100th film marks milestone for Perse digital storytelling

The Perse School has released its 100th film on YouTube, marking a significant milestone in a project that began in late 2017 to celebrate pupil voice and offer a window into life across the school community.

Spearheaded by Director of Communications and Marketing Claire Ziwa, who also introduced the school’s award-winning digital prospectuses, the films aim to reflect the breadth and balance of a Perse education with a focus on pupil experiences.

“One thing I’m really proud of is that our films are completely authentic,” said Miss Ziwa. “We never give the students a script, we always seek to reflect genuine school life and special moments, from Pelican pupils learning to play and explore the world in Nursery, to Prep children discovering new perspectives, and Upper and Sixth Form students enjoying lessons that stretch their academic potential.”

The collection covers a wide variety of themes and locations, including science and art at the Prep, a GCSE geography trip to Iceland, and outreach work such as the school’s partnership with Christel House School in Bangalore. Films showcasing Perse outdoor education, in which more than 800 Perse pupils participate, include expeditions to the Swedish Lakes, trips to Ladakh in India, and the tallest climbing wall in the region at the Perse Sports Centre.

Miss Ziwa said: “I’m especially proud of the award-winning podcast series The Diary of a Future CEO, which inspires the next generation with stories from Perse alumni. Hosting the series, in which I’ve had the privilege to chat to alumni working in a wide range of fields, from music and sport to medicine, engineering and law, has been an incredible experience. I’m especially grateful to everyone who has taken part and given up their time to share their stories and inspire others.”

The podcast series has now been watched and downloaded more than 500,000 times, the most of any independent school in the country.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the hard work of videographers Tom Farmery of The Film Farmers and Chris Church, as well as Editor Adam Crossland, who have worked with me across the 100-film journey. Their creativity and commitment have played an important role in shaping films that reflect the energy and diversity of school life.”

Take a look at the school YouTube channel here.