Reformed convicts to visit local school to talk about their crimes and 'life behind bars'

It’s going to be a school visit with a difference, but on Thursday 10 May, Putney High School GDST will open its doors to a number of reformed convicts who will visit the school to talk about their crimes and “life behind bars”, the event will also be attended by around 50 students from other (state) schools around London.

The criminal element will be accompanied by a forensic psychologist who will be discussing their work within prison systems, such as prisoner risk assessments. Students will be given a no-holds barred insight into life in prison (even getting an opportunity to try prison uniforms for size) and there will be Q&A sessions with the reformed convicts about their crimes and their incarceration.

The day of workshops is aimed at Years 12 and 13 students (many of whom study Psychology at A Level) but will also include a number of Year 10 students who have earned their place at the event by writing an essay titled: “The purpose of prison is punishment – discuss”.

This initiative is very much in the spirit “Putney Ideas Exchange” (PIE) run by the Senior School, which exposes students to individuals and organisations that they would not otherwise have access to, providing them with the opportunity to extend their thinking and challenge their ideas.

Suzie Longstaff, Headmistress at Putney High School, said: "Not being blinkered is key to understanding the rich tapestry of life and being unafraid to face up to life’s more challenging aspects is a crucial part of that. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to invite students from other local schools to the event as part of our wider community engagement”.

April 25, 2018