What is the Purvis Society and Journal at Cranleigh Senior?
What is the Purvis Society and Journal at Cranleigh