Inspire News Summer Edition

inspirenews SUMMER EDITION Women in lm Do aliens exist?

What is the Pink Tax? The homework debate

inspirenews SUMMER EDITION

To contribute to Inspire News, please contact your teacher.

Welcome to Inspire News!

This publication has been created by budding writers from our family of 14 academies, supported by their teaching teams. At Inspiration Trust, we believe that every child deserves an excellent education. Our family of schools collaborate, support and innovate to give every child the best start in life. We’re proudly committed to improving the standards of education in the East of England.

Message From Our Editor Dena Eden After our successful spring edition of Inspire News, I am delighted to share our summer edition here.

The students have been proactive in writing original pieces which share their personal experiences and offer advice to other students after a challenging academic year.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with teachers and students across the trust in collating and editing such brilliant writing. Once again, the young people I work with have proven themselves to be compassionate, intelligent and mature individuals whose work continues to impress me. I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as I have enjoyed putting it together!

DON’T MISS OUT Climate change and how to be sustainable.

DON’T MISS OUT How women are portrayed in lms.

See page 26

See page 12

DON’T MISS OUT Do aliens really exist?

The debate.

See page 32

Year 11: How we feel about leaving school

Bonnee from Hewett Academy It's crazy that we are about to leave school. It doesn't feel as if we've had enough time to acclimatize to leaving so soon. It feels like just yesterday I walked into the Hewett Academy for the first time as a student, and now, here we are five years later, about to leave school and go into 'the big wide world'.

them. That was very exciting and fun for me. I also loved how I got to spend time with my mum and brother, building a strong relationship with them. I got to do many fun activities at my house like swim in the swimming pool whenever I wanted, stay up as late as I wanted without worrying about the consequences in the morning, and many more.

I would feel very differently if Covid-19 had not happened, as one of the repercussions of Covid was having to go into lockdown and miss a lot of school time. This makes me feel as if I've wasted time that could have been spent making memories with friends.

I don't really think I can address the question about whether my future has been affected until the future happens. I may get to results day and feel as if my grades may have been better without Covid; I may get to Sixth Form and realise my social skills have been immensely affected. Covid will obviously have a lot of effects on how I will be in the future. I just don't know how yet.

A huge downside to my Covid-19 experience is the fact that I first went into lockdown aged 14, and now I'm about to be 16. So much valuable time has been wasted. You're only young once and my youth has been cut short as a result of Covid.

My well-being had been severely affected during the lockdown; however after coming back to school with a bit of normality, my wellbeing has improved, which makes me feel much better about the past two years.

The brilliant upsides to my Covid-19 experience are facetiming my friends everyday and doing school work with

inspirenews 4

I am very excited that my time at high school is coming to an end. With all the stress that we have had to deal with, it will be a relief to have a break after all of this too. With Covid-19, the stress has been enhanced. Learning from home has been a struggle: getting up every morning and having to sit in front of a screen, knowing that I have so many tasks to do and having to join all the online calls on time. Then, the end of lockdown was dawning and I was filled with the fear of going back to school and seeing everyone again, being under so much pressure to do well in exams.

I am glad this is all coming to an end.

Perhaps if Covid-19 wasn't a thing, I feel like things would have been a lot different; but there are just some things that we cannot control in life. When I leave school, I hope my anxiety will improve because I will have one less thing on my mind. Although I have really struggled in my last two years at school, I am really thankful for the people that I have had around me to support me. The teachers have done a great job ensuring that everyone has had a great education.

It must have been a great struggle for them during lockdown, and I'm sure it greatly affected them too. I think it must have been really hard to have a job as a teacher in the situations that have happened, but they haven't failed to keep going, and do a great job. My friends have supported me when I have been struggling too, and I am really thankful to have people like them.

Hewett Academy - Harmony Today is the second to last day of school; tomorrow we are leaving. High school: what a crazy experience it has been - through Covid 19 especially!

Year 7: We all started off fearing what high school would be like and our heads filled with so many questions. Will we make new friends? Will we succeed in high school? It feels like a cyclical pattern - back to these questions, but five years later. We're about to start a new chapter in our lives, and again wondering if we will make new friends, and succeed in the things that we want to do. For most it is scary to think of the big wide world right in front of you, and how you are one step closer to becoming an adult. The thought of that is quite scary, but there are always positive sides of this too.

Leaving school means that you can have a bit more freedom to do the things that you want to do - you can get a job and earn money for the things that you really want to buy. You are able to be more in control of yourself and become more independent. It is an exciting time, but scary too, depending on how you want to view it.

I am going to miss everyone in my year, even if I don't speak to a lot of them.

They have all done so well, and we are a good year group. Although high school has been a struggle, it has been great to share the experience with the people around me, and I wish everyone good luck in the future.

inspirenews 5

Cough Cough Hewett Academy - Elizabeth With bows in our hair We started Year 7 At first it was a scare Then it was heaven The next few years disappeared like no other Another year passed then another Suddenly we were in Year 10 It was time to pick up that pen It all started with a cough Then we were all off The days blurred into one Summer was no fun

Hewett Academy - Olivia

We put masks over our ears And returned back to schools Only happy to see our peers We all had to follow the rules

Being in Year 11 during Covid-19 has been a challenge and slightly strange coming back to school after months of not being able to see anybody. From working at home on my own everyday to coming back into a classroom did feel strange. I think that there are many positives and negatives to not being at school because personally I am lucky enough to have had the support and ability to work from home, whereas I know some people didn't have enough space in their homes or the access to internet or even a laptop.

We are now in our final day Hip hip hooray We put down our pens for the last time As the sun begins to shine The memories will last These last few years were a blast It's time to leave it all behind And begin the grind

One of the main benefits for me is that my education and grades improved because I was in my own space with no distractions.

Yes, it was more of a challenge because your teachers aren't there to teach you and you can't physically ask them for help, but personally I don't tend to ask for help in class, even when I should, which is something I struggle with. I'm lucky

inspirenews 6

enough to have good relationships with my teachers and felt comfortable emailing them if I needed help with anything.

Biography: Margaret Keane

I seemed to work harder at home for some reason because I was able to work in a way I wanted to and structured it how I wanted it to be. A downfall of mine was I worked for long periods of time without having breaks because I wasn't in school. Having lessons each hour wasn't too healthy because I didn't know when to stop.

Hewett Academy - Lacy Margaret Keane is a famous artist who was born on the 17th of September 1927; she is currently 93 years of age.

Her artwork is mainly focused on the eyes in her portraits. She enlarges them as she says, 'the eyes are the opening of the soul'.

I struggled socially when I came out of lockdown because it was a long time out of the real world and it took time for me to adapt. It has been hard having the pressure of knowing we aren't doing our GSCEs but also knowing that we need to have evidence of our hard work and ability.

Margaret hasn't always had credit for these beautiful pictures: Her ex-husband, Walter Keane, had her paint them just for him to then sign them in his name - to make money. She was unaware of this as they both went by 'Keane'. When she finally found out, he convinced her to go along with it; he even tried learning her style of art. The 1960s rolled around and her artwork was a huge force in the market and making millions. Walter became very abusive to Margaret and their daughter and this was when she finally got the courage to leave him, divorcing him in 1965.

