By Katerina Karp, author and artist
The Bexwyke Lecture is an annual event organized by The Manchester Grammar School, traditionally held in March. The goal of this important event is to provide students in Year 4 and Year 5 from primary schools across Greater Manchester with a unique opportunity to hear from renowned and inspiring speakers on a wide range of academic topics.
From the very beginning, the lecture has attracted attention with its dynamic personalities and the important issues discussed during the event. Every year at the Bexwyke Lecture, different guest speakers share their knowledge and experience, aiming to inspire students to come up with new ideas and motivate them for future success. Among the notable past speakers are:
- Dr. Maggie Aderin (astronaut)
- Caroline Lawrence (author)
- Sonali Shah (journalist)
- Dr. Phil Manning (paleontologist)
- Alastair Humphries (explorer)
This event typically gathers around 400 students from local primary schools in Manchester and is held at Memorial Hall in the school. The program consists of a lecture, followed by themed workshops that promote a deeper exploration of various sciences and professions.
This year’s theme is ‘Making a More Beautiful World’. The keynote speech will be delivered by Louis Weinstock, an inspirational speaker who, like us, believes that a more beautiful world is possible. He is a skilled psychotherapist and developed the charity Apart of Me, which combines digital and real-world interventions to help young people transform their lives.
An Idea for a Better World
One of the components of the Bexwyke Lecture 2025 was a poster competition on the theme ‘How can we make the world better?’ Among all the participants from schools in Manchester, Alice G., a student at Manchester High School for Girls, emerged as the winner.
Her work was both inspiring and quite simple. Alice proposed creating a special grove where people could find peace and relieve stress. In her idea, she emphasized the importance of creating spaces for reflection and emotional rest, where individuals could calm down before returning to problem-solving and interacting with others.
Alice expressed her thought this way:
“I thought of something that can make the world kinder. There is a special grove where we plant different kinds of trees. If someone is angry and wants to get rough, they can go to this place, spend some time there and calm down. About 17-20% of people get angry because of stress. After you leave this place, you feel better and change your mind. This way, many problems in relationships could be solved.”
This idea was not only simple and realistic but also reflected the importance of inner harmony and the ability to manage one’s state of mind.
Science Workshops and Supporting Education
After the official assembly for the girls at Manchester High School for Girls, interesting and insightful Science workshops were held, which helped the students deepen their knowledge and broaden their perspectives. These activities were a great complement to the lecture and provided another incentive for the students to actively participate in finding solutions to create a better world.
The Importance of Involving Children in ‘Adult Topics’
The example of the Bexwyke Lecture shows how important it is to involve children from a young age in discussions about global and ‘adult’ topics. Participating in such events not only expands their horizons but also stimulates critical thinking, teaches them to formulate ideas, and express their opinions. It allows children to understand the significance of their contribution to the future and to feel part of a broader social context.
By discussing important issues such as creating a better world, children are given the opportunity to learn how to be responsible and open to new ideas. Importantly, events like this help students develop the ability to think more deeply, ask questions, and search for solutions, which will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their future.
