Brent Women of Renown at the RAF Museum

Our intrepid Year 12 A level Language students were invited to take part in an exciting project aiming to raise the profile of Brent women of renown. The final outcome of the project will be a film based on three Brent Women: Violet Doudney, Amy Johnson and Dame Stephanie Shirley.

Our Year 12s were tasked with researching Amy Johnson. They then used their research to carry out an in-depth interview of Johnson’s biographer, Midge Gillies at the RAF museum on the 4th of July.

Midge Gillies is a British journalist and biographer. Currently she is Academic Director for Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge. She has written extensively for newspapers including The Guardian and the Los Angeles Times. Her autobiography Amy Johnson Queen of the Air celebrates the achievements of this local hero who at one time flew regularly from Stag Lane aerodrome, a stone’s throw from Kingsbury High School.

On the day, Midge Gillies delivered a highly inspirational talk, engaging the students in the wonderful and daring life and adventures of Amy Johnson. She also supported them as writers to produce creative pieces inspired by the life of Johnson. Of course the day would not have been complete without the all important guest appearance from Alex Thomas, who came along to watch the interviews being recorded and to speak to those involved in the project. The headteacher had been pivotal in helping to launch the project (pun intended).

The documentary film along with the creative writing workshop our students have contributed to, will create a legacy document and education programme to roll out across other schools in Brent. In their involvement in this project, our Year 12s will have made a significant contribution to raising the profile of pioneering women who have overcome discrimination and for local heritage to be remembered and embedded into the Brent school curriculum.

The film of the whole project is to be screened at the Kiln Theatre in November 2023. Our Year 12 students have been invited to attend this screening and to support the Q&A session which will take place at the end of the film.  

Safa El-Darsh