Lower Sixth Students Join Oxford Conversations on ‘Being Human’
Three of Cokethorpe’s Lower Sixth students recently took part in the inaugural Co Club Conversations event in Summertown, Oxford — a thought-provoking morning exploring the theme of Being Human alongside business leaders, professionals and fellow students.
Accompanied by Mr Gale, Lower Sixth students Ollie (Swift), Reuben (Gascoigne) and Sukhmani (Queen Anne) were invited to attend as part of a small group of complimentary places offered to A-level students, ensuring that the next generation was represented in conversations shaping the future of work, leadership and human connection.
Hosted at OXTWO in Oxford, Co Club Conversations was designed not as a traditional speaker event, but as an opportunity to think differently, engage openly and exchange ideas in a relaxed and collaborative environment. The first conversation focused on what it means to remain human in an increasingly fast-paced, technology-driven world — asking questions about connection, resilience, leadership, and the importance of maintaining creativity and authenticity.
Students heard from an inspiring panel of speakers, including Helen Joy, founder of People Spark and recent TEDx speaker; Camilla Rogers, founder of Fifty 50 Consulting; and James Elliott, author, psychotherapist and veteran, each offering a different perspective on what it means to show up as human in today’s world.
What made the experience particularly memorable was the format. Students were seated amongst adults and participants they had never met before, and invited to participate in facilitated table discussions throughout the morning. This required confidence, curiosity and a willingness to contribute — qualities our students demonstrated brilliantly.
Following the event, organisers shared their thanks with the School, commenting on how engaged and insightful the students had been. They noted how valuable it was to have young voices contributing to the conversation and praised the students for embracing the challenge of mixed-table discussion with confidence and maturity.
Experiences such as these are an important part of a Cokethorpe education — giving pupils opportunities to step beyond the classroom, engage with real-world ideas and develop the confidence to contribute thoughtfully to conversations that matter.
