimination
• sexual harassment and how to address it
• the portrayal of women historically and in modern media
• masculinity and what it means to be male
• power and consent
• rape culture and its effects
• the impact of pornography
• what it means to be feminist

A heartfelt thank you to Peter Radford for returning to Charters to help shine a light on how everyday words and behaviours can deeply affect those around us. We’re excited to continue this important work, and we look forward to welcoming Peter back again during the next academic year.

To all Year 10 students, and every member of our community: let’s take forward the insight, compassion, and determination to build a culture where respect, equality, and kindness are at the heart of everything we do.