The Perse School Cambridge Podcast

Busy student Versha shares her passion for making a difference in the world, with her research into anti-malaria interventions and her role with the Children and Young People's Board at Addenbrooke's Hospital.

This Perse student and Head of School is embracing life.

In this podcast Versha and Claire Ziwa discuss:

Research into anti-malaria interventions with Cambridge University Department of Pathology.
Wanting to make a positive difference in the world.
Research into the link between health and emotional intelligence.
The role of AI and health in our everyday lives.
Leading a group called 'Active' at Addenbrooke's Hospital working with the Children and Young People's Board.
Versha's role as a Head of School and leading the student council.
Working with the school's Inclusion, Equality and Diversity Team, ensuring there's a platform where all students feel heard.
Attending the Wellington College conference to learn from other Heads of School.
Reflecting on being a student at The Perse, both academically and with her holistic educational experience.

You can also watch this podcast on The Perse School Cambridge YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/nqbyUSbWQWY?si=gobZapxbI0QishIf

Are you considering a career in sport? In this podcast we meet Tess Howard MBE, a GB Olympian, athlete, changemaker, trailblazer and academic.

Tess is an elite hockey player, representing her country at the highest level, including the Paris Olympics in 2024 and the Commonwealth Games in 2022, where she was part of the winning team, earning a gold medal. Tess established the Inclusive Sportswear Foundation, to build a future where sportswear is not a barrier to participation, enjoyment and performance in sport, especially for women and girls.

In 2023 Tess won the Changemaker Award at the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards, which recognised her campaign to amend international kit regulations allowing athletes freedom in their choice of clothing in competitions.

Tess was awarded an MBE in the 2025 New Year Honours.

In this conversation Tess and Claire Ziwa discuss topics including:

Playing hockey for team GB at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Dealing with setbacks and an ACL injury that prevented Tess from going to the Olympics in Tokyo.
Being part of the winning team at the Commonwealth Games.
Reading Geography at University.
The barriers to girls playing sport.
The effects of gendered school sport uniform on girls’ participation in sport.
Gender coding at schools.
Getting more girls to play sport and to understand the benefits.
Body image.
The impact of the clothes that boys and girls wear and playing sport.
Launching the Inclusive Sportswear Foundation.
Campaigning for change.
Future hopes and plans.

Find out more about the Inclusive Sportswear https://www.inclusivesportswear.com/

You can also watch this podcast on The Perse School Cambridge YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/sun5e1g9N_k

Head of School Marcus Wentzell shares his experience of being a student at The Perse, reflecting on his exciting Rouse research into the effectiveness of muometric positioning systems in underground navigation, as well as his passion for playing the saxophone and his important role as an anti-bullying ambassador.

In this podcast Marcus and Claire Ziwa discuss:

Marcus's experience as Head of School.
Looking back on the last 15 years as a student at The Perse School, Cambridge.
The breadth of skills learned at the school.
Playing the saxophone and taking part in music competitions.
The balance of academic and extra-curricular work.
The Rouse award and Marcus's physics research into positionings systems and how GPS doesn't work underground.
Applying to university to read Physics.
Having a curiosity for learning.
Taking on a leadership role as an anti-bullying ambassador.

 You can also watch this podcast on The Perse School Cambridge YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/5bIVrOczbRM?si=QCrKUB29Xu55UvST

Are you thinking about a career in medicine?

In this podcast we meet Neil, a third year medical student at the University of Cambridge who chose to intercalate medicine with engineering.

This combination gave Neil the opportunity to combine his love for engineering and data science with his passion for medicine.

As a busy student at Emmanuel College, Neil also fills his time with being a choral scholar, being President of the Emmanuel Medical and Veterinary Society and playing badminton. As well as sharing insights into his Cambridge degree, Neil also talks about the Fellowship programme at Harvard University in Boston, USA, that he took part in last summer, where he worked on ground-breaking research to reduce inequalities in healthcare.

In this conversation Neil and Claire Ziwa discuss topics including:

Life as a student at Cambridge University.

Life in a Cambridge College - Neil attends Emmanuel (Emma) College.

Cambridge Science Festival inspiring Neil's passion for science as a child.

Work experience at Addenbrookes and the Arthur Rank Hospice.

The different aspects of the medical degree.

Using AI to create avatars to train new doctors.

Looking forward to the fourth year of Neil's medical degree and working in hospital.

Achieving a healthy work-life balance to manage the stress of a demanding course.

The reasons why Neil chose a medical degree.

Harvard Medical School - using Artificial Intelligence to reduce inequalities in healthcare.

Important role models.

The changing perception of medicine throughout the degree.

Advice for young people thinking about a career in medicine.

The importance of getting work experience if you want to apply to do a medical degree.

Time management.  

You can also watch this film on The Perse School Cambridge YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX3UBbDnRVQ

Are you a fan of TikTok?

In our podcast with student Ioanna MacKenna she shares her research about TikTok and its influence on young people and politics.

Ioanna is a passionate advocate for modernising politics and earlier this year was selected to deliver a prestigious TEDx talk on the subject.

In this conversation Ioanna and Claire Ziwa discuss topics including:

Politicians as digital influencers on TikTok.

Political satire.

Subconscious political messaging.

TikTok and teenagers.

Deciding whether or not to vote.

Allowing your vote to be heard as a young person.

Developing research skills and entering the Rouse Award at the Perse.

Fact-checking what you consume on social media.

Taking part in the TEDx talk.

The future of TikTok.

The influence of TikTok on UK politics.

The importance of travel and seeing the world from different perspectives.

You can also watch this podcast on The Perse School Cambridge YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agO1WbjxrHU

Ever wanted to work in lighting design?

In this podcast we meet Senior Lighting Designer George Lawton who completed his A level studies at The Perse School in 2016 before going to Rose Bruford College.

In this conversation George and Claire Ziwa discuss topics including:

A childhood fascination with lighting.

Drama and technical theatre at The Perse.

Doing a Lighting Design degree at Rose Bruford College.

The importance of soft skills for a successful career.

Collaboration and the themed entertainment industry.

Lighting large scale international immersive experiences.

3D design.

Lighting at Cadbury World.

Drawn to the Light.

Advice for anyone thinking about a career in lighting design or technical theatre.

The planning and complexity of lighting design projects.

The importance of being kind and working well with others.

You can also watch this film on The Perse School Cambridge YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTbhuMo1GEw

In this podcast Claire Ziwa talks to two students, Cate and Ines, involved in the Sixth Form play Shakespeare in Love.

In this podcast Claire Ziwa talks to Director of Science Allan Williamson about British Science Week at The Perse, and the wide range of opportunities available for students.

Perse students and academics gave a series of intriguing lectures in the first ever TEDx event held in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre.  In this podcast Claire Ziwa talks to Perse student Sergio Arcidiacono who organised the event, and Ioanna MacKenna, Sorcha Brickel and Neelkantha Mukherjee who all took to the stage to share their independent research.

In this podcast Claire Ziwa talks to Head of Middle School Liam Woods and pupils Lauren and George, about how the school supports students when they join in Year 7 or Year 9.