It feels surreal that it's all coming to end after five whole years of being a high school student; it almost feels incomplete because of the impact of Covid-19. The virus has affected people in many different ways.

The first lockdown (March 2020) was not as difficult as I expected; I discovered many things about myself that I didn't know. Having the ability to work independently is such a useful skill to develop and will be something I can take forward in the future. When someone in your family has had the virus, the effects are more than you would think. I am speaking from experience: my Dad had the virus in February and has suffered from Long Covid ever since. It has been a real challenge but being back at school has helped me get through it.

Margaret later revealed that she was the actual artist behind these incredible paintings in a radio interview in the 1970s - but Walter claimed she was lying. She then filed a defamation suit against him. It worked for her as he refused to paint a picture to prove he was 'the actual artist' whereas she did paint a picture and it made the situation very clear. She won $4 million in damages. She was very successful and in 2014, Tim Burton made a film about her crazy life story: 'Big Eyes'.

From then on she has been living happily in Napa, California.

I have felt more determined to work hard for the last couple of months of school and work towards the grade I know I can achieve so I am able to move forward into the next chapter of my life.

inspirenews 7

Food and Drink

Hewett Academy - Aden

Recipe for Mug Cakes

Matcha tea, green tea, milk tea, iced tea.

Or, espresso, cappuccino, black coffee, iced coffee. Do you prefer coffee or tea?

Hethersett Academy - Madeline Often we will find ourselves busying around at home and in need of a snack.

Cake would be lovely but we don't always have the time or the patience to make it. Nor do we have the excuse of making a dessert because family and friends are coming over for lunch. These quick and easy Mug Cakes take literally five minutes to make with ingredients that can be found around the house:

Most will choose one or the other; and only a few enjoy indulging in both. It is often said that what we choose to drink coffee or tea - depends on our personal preference and the surroundings we find ourselves in. Social researchers found out that our personality and our lifestyle might be significant and have an influence on what we drink. Though both tea lovers and coffee drinkers are somewhat similar in the understanding that they can both be obsessed with their drink, they differ in that some people think tea lovers are more relaxed and leisurely and coffee people are more productive and have a faster tempo of life.

Ingredients 4 tbsp Self-raising flour 4 tbsp Caster sugar 2 tbsp Cocoa 1 Egg

Personally I like and drink both. I prefer iced coffee or tea most of the time, but sometimes I like to drink some nice hot tea or coffee - occasionally with a biscuit of course!

3 tbsp Milk 3 tbsp Oil A few drops of vanilla essence

inspirenews 8

Often we will find ourselves busying around at home and in need of a snack.

Cake would be lovely but we don't always have the time or the patience to make it. Nor do we have the excuse of making a dessert because family and friends are coming over for lunch. These quick and easy Mug Cakes take literally five minutes to make with ingredients that can be found around the house:

Poetry Hewett Academy - Venkat The time of Corona has brought us despair, As two years back it came out of nowhere,

Ingredients

Since then two lockdowns have passed by,

4 tbsp Self-raising flour

Both equally bad just to clarify.

4 tbsp Caster sugar

What we thought would be the start of a great decade,

2 tbsp Cocoa

Was when one of the world's worst pandemics began to pervade,

1 Egg

The lethal damage of which this has caused,

3 tbsp Milk 3 tbsp Oil

Have left scars upon this earth that is trying to be restored,

A few drops of vanilla essence

Through these dark times however there have been some,

(Optional) If you want to jazz it up a little bit you could add 2 tbsp of chocolate chips, nuts or raisins. You could even switch the vanilla essence for orange or peppermint essence (which also works well).

Who have tried their best to make the world become, What it once was before this tragedy came,

Equipment Measuring spoons

In order to do this however there must be strain.

A microwave

We are at home and there we must stay,

A mug (preferably the largest one you have but it doesn't really matter!)

While the doctors and nurses go to work everyday,

A teaspoon (for mixing)

Working hard to protect everyone,

A fork

The least we can do is follow the rules begun,

Method:

Now it seems everything is starting to go back to normal,

Place the flour, sugar and cocoa into your mug and mix with the teaspoon.

Even if some parts of the world are still abnormal,

Add the egg, make sure to break the egg carefully so as little shell falls into the mixture as possible. You could even do it

We have fought it with many attempts in vain.

Coronavirus is the name.

inspirenews 9

Current Affairs

A change within America

Hethersett Academy - Sam

Hewett Academy - Ruby

Me and my friends have always enjoyed cycling. In the Easter half term that just passed, we decided to build a bike jump in the local woods. At first we thought, 'oh we are never going to be able to build a bike ramp' but we planned what we were going to build and the work went ahead.

Due to the recent change in presidency in America a new law has been passed allowing transgender people to join the United States army if they wish to do so.

This law was passed on January 26th, 2021 and it is a huge step towards equal rights for the trans community. However there are still countries where the law that prohibits the trans community to join the army still exists. Although those countries are slowly changing and those types of laws are becoming practically non-existent.

We brought down some shovels and started to gather some soil and some logs. First we had to clear up all the leaves and make a clear path. The first day passed and we had a fair amount of progress. On our second day, we dug out what was going to be the jump: first we had to put down a base which was some logs and then a layer of soil then some more logs and soil. We managed to find

inspirenews 10

found it how we left it so now it was time to start riding it and start on the next part to add to the track.

Unfortunately, the council found out we were making this and told us it was not best placed in the woods. But instead of punishing us they asked if we would like to attend a meeting to explain what we would like in the park for us and other kids our age.

So I attended the Parish council meeting last week and said a pump track would be quite cool for them to build. They asked if we would like to give some ideas and for us to help them on the journey of making it. I am now gathering a focus group of friends so we can research pump tracks and give the Council support and information to further the project. I am excited to be working with my friends and the community for something that will benefit everyone.

some soil that was a bit like clay which kept our jump compact and hard wearing. On our third day we came to see the jump and make it bigger and taller - but instead of a jump we came to a pile of dirt. Someone had knocked the jump down! Instead of giving up we went and rebuilt, and whilst we rebuilt it, we made some changes to make it even better. Luckily, on the fourth day we

Poetry Hewett Academy - JJ

Positive Poem

Negative Poem

Red aisle white suits

Black lies he lies

my love my love forever

love can break like

we are together family

chopping trees never love

united undying

black lies she lies

love can't break, love cures

hatred is strong

all my love, my love

lies undying

inspirenews 11

Climate change and sustainability

Human activities — such as burning fuel to power factories, cars and buses — are changing the natural greenhouse. These changes cause the atmosphere to trap more heat than it used to, leading to a warmer Earth. When human activities create greenhouse gases, Earth warms.

This matters because oceans, land, air, plants, animals and energy from the Sun all have an effect on one another. The combined effects of all these things give us our global climate. In other words, Earth's climate functions like one big, connected system.

What is Climate Change?

