Alfredian Voices Podcast
We can all remember our school days – the highs, lows, achievements, and challenges. But what we learnt and the experiences that shaped us are different for everyone.
In our podcast series, we bring you the voices of former students here at The King Alfred School in North London (known as Old Alfredians or OAs), a school that has stood out from the crowd for the past 125 years for delivering a deeper learning experience. Their stories show the positive impact schools can have when they are bold, innovative and – crucially – take a child-centred approach to education.
Below you’ll find details of a selection of the most recent episodes. There’s also a playlist containing every episode so far.
We are grateful to the OAs who have shared their stories, allowing us to bring our school’s vibrant history alive. Our 125th anniversary book, full of photographs from our archive, complements the stories in this series.
Episode 8: Sara Berman
In this episode, we visit artist and fashion designer Sara Berman (OA 1993) in her London studio to delve into her unique artistic process and the impact of KAS on her and her family’s lives (she is one of three generations of OAs).
Sara discusses the foundational character of the ‘trickster whore’ in her work, her intricate painting techniques, and how her background in fashion and weaving influences her art. She also reflects on the values and resilience instilled by KAS, which she believes have been critical to her and her children’s successes.
Listen here:
Episode 7: Preeyus Patel
Preeyus Patel (OA 2009), Associate Director of Environment at a multinational engineering firm, shares his profound journey of growth, learning and self-discovery at The King Alfred School. He emphasises the unique, open environment of the school that allowed him to overcome the constraints often found in traditional education systems.
Preeyus also reflects on the school’s culture of academic freedom, acceptance of failure, and the strong bonds formed with teachers. These experiences and relationships have had a lasting influence on his personal and professional life, helping him achieve notable successes in his career, including leading large-scale environmental projects globally.
Episode 6: Honey Kinny Ross
Honey Kinny Ross (OA 2015) is an accomplished writer, screenwriter, podcaster, TV personality and activist. As founder of the KAS Feminist Society , she credits her time at The King Alfred School with instilling confidence in herself and an understanding of the importance of using her voice for change.
This episode beautifully encapsulates the lasting impact of King Alfred’s unique educational approach on Honey’s life and career.
All episodes
Old Alfredians that we have welcomed in previous episodes include:
- Forester, conservationist and author Esmond Harris MBE (OA 1945)
- The late Julian Anderson (OA 1956)
- Richard Oblath (OA 1970), a scientist implementing sustainable energy plans within big oil
- Former TV actor, writer and director Julie James Bailey (OA 1952), also a retired professor of film and media
- Jordan Schwarzenberger (OA 2015), Co-Founder of Arcade Media
You can listen to all of these conversations using the playlist below.
