On Thursday, a group of A2 and IB historians from Bryanston travelled to London to take part in a programme of lectures on Russian history delivered by some of the subject’s leading scholars.
Pupils heard from eminent historians including Robert Service and Christopher Read, who offered fresh perspectives on the October Revolution and the rule of Joseph Stalin. The lectures encouraged Bryanston pupils to challenge traditional narratives, reconsider established interpretations and engage critically with the complex legacies of Russia’s revolutionary past.
A particular focus was placed on how the memory of 1917 and Stalin’s leadership remains deeply contested in Russia today, highlighting the continuing political and cultural significance of these events.
The trip also included a stop by the Houses of Parliament and the statue of Nelson Mandela, an especially meaningful moment for those studying the parallel IB module on Apartheid and resistance, drawing connections between struggles for power, ideology and justice across different historical contexts.