Hethersett Academy - Sarah B Climate describes the weather conditions that are expected in a region at a particular time of year. Global climate change refers to the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. These include warming temperatures and changes in precipitation, as well as the effects of Earth's warming, such as: Rising sea levels Shrinking mountain glaciers Ice melting at a faster rate than usual in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic Changes in flower and plant blooming times.

inspirenews 12

Cheap and easy ways you can help reduce climate change 1 Shop organically and/or locally By spending a little more and getting organic items you know that the products you are eating are not only better for the environment but are also safer to eat. Check that your products are locally produced and therefore haven't been transported around the world. Also, pesticides (used to kill bugs) aren't being sprayed on organic products, this making it healthier for the consumer but also better for the environment. Usually organic products taste a lot fresher as well.

2 Check labels and packaging Make sure you check items to see if they can be recycled. It's important to recycle as much as you can because unnecessary items will end up in landfill.

Sounds harmless right? Well actually when it rains, all the water mixes in with the rubbish at a landfill site and makes a liquid called leachate. This leachate can seep into the ground and infect nearby ponds and areas of habitat, usually killing all habitats living there (such as ducks or pondweed). Sometimes this can also release harmful gases into the atmosphere. Therefore it's important to reduce waste - especially items which could be recycled and reused.

3 Replace light bulbs with LEDs LED bulbs are great for many reasons.

Firstly they use less energy and so therefore is straight away a lot better for the environment. However LED bulbs are also very cost effective, because they use 85% less energy than normal bulbs and so they cost a lot less to use and maintain.

4 Litter picking Obviously it's important not to drop litter.

However, sometimes rubbish can spill from tipped over bins and other people may not care about dropping litter. Litter picking may not appeal to everyone but it's simple and doesn't require any special equipment - all you need is a bin bag and some gloves. Not only are you protecting your community but you're helping prevent climate change and making the area cleaner as well. Some communities have litter committees set up already so it may be good to do some research first.

If more people are concerned about this, companies will realise that their products will not be bought and improve their packaging. Sometimes it's worth spending a little bit more to get packaging that is recyclable, by spending more money you normally get better quality products too. So ultimately worth

inspirenews 13

Hethersett Academy - Isabelle We have all heard the damaging effects of climate change. We all know what is causing the problems. We all know how to fix it. So why haven't we?

The ecosystem is carefully balanced. We are disrupting the balance and sending parts of it out of proportion. One of the most obvious is the mass deforestation happening as we speak. Trees are the answer, so why do they seem so unimportant? We have been neglectful of what is going on around us. And so now it is up to us to wake up and realise the scale and dangers of the problem.

5 Eat less meat

Trees are the beginning of the ecosystem - the ventilators for the atmosphere and the homes of so many creatures. And by losing all the trees, we are losing all of that too. They balance out the CO2 in the air, meaning there is less in the atmosphere dissolving the ozone layer.

They are natural filters for air. They are the shelters that so many animals depend upon for survival. Without them we will face a worse extinction than we are already witnessing. Because of deforestation, we have forced the rate of extinction up 100 times faster than the natural rate. If this continues it will be too far to turn back.

Eating less meat is good because it reduces your carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released by an individual. A big meat eater has the largest carbon footprint and a vegan will have the lowest with regard to diet. It's okay to eat some meat, but reducing it would reduce your carbon footprint. Beef is the worst contributor to climate change as cows release methane into the air. Therefore only eating it once every now and then is a good idea.

6 Use the car less Ways in which you can use the car less include walking to places nearby such as the local shop or the park. This not only reduces the amount of greenhouse gases in the area but also helps to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Even if this means popping into a shop on your walk instead of making a separate trip. If you are travelling further away, public transport is a good idea. If 20 people took the bus one morning, that is 19 less vehicles on the road.

That is why we have amazing charities such as the World Land Trust dedicated to reforesting the world's landscapes.

With incredible patrons such as Sir David Attenborough, Steve Backshall, David Gower and Chris Packham they have managed to plant 2,292,361 trees and have protected 2,222,247 acres.

inspirenews 14

Hethersett Academy - Isobella

Sustainable alternatives to your favourite brands

In an age where new styles are always coming in and out of fashion, it can be difficult to find brands that are fashionable and fit our budgets. This is why fast fashion brands such as Shein and Boohoo with their mass production of cheap and stylish clothes are so appealing to young people.

Afends: Afends is a brand that focuses on its environmental impact using ecofriendly materials such as hemp and organic cotton as opposed to polyester which is often used in graphic t-shirts. It uses renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce the amount of CO2 released and the Australia based company stocks a wide range of men's, women's and unisex clothing and ships worldwide with sustainable packaging.

However, with clothes being this affordable, companies are cutting corners in production; this has a detrimental impact on those making the garments as well as the environment. This fast fashion encourages the thinking that clothing can be worn once or twice before being thrown away.

Lucy and Yak: Brighton-run, independent business, Lucy and Yak has gained traction for its unique, sustainable dungarees, using organic cotton and polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. They reduce their climate impacts by making all garments by hand with some made in Yorkshire but the majority in India, while ensuring payment of a living wage, and recently working with charities to supply donations, food parcels and support for the communities worst affected by Covid-19. As well as initiatives in India, Lucy and Yak share a blog promoting small businesses and LGBTQ+, POC and size-inclusive modelling in their unisex clothing.

Moreover, as stated on the sustainability blog 'Good On You,' “By thinking of the garments we wear as short term tools rather than long term investments, we contribute to wasteful consumption patterns that inevitably lead us towards drastic climate change.” They are therefore emphasising how we should be reusing or recycling clothing, but also questioning if we really need new clothes. Understandably, this is difficult when new styles are always coming into fashion so when we do want to buy something new, there are many new brands cropping up that practice sustainable and ethical manufacturing while producing fashionable clothing

inspirenews 15

sustainable is to utilise local charity shops. Additionally, in lockdown, online second hand websites like Depop and Vinted have become popular because people can buy and sell clothes cheaply.

Finally, it is always good to support small businesses producing unique and often more environmentally friendly clothing with upcycled or recycled pieces.

Girlfriend Collective: Stylish sportswear has become a huge market, especially during lockdown. Activewear brand Girlfriend Collective stocks styles ranging from a 2XS to a 6XL for all genders, predominantly made from recycled materials. Moreover, not only do their eco-friendly materials reduce climate impact, they trace most of their supply chain, ensuring payment of a living wage and monitoring third party producers.

CHNGE: CHNGE is a brand that markets the same casual street style as Supreme but uses 100% organic materials and a fully traceable supply chain. The brand uses renewable energy in production and a limited production line to reduce waste.

Along with CHNGE's traced supply chain, they ensure a living wage in almost all of their manufacturing and monitor health and safety, as well as supporting causes like the Black Lives Matter movement.

Save the animals Animals are going extinct. In 10 years' time over 1 million different types of species will be extinct. This is because of humans killing animals for no reason; for example rhinos and elephants are becoming extinct. People cut their tusks off just to show they have killed an animal and sometimes they let them live but sometimes they kill the animal.

Minga London: While London founded brand, Minga London, resembles many high street brands, the company's ethos is based on the morality and ethics of how their clothes are made, with an inhouse manufacturing team in Portugal a medium risk country for labour abuse.

