Hammersmith Academy welcomed 130 Year 6 students from three local primary schools for a special theatrical performance exploring British history, democracy and equality, made possible through our exclusive partnership with Historic Royal Palaces.
The Academy hosted Fire: A Princess’ Guide to Burning Issues, an engaging historical production telling the remarkable story of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, a pioneering campaigner for women’s rights and social justice.
Born in 1876, Sophia was the daughter of the last Maharaja of the Punjab and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. Her extraordinary journey saw her become a prominent supporter of the women’s suffrage movement, campaigning for women’s right to vote.
Through theatre and storytelling, the production brought this important chapter of British history to life, encouraging students to reflect on democracy, equality, individual liberty and the courage required to challenge injustice.
Bringing History Beyond the Classroom
Our exclusive partnership with Historic Royal Palaces provides students with exceptional opportunities to engage with British history and heritage beyond the traditional classroom.
Experiences such as Fire demonstrate how creative approaches to learning can deepen historical understanding, introduce students to influential figures and encourage them to consider how events of the past continue to shape society today.
The production also reinforced fundamental British values, particularly democracy, mutual respect and individual liberty, showing how individuals can help bring about meaningful change.
Sharing Opportunities Through Our Primary School Partnership
As part of Hammersmith Academy’s commitment to supporting the wider educational community, we extended the invitation to 130 Year 6 students from John Betts Primary School, Derwentwater Primary School and Wendell Park Primary School.
The visit was organised through our Primary School Partnership, which creates opportunities for local primary students to benefit from the Academy’s facilities, expertise and enrichment experiences.
By sharing opportunities such as this, we aim to inspire curiosity, broaden horizons and strengthen connections between primary and secondary education, while supporting students as they prepare for their next stage of learning.
The performance was another example of how Hammersmith Academy’s partnerships create meaningful educational experiences, reflecting our commitment to providing the challenge, opportunity and community that prepare young people for Real World Success.
