On Monday evening, AKS Lytham welcomed families, staff, and students to a truly inspiring Evening of Inquiry, celebrating the outstanding achievements of our Year 7 students. Since September, every student has been working with great focus and enthusiasm during their Learning to Learn lessons with Ms Lucien, Mr Dickinson, and myself. Their goal was to explore a topic that genuinely fascinated them through a structured process of independent inquiry.
The Year 7 Inquiry Project is now in its fourth year and continues to be a vital part of our school’s approach to developing curious, thoughtful learners. It encourages students to ask big questions, seek out meaningful answers, and engage in critical thinking that will serve them well throughout their academic journey.
At the start of the project, students explored a wide variety of topics before selecting one that would sustain their interest over time. Some chose to investigate something they already knew a little about, while others took a brave step into unfamiliar territory. All were encouraged to view their topic from a new perspective and challenge themselves to think more deeply than ever before.
This year’s exhibition showcased a remarkable range of inquiry questions from across the year group:
Students learned how to gather information from multiple sources, compare different viewpoints, and present their ideas in a clear and structured way. They were introduced to academic referencing, in-text citations, and the importance of drawing their own conclusions based on the evidence they found. These skills are typically introduced much later in a student’s academic career, making their achievements all the more impressive.
The final stage of the project was to transform their work into a visually engaging academic poster. These posters were proudly displayed during the Evening of Inquiry, forming Volume Four of our ASK Big Questions series. This growing collection not only celebrates student achievement but also serves as a resource for future learning and inspiration across the school.
Although the posters are a source of pride, it is the process behind them that holds the greatest value. The project has tested each student’s perseverance, independence, and attention to detail. It has taught them how much they are capable of when given the opportunity to aim high and supported in doing so.
I am incredibly proud of every Year 7 student who took part in this project. Their questions were thoughtful, their research was thorough, and their conclusions were mature and insightful. The Evening of Inquiry was a true celebration of learning, and it marks only the beginning of their journey as young thinkers at AKS.
Congratulations to all involved. Your work has inspired us, and we look forward to seeing what you will explore next.
Mrs Marland, Assistant Head of Staff and Student Development