There is a small manufacturing team that receives fair and equal pay, while the company only runs a small line of products, often recycling styles or donating them locally.

There are only 440,000 elephants left in the world. There are only 27,000 to 30,000 rhinos still alive today. Two species are African: the black rhino, with 5,500 animals left, and the white rhino, with [around] 18,000 animals left.

Although supporting sustainable manufacturing should be the way forward in slowing down climate change and in striving for a fairer world for everyone, environmental and ethical manufacturing is expensive. This is why reusing clothes is so important: we should ask ourselves whether we really need new clothes. If the answer is yes, another way to become more

This needs to be stopped. Something like this has to be stopped because soon there will be no animals. I understand that humans eat meat and will need to kill animals for food but any other reason is just cruel.

Please help me to save the animals.

Please help me to keep the animals alive for other people to see. Please help me to save the animals.

inspirenews 16

Mental health

Evie, Hethersett Academy May is National Teen Self Esteem month and there is no doubt that teenagers notoriously have an “attitude”. However, the effect their self esteem has on their mental and physical well being is a problem of great magnitude.

traumatizing period when you are physically changing, it doesn't mean it doesn't happen to others.

During the adolescent years, teenagers often have mental thoughts that can shift, but there are multiple ways that can encourage more positivity within teenagers. For example, avoiding negative criticism and self-doubting.

Communication is sometimes all that teenagers want; they need to dissolve their thoughts somewhere. Ensure that they trust you - most teenagers have trust issues and can't form a proper relationship without doubts.

The teenage years are a difficult time for the majority of young people. On top of the physical hormonal changes, teens are also alert to the impossible expectations of society inflicted upon them by social media. This is alongside stress from school and sometimes parents.

Self esteem is easily damaged from bullying and can be extremely difficult to repair - therefore, amongst teenagers, self-esteem can be dangerously fragile.

We should support teenagers by coming together and focussing on the importance of supporting teens and encouraging them to express themselves as individuals.

However, not everyone can sympathise with teenagers as they can't relate. But just because you haven't experienced a

inspirenews 17

Poetry

Fleur, Hethersett Academy

Hewett Academy - Josh

There are 4 main words that cover how to deal with stress.

Dopamine

Red

This is all about rewarding yourself. If there is something that you don't really want to do, but you know that you have to, plan something to treat yourself for after you do it.

Red is an apple So crunchy and juicy It's sweet as it is but better with syrup When you squeeze it turns to juice

For example, if you don't really feel like doing your homework when you know you have to, reward yourself with something you enjoy. This can be food, hobbies or any other interests.

Delicious in the summertime Red is a sunset Piercing through the red sea The lushest evening is coming to an end The colourful sunset zooming through the night sky Red is a ruby A sparkling gemstone

Serotonin This is all about your mood. It can help you to sleep and digest.

Laying a deep dark cave

Serotonin will help you have a better night's sleep. By getting a better night's sleep, you will be able to relax more and won't be focusing on your worries as much.

The radiant ruby pierced through the ground.

Gleaming a hot red light

Endorphin This chemical is all about enjoyment .They are released to cope with pain or stress and act as a happiness booster or a pain reliever. Exercise is a great way to release more endorphins into your body.

Oxytocin This can sometimes be called the “love drug”. For example, this chemical can be released when you hug someone you care about. This will make you happy and sometimes you might not notice it being released because you do it naturally a lot of the time so you don't really concentrate on it.

inspirenews 18

Gaming Hethersett Academy - Joseph are also more likely to forget important things like homework. It can also affect your emotions - making you grumpy or angry for no reason when you stop.

It is not all bad, though. Gaming can also enhance your reaction time and make you more observant. It can increase your creativity and problem-solving skills. It may even slow down aging, although this hasn't been proven yet. In any case, next time you have been gaming for many hours, really think. How will this impact me?

Photo

Ever since 1961, when the first game was released, gaming has been a massive hit all around the world. It was recorded that over 2.6 billion people played video games in 2016 alone. However, have you ever actually considered what effect it's having on you?

‘The Night Bus Hero' book review Hewett Academy - Greatman My book review is for a book I read during lockdown called 'The Night Bus Hero.' After a day of online learning, I sat down on my bed and read my book. At first I thought the book would be boring because I don't really read a lot in my free time, but I loved it! The book is about a boy who is well known for the trouble he causes: he's a bully at school, a trouble maker outside school and an annoying brother at home. No one believes what he says at this point because of all the trouble he causes. But who knew that playing a harmless prank on an old homeless man would end up with you busting the thieves who have been stealing statues throughout the country?

Firstly, gaming can have an effect on your concentration. Have you ever stopped a game, and then found it really hard to do simple jobs or even remember what you need to do? This is because when you spend time on your computer, a lot of your focus goes into that game and your brain finds it hard to think of many other things while in this state. So when you stop, your brain is still stuck in 'gamer mode.' It still finds it difficult to compute too many things at a time until it returns to normal.

Another factor is on your physical and mental health. When you game for too long daily, your fingers can get sore, your eyes become dry, and your back can retain serious injury from slouching. You

inspirenews 19

Creative Writing

The silence was agonizingly loud and seemed to tangle my thoughts.

Senselessly, I ran into the eerie woods, disregarding the screams of danger.

Out of breath, I paused for a moment and looked at my surroundings. The cobbled path that had once been before me had vanished. This path - the worn, old path - was my only way out.

Hethersett Academy - Isobella Slowly, I stumble down into the mysterious forest. I gaze up at the unsettling darkness of the eerie sky. As I carry on walking down the overgrown abandoned path, my feet sink deep into the undergrowth as if the soggy, dead leaves were trying to suck me deeper into the ground. In the blink of an eye, the unsettling, creepy light enters through the layers of branches. I hear the distant screeches of unidentified animals.

As the trees began to engulf me, as my vision went blurry, I saw it: a distant, vague light. With all of my energy, I stumbled towards it. Stopped dead, I realised a house was lying in front of me, in an abandoned, deep end of the forest.

The beacon, the light, flooded from one of the rooms. Yelling for anyone, I only got replies from owls hooting in the dead of night. Believing I was alone, I ventured inside hoping to find something useful.

Swiftly, a shadow covered the light and I felt something warm on my neck.

I'm lost. I'm scared.

The floor of the forest is lost in darkness.

Hethersett Academy - Courtney Reluctantly, my feet carried me down the unfathomable path, blind to where I was going. As I was searching around, trees were brooding overhead like they were judging me. Watching. Waiting.

Maybe I wasn't alone?

inspirenews 20

East Point Academy - Demi Leigh this is part 1 of a periodical.

On the Way to the Zoo One day Lilly and David were taking their children Ben, Mia and Lilliana Gold to the zoo. They drove for 1 and a 1/2 hours.

David was wearing his blue football Tshirt with white shorts. Lilly was wearing a long pink dress with lots of flowers on it. Ben wanted to impress a girl so he wore a suit and tie (big mistake if you're going to a zoo.) Mia, the youngest, was wearing pink dungarees with a little bee on them. Lilliana wanted to impress a boy so she wore a short silver dress.

They all sat in silence. Lilly did not really like silence so she tried to make a conservation; "So what animals do you think we are going to see?" Lilly asked.

Hethersett Academy - Nathan Reluctantly, I meander through the eerie forest, the moon illuminating the path ahead as it pokes out from behind the trees. Quietly the trees whisper untold secrets about the past of this forest. In the distance a light could be seen shining down on the terrain.

"A Rhino!" Ben said.

"A Monkey!" Mia said.

"Flamingo!" Lilliana said.

"I think we are going to see a Tiger!" Lilly said.

As I crept ever closer, a window, door and roof could be picked out by my eyes.

The blanket of mist that was devouring anything in its path was gradually getting closer to me by the second. As I clasped my hand around the doorknob seeking shelter, footsteps could be heard advancing towards the door at a leisurely pace clearly not trying to waste any energy.

"I think we are going to see an Elephant!"

David said.

HAVE YOU GOT A STORY TO TELL? Get in touch with your teacher.

We’d love to hear from you!

In the distance a concurrent howl from wolves startled me. The door knob turned, but when the door swung open the corridor was desolate...

inspirenews 21

East Point Academy - Ruby - this is part 1 of a periodical.

One day, I had just come in from school when I realised that nobody was home. It seemed strange because no-one else in my house ever goes out.

The house was a mess. Books were strewn across the floor, pots and pans left on the side. Everything in the house however, was still there. Not in place, but still there. It looked like everyone had left in a hurry.

wrote in her diary. I remember how much tension there was that day. We all knew that if we made a noise or if something went wrong it could cost us our lives. Our last days as a family were spent in worry and stress. As I turned over every page it was like ghosts jumping out at me. As I read more I started to realise how scared Anne must have been; I realised that she felt the same terror that I felt. I feel so guilty being the only one in my family to make it out. My two children and my wife deserved to live.

There is a legend of tiny people who live under the floorboards that my mum used to tell me as a kid, but I never believed her. However, in that moment sitting in my dad's armchair, I began to wonder if she had been telling the truth. Or maybe it had been thieves? But, if it was, why didn't they take anything and why wasn't anyone home?

It was my last day at home as well. Why had they left me home alone on my last day at home? But then, I noticed a note on the coffee table. It said: 'Rachel, look after the world for us, you're the only one left now!'

Why us? I had everything taken from me: my home, my family and even my rights as a person. When I read Anne's diary it was like the past two years were all coming back to me - I felt all the horror of what had happened all over again.

I published my daughter's diary because I felt her story should be heard and to preserve the memory of Anne. I wanted the world to realise how we were all treated and how we all felt. I made the choice to publish it because I know that Anne wouldn't have wanted to be silenced. It gives me a sense of peace knowing I made my daughter's dreams of becoming a writer come true. It comforts me knowing that I helped my daughter one last time which quells my feelings of being alone. I just wish I knew what else she had to say, but Anne's diary will forever serve as a reminder of the Holocaust and its victims.

1st of August 1944. The last time Anne

Yours, Otto.

East Point Academy - Faith Dear Diary,

inspirenews 22

Around the world

Fano. With its cobblestone roads and old style houses protected by a large castlelike wall, Fano is another great place to visit. You can do everything here: shopping, go to a park, swim in the river (don't do that) or simply watch trains go by. And if you're interested in the history of this historic town, you can visit the castle in the centre of the town with information boards. If you don't speak Italian then good luck reading them!

Hethersett Academy - Luca Italy. The best country you could ever visit. It has everything: great food, culture, nice people. Now, being of Italian descent, I could be extraordinarily biased but I won't be. I'll tell you the good, bad and best things in the country.

When many people visit Italy, they all turn to sheep and flock to the famous places such as Rome and Venice. While these are nice places, they have been heavily molded around tourism. Now, let me tell you a story of how severe this is. I once watched three grown men dressed in a kids' gladiator outfit scamming people for money by taking unwanted photos with them. You see if you visit “true” Italy - you will get a better and more authentic experience.

While I may not be a fan of the tourist culture in the large cities, the one place I can deal with is the Alps. Large, immovable bits of rock that look like they can collapse any second. If you look closely, you can see people climbing it like little ants climbing a molehill.

Finally, let's talk about food - the best food you can ever get in Italy is also the cheapest. One pizzeria sells amazing whole pizzas at 5 euros (much cheaper than your local Pizza Express). Trust me when I tell you those Italian Grandma's know how to cook.

For example, the coastal town of Senigallia is like the Italian version of Great Yarmouth - enjoyed mostly by its home population. Not too far away from Senigallia is the old traditional town of

inspirenews 23

such as Gaza. It is estimated that the Israelis have fired over 370 rockets, including a record amount of 135 launched in a single day at Gaza and other areas within Palestine. These rockets have hit 18 buildings including 4 high-rise business towers, 40 schools and 4 hospitals. This has led to 38,000 Palestinian citizens being relocated to safer areas. One of these high-rise buildings was 13-stories high, and was purposely targeted by Israel who wanted to 'punish and hurt' innocent Palestinians; it is currently unknown how many people were inside the building at the time of its collapse.

Hethersett Academy - George

The volume of rockets towards Israel has given the country the chance to reinforce and present its iron dome defense system.

The system enables enemy rockets to be intercepted before impact, breaking them up some hundreds of feet above the ground. The iron dome is estimated to intercept and destroy almost 90% of those rockets which pose a threat.

After the independence of Israel in 1920, conflict between Palestine and Israel has developed. Violence against Israelis in Palestine eventually led to a civil war in 1948.

Despite continuous conflict between the two countries, tensions have begun to increase once again. On the 5th May 2021, the Israel-Palestine crisis was sparked yet again because of the Israelian Supreme Court's decision to evict six Palestianian families from Sheikh Jarrah, a town just beyond Jerusalem. This decision led to Palestinian protests within Jeruasalem and an estimated 12 deaths. This decision not only triggered protests from Palestinians, but also from neighbouring countries and countries as far as Western Europe. These protests are 'Pro-Palestine' and many protesters display banners implying Israel should 'Free Palestine'.

A UN member has suggested that if such activity were to continue, then this conflict would become a fully-fledged 'war', involving the aid of allies to put an end to the tragedy. The member also suggested that buildings in which other UN members are in, will not be targeted, as both respective countries have the 'upmost' respect for the UN. However, later that day, a building containing foreign media was targeted and demolished, suggesting that both sides are becoming even more ruthless in their plans and actions.

However, despite efforts to end the conflict, Israel decided to begin a 'civil war' against Palestine: firing rockets at major cities and towns within Palestine,

So far, over 220 people have been tragically killed. These events and actions suggest that there is no sign of the conflict coming to an end.

inspirenews 24

Hethersett Academy - Mustafa Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, which is located on the eastern Pearl River Delta. It has a population of 7,507 million people who live in a total area of 1,106km squared, making it the most densely populated region in the world.

Hong Kong was originally an independent region until 1898 when it was taken over by the British as a result of the power of the British Empire. The Chinese didn't want to lose their land and thus the world saw the Opium Wars.

China was in dire need of silver at the time and the British wanted the tea that came from China. The two countries traded freely, until the British Empire got hold of the addictive narcotic opium.

They started to run out of silver, and as the opium was more in demand, the Chinese started to sell their silver for the opium, and in return the British traded this silver for the Chinese tea.

Not so long ago, there were many protests occurring in Hong Kong where the public were rebelling against the Chinese government for corruption and mass violence.

I have been to Hong Kong and you can definitely see the influence that the British have had on the state. For me, it was also really visible that the residents are not scared to express their outrage, and rightly so.

Hong Kong is nearly a 10th the size of China, yet it accounts for 13% of China's total GDP. China wants to end this agreement now; however I feel that the protests are completely justified because you cannot break an agreement that you made yourself.

After a few years, the British took over full control of Hong Kong, and the agreement was that Britain would have full control for 99 years, bringing the end of the agreement to 1997.

Fast forward to 1997, and the handover ceremony has just finished. Hong Kong has returned to Chinese rule - however the country is allowed to remain as a Special Administrative Region for 50 years. Hong Kong is under Chinese rule, but it is allowed to have its own government and autonomous laws.

Hong Kong is a state that has been the centre of attention for decades. It will be interesting to see any developments that will be made in the future, and we will see what happens in 2047 when the agreements come to an end.

inspirenews 25

The presentation of women in lm Hethersett Academy - Georgina

Dating back as far as the Middle Ages, the portrayal of women in literature has greatly differed to the portrayal of men.

However, as literature has progressed and film has been introduced, the way society views fictional women has changed immensely. In the world we live in today, the presentation of female characters throughout fictional universes is arguably more equal and fair than it used to be with women not just being presented as obedient and kind, but powerful and hardworking too. Despite this, the criticism around women in movies and novels is still in place.

It would be untrue to say that the presentation of women has not improved throughout society as time has gone by.

When female characters were first introduced and used in literature, sexism paved the way and reflected the social hierarchy of the time. As most people know, early England viewed men far higher in power than it did women, resulting in literature being made up of predominantly male characters. When women began to appear more in novels, plays and poems, they were mainly presented as being weak and submissive to either their husbands, male lovers,

inspirenews 26

throughout the time periods even more, and writers like Shakespeare appeared and disappeared, whilst undoubtedly leaving an impact on literature as a whole, the presentation of women in writing became more exclusive and this was only further enhanced by the journey of film. Comics were written that included female superheroes who were certainly not powerless; these women began to be shown in cinemas and the archetypal female being weak and unintelligent became less prevalent.

Although more fictional female characters were being introduced, a newfound struggle was uncovered - the inevitable torment which was the criticism of women in movies. Now, we all have fictional women who we do not like: Captain Marvel from the Marvel Cinematic Universe for example. For those who aren't familiar with Marvel, Captain Marvel is a female superhero who often receives lots of criticism from film critics and marvel fans, despite being the first proper female superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to receive a solo film. I'll admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of Captain Marvel when I was first introduced to her - I wasn't sure at the time why I felt this way. Was it that I thought she was boring? Was it that I thought she was too overconfident? Was it that I simply wasn't used to seeing a Marvel female superhero destroying villains without a male counterpart? I guess I'll never actually know the exact reason for my dislike for Captain Marvel, but looking back now I have a rough idea of what it was - she was overconfident.

fathers, brothers and any other male character whom the female character had some sort of a relationship with. Of course, this wasn't just because male authors detested women, it was simply considered the norm in patriarchal society.

Furthermore, at the time these male, and even sometimes female, writers were not doing anything wrong by painting their female characters as weak or powerless, as this was just how simple a patriarchal piece of literature was - men were strong and stoic, whilst women faced no purpose other than a love interest or the cliche damsel in distress.

As far as we know, it was only as time progressed that the portrayal of women throughout writing progressed as well infamous writers such as Shakespeare explored how female characters could in fact subvert the expectations of how a woman should act, and hinted that there could be more to women than just purity and beauty. As literature progressed

inspirenews 27

Except, was she? Was she as arrogant and cocky as I made her out to be, or was I just not used to seeing a female character in the media who was not submissive and powerless?

Of course, Captain Marvel is not the only female character in existence to subvert the patriarchal expectations of women in film, but for some reason she stood out to me. I think the reason I was so unimpressed by Captain Marvel was that it actually hadn't occurred to me that women in the media could have qualities which many would deem flaws, other than vanity or vulnerability. This was undoubtedly an odd preconceived belief of mine, as there were many male characters in Marvel who could be viewed as overconfident like Captain Marvel - Iron Man, Thor and Doctor Strange to name a few. However, it seemed that these male characters could almost 'get away' with being overconfident, whereas Captain Marvel could not.

women? This brings me onto my main point; even though the portrayal of women throughout literature and film has progressed massively, it still has flaws. I think it's easy for people in society to rapidly dislike a female character simply for her acting the way we deep down believe men are expected to act - no matter how hard we try to hide it, patriarchy is still in the air. We as Marvel fans were not used to any character being introduced this late into the series, especially not a female one at that, and for her to be so stoic and powerful like many of the male characters we had previously been introduced to, it seemed simply unnatural. Of course, Captain Marvel is just a fictional character and like many others she has flaws, it's just that society seemed to highlight these flaws more than they would with the numerous other, male, superheroes. Am I saying that we shouldn't be allowed to dislike female characters now simply because it would be misogynistic? No, absolutely not - it's natural to dislike characters - I just think

I know I was definitely not the only person who had those views towards Captain Marvel, and it is clear to many that Captain Marvel is an unpopular character in the Marvel universe. Many fans would argue that it was poor writing that made Captain Marvel the way she was, whilst some danced upon a dreaded topic - misogyny.

This got me thinking - was the reason many female characters could never truly be liked or respected just because we lived in a society which, even unintentionally, favoured men over

inspirenews 28

we as people should not be afraid to think more about why exactly we don't like that character. In addition, it's easy to create double standards in our head about different characters, and sometimes we need some sort of 'fictional character reality check', starting with the simple opinion that we should not praise one character for one thing yet criticize another character for that same reason.

Marvel - society is progressing as we sit here today, and I for one would love to see female superheroes of all body sizes, ethnicities and sexualities star in their own solo films. Whilst characters like Captain Marvel might seem irrelevant to us as teenagers and adults, to young girls out there watching these films on their tv screens, it gives them hope and maybe it shows them that, as cliche as it sounds, anyone can be a superhero.

It's inevitable that writers will portray characters in ways we don't like - it's part of their job. However, it's up to us as readers and watchers to be wary when making our decisions about those characters - in particular, as someone who strives for gender equality, sometimes I have to remind myself that just because a fictional woman might not be 'hard-core' and is presented as calm and kind, it doesn't make her any less of the woman she is and it doesn't strip her of her power.

So to answer my question, what is the portrayal of women in film and literature really like? While some of the presentation of women in film and writing could be considered problematic, it has certainly progressed: it is imperfect.

As human beings, we view characters differently and we should be encouraged to discuss our thoughts. Never has there been a time before now when there has been such a huge range of characters for us to have a debate about.

Hopefully in the future there will be more female superheroes not unlike Captain

inspirenews 29

Cryptocurrency Hethersett Academy - Gonzalo

Cryptocurrency is virtual money which can be used to make safe transactions due to the heavy amount of encryption they use, hence the name.

nothing is safe when it comes to cryptocurrency. Nothing is guaranteed to make you money - especially overnight despite what a lot of people think, so only invest what you are willing to lose.

However, cryptocurrency doesn't have a stable price such as the US dollar for example; instead the price can fluctuate heavily as time goes on, much like the stock market. This means that it is possible for people to invest in cryptocurrency and make serious amounts of money. Since cryptocurrencies can cost as much as £50,000, it would make transactions a lot simpler and more secure than using fiat money.

Is cryptocurrency environmentally friendly?

While it may seem that cryptocurrencies are environmentally friendly because you don't need to print money, it is actually quite the opposite. How so? Well, currencies such as bitcoin and ethereum have to be mined in order to be put into circulation. Think of it as virtual gold instead of going into real mines, you use a computer to run a program which gives you cryptocurrency. As easy as this may sound, you need really expensive hardware which will take months to pay off, as well as the insane cost of your electricity bill at the end of the month.

Mining is not environmentally friendly at all because it takes a huge amount of energy to mine a single bitcoin.

How safe is cryptocurrency?

While it may sound like an amazing idea to invest so you can make some easy money, investing is really stressful and you can lose all your money just as easily (if not easier) as you can make it. Even the biggest currency which started it all back in 2011 has dropped about £13,000 in just a week meaning that

inspirenews 30

country from Roman Catholic to Protestantism. Protestantism began in Germany with Martin Luther.

Ultimately, cryptocurrencies will most likely be the future of finance because they can reduce inflation and they get rid of the need to have a conventional bank account. One thing fiat currency has to offer is the fact that it is mostly stable in comparison to delocalised finance.

People can also make money easier than ever by just buying a coin and waiting, although it is extremely risky and no better than going to a casino.

Unfortunately, Anne Boleyn had two pregnancies ending in miscarriage. She did have one baby, but it was a girl.

Henry therefore started looking elsewhere for a wife. Meanwhile, Anne Boleyn was accused of committing treason by flirting with other men and was eventually beheaded. This left Henry free to marry for a third time.

Jane Seymour gave Henry everything including a male heir to the throne. Sadly, after giving birth to their son Edward, Jane died. Henry did not take another wife until three years later and this marriage was a political one: he was alone in Europe and needed allies.

Biography: Henry VIII Hewett Academy - Isla Henry VIII is famous for having six wives, but it is possible he was not the rebel that he is made out to be. Rather, he could be seen as a loving husband who persevered to produce a male heir.

Anne of Cleves came from a powerful, Protestant family and therefore it made sense for him to make a strong connection. Not long after this marriage, Henry's interest in Catherine Howard (significantly younger) grew. He offered Anne a large sum of money to divorce, and she accepted. Although Henry was pleased with his new bride at first (Catherine Howard), he soon suspected her of infidelity. She was eventually beheaded as Anne Boleyn had been.

The first wife of Henry was Catherine of Aragon and she gave birth to six children; a few of them were male, but only one of her children survived - and that was Mary. This heralded the end of Henry's first marriage; he already has his eye on someone else - Anne Boleyn.

Henry wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine because if he had a divorce, he would not be able to marry again because the Catholic Church believed that marriage was for life. Catherine declined however and therefore Henry had to change the religion of the entire

Henry finally married Catherine Parr who acted as his nurse in his final days. It may be that Henry VIII took so many wives in order to get a son and male heir.

Sadly, his son Edward died not long after he was crowned as King.

inspirenews 31

Debate - do aliens exist?

Hethersett Academy - Joel

Do aliens exist? Is there intelligent life somewhere out there in the vast expanse of space? The short answer is yes, quite probably - after all, if space really is infinite, then there must be all manner of improbabilities out there.

But that then begs the question, why?

Why hasn't whoever's out there reached out to us yet?

advanced as we are, so they haven't been able to contact us. The most likely outcome in this scenario is that we are the first to reach out to other civilizations.

There are 3 possible answers to this question:

The second option is that they just haven't gotten round to contacting us yet. Perhaps they don't realise that we exist; perhaps they feel they aren't ready yet. It's impossible to say for sure at this point, but for whatever reason, they just haven't reached out yet.

The first option is this: we are the most advanced. There is intelligent life out there, but not as technologically

The third and most likely option is the great filter: the idea that any planet that meets the right conditions to sustain life will

inspirenews 32

eventually give rise to intelligent life, said conditions behaving sort of like a filter. The most common theory as to what this filter is is that, somewhere along the line of progression, something kills all intelligent life - be that harnessing the power of the sun, particle acceleration, or just any challenge the species faces along the path of technological advancements. In this scenario, there are even more possibilities as to what has happened to prevent extraterrestrial life from contacting us.

satellites, cars, or even something as simple as fire. Both of these possibilities have evidence backing them up - for example it stands to reason that if no one has reached out to us, then they must have been wiped out (it's unlikely that they've just chosen not to, because it is largely believed that one of the things that has led to humanity's survival is our aggressive nature, so by logic other intelligent life should follow suit and this aggression is another filter for intelligent life to thrive) and thus we will too before we reach a point where we're able to contact other intelligent life. On the other hand there is no other intelligent life on earth so we must have done something right, meaning it's very likely we've already passed the filter.

The first of these possibilities concerning the idea of the great filter is that we haven't yet hit the filter: at some point in the future we will fail to achieve something and that will cost humanity its life. There has been life before us, but it was 'filtered' once it reached a certain point, and by that logic we will be too. The second (and slightly less depressing) option of the filter is that we've already passed it: the filter was something we've already overcome that other intelligent life failed to do. The filter could have been

here is intelligent extraterrestrial life, either we're the most advanced, they haven't reached out yet, or they've been 'filtered' and we either haven't or will be as well at some point.

inspirenews 33

The Pink Tax Hethersett Academy - Isobel

1 in 10 people from the UK who have periods have reported being unable to afford suitable products and in a 2015 study, 45% of Scottish people with periods had reported having to use 'toilet paper, socks and newspaper to replace menstrual products.' This is particularly common with students at university.

The pink 'tax' refers to a broad tendency for a product specifically marketed at females to cost more than the same products advertised for men. Personal care products such as razors, deodorant, soap, cost on average about 7-12% more; however this can range to over 100% on certain items. This evident inequality is obvious before the cost of menstrual products is even considered.

However, I'm pleased to say that action all across the world is taking place. For instance Scotland became the first country to provide sanitary items completely free of charge to everyone and Kenya has invested so that sanitary pads can be distributed in schools. It's not just governments that have taken action: Morrisons' 'Ask for Sandy' scheme

In the UK it will cost the average person who menstruates £10.24 per month to cover the cost of their period – over time this equates to thousands of pounds.

Period poverty is an issue across the world, even in developed countries such as the UK.

inspirenews 34

has recently started to provide free sanitary items for people in need; local libraries, gyms and other facilities are also providing baskets where people can both donate items for others or take them completely free of charge if needed.

How can you help?

There are many things you can do to help reduce the impact of period poverty and avoid enabling the pink tax: some of the things you can do to help don't ask you to leave your house or even spend a penny!

How can you access period products if needed?

Ideas include:

Using unsuitable alternatives or not changing sanitary items regularly enough can cause infections and other health issues so it's important that everyone is aware of where and how to get period products. All high schools and sixth forms should have products that you can use (where these are kept will depend on the specific school). Look out for products with a 'pink tax' and avoid spending extra money unnecessarily. Supermarkets Lidl and Morrisons offer free pads and tampons if you ask one of their workers or 'Ask for Sandy' in Morrisons.

Signing petitions; Donating products to local companies (such as food banks) or putting them in baskets like the ones previously mentioned; Buying sanitary products from companies that 'give back', many producers donate a percentage of their profit into charities that help reduce period poverty; Buying gender neutral products instead of identical products that cost more simply because they are advertised to women; and

Periods in general are often considered to be a 'women's issue' and while it is mainly women affected, men should be included in conversations surrounding period poverty and the pink tax. Men can and should be taking the same responsibility as others to help those in need regardless of whether someone menstruates themselves. There is simply no excuse.

Educating others - however this applies to you (online, talking to friends etc.) on period poverty and pink tax. Tell people how they can help and what to look out for when they are shopping;

inspirenews 35

Local nature Hethersett Academy - Grace

As spring is here and summer approaches, there is so much wildlife to be seen in our gardens, ponds and hedgerows. In Norfolk, nature is never far away if you look closely.

in little huddles as they sleep. Thanks to their amazing ability to recognise visual landmarks and navigate using the Earth's magnetic field, Swallows can return to the same nesting site every year. In my grandparents' porch, there is a Swallows' nest, and every year they return to spend the summer months there and have their young.

At this time of the year, many birds are returning to the UK after leaving for warmer climates in the winter.

Approximately 4,000 species of birds regularly migrate, and those that arrive here in spring and summer are generally insect-eating and fly from the south. One of the most well known migratory birds is the Swallow. They are renowned for their ability to fly an incredible 200 miles a day on their flight from Africa to the UK and back again. They are a common sight on telegraph wires, perching close together

Plants and trees also flourish in these months, with many hedgerows and trees ornately decorated in clouds of blossom.

There are many varieties of blossom trees, from crab apple trees, which have five petals with hints of pink, to magnolias, which have broad petals, and can be any colour from white to red.

inspirenews 36

become uncommon. Perhaps you have a little area in your garden that you could set aside to rewild?

Another spring highlight is the vast array of flowers that emerge from the ground one of this year's few guarantees. Seeing the dense clusters of flowers and shrubbery surrounding tree stumps or adopting a forgotten flower bed can remind us to stop for a moment and appreciate how these plants have survived many long, dark winters, but always rise again. As more and more meadow-land is taken from nature and used by humans for agriculture, though, the view of an overgrown field, densely filled with plants and creatures that take shelter in truly wild places, will inevitably

When plants are well established, and the annual flowers have assembled, insects will reappear. Although insects technically do not hibernate, some, like butterflies and bees, go into a state of dormancy through the winter. They thrive on the richly coloured flowers that populate rugged meadows and bright gardens, so we must keep providing this habitat - for them to flourish and for us to enjoy.

inspirenews 37

Homework debate Hethersett Academy - Silvia

Most students don't enjoy homework.

It's a reasonable conclusion to come to.

Sadly, most schools don't truly seem to understand that the negative effects of homework vastly outweigh the positive effects. Therefore, this is a list of reasons why homework should be corrected. This is not because students are too lazy to do homework, or because we don't enjoy school. It's simply because, in black and white facts, it's doing more damage than support to our education. This isn't an essay of complaints or a grumpy teen being grumpy. I will simply be stating my case and explaining why.

of it are. The most apparent reason is that it means that students can support their learning at home and to help improve their learning ability. Learning is extremely important in everyday life and it's something that everyone must do to grow as a person. In addition to understanding the importance of furthering your education, we also need to understand that there is, in fact, a difference between homework and revision. Revision is something that teachers suggest that students do in order to improve their grades and, if done properly, is a good method of doing so.

However unless it is set as homework, revision is rarely mandatory. Instead it is something that pupils are expected to do on top of their pre-existing homework.

Before I can argue my point, we need to understand why school sets homework and what the supposed positive effects

inspirenews 38

into consideration the responsibilities a teenager may have. For example, being a young carer or doing outside-ofschool activities.

Furthermore, we need to take into account the amount of homework a student receives per week. On average, each subject gives their students an hour of homework per week and gives them a seven day period to complete it.

Altogether that means roughly 9-10 hours of work per week in addition to school. With 120 hours in the school week and 50 of those hours used up by the suggested amount of sleep for a teenager, that leaves 70 hours of the week left to spend on school, homework, extracurricular activities and family time.

28 hours are spent at school and 10 hours on homework. Which means more than half of the five day week is spent doing work. Again, this is not including revision which may add another five to ten hours depending on what year the student is in and whether it's exam season or not. This means that, on average, students spend more time doing schoolwork than the average adult spends actually working and earning money. Even this does not take

So how do teenagers find time to do other things like spend time with friends and family without digging into key homework time? Most find themselves having less sleep. This is because it's the easiest part of the schedule to decrease without being penalised or missing out on extracurricular activities – something that they enjoy. However, there are many short term and long term effects ranging from simple forgetfulness (which isn't great for someone who is supposed to be learning and growing) to heart disease, obesity and other serious medical conditions that comes as a direct result of excessive sleep loss.

The first piece of research that shows this fatal flaw in the education system originated in Finland. Finland is considered to have not only one of the best education systems in the world, but

inspirenews 39

in the brain with association. If a student were to come home every day from school and do their homework in their house, suddenly the brain now understands that place as a place of work rather than a place of relaxing and spending time with family. By having homework, there becomes very little separation between work and relaxing (also known as the work-life balance.)

We all spent a lot of time working from home during lockdown. People who worked from their beds found that sleeping became more difficult because their bedrooms had become associated with working rather than resting.

also to be the happiest country. So what are they doing that the UK schools aren't? On top of other factors, they don't have homework. This means that Finnish children can spend more time exercising, spending time with their friends and family, and generally having a more enjoyable lifestyle. This significantly affects their learning because the children are not only less stressed and tired, but students are also more likely to enjoy school and want to learn because it is no longer a place they associate with anxiety and constant work.

Furthermore, there is the phrase 'don't work where you sleep'. There is, in fact, a very valid psychological idea behind this statement. The brain is easily trained into routines and patterns – that's one of the reasons they're often easier to remember. A similar occurrence happens

Ultimately, the amount of homework should be significantly lower than it currently is. The negative aspects of homework vastly outweigh the positives as, in the long term, it only hinders

inspirenews 40

WE CARE WE SHARE WE DARE TO DO

MORE

www.inspirationtrust.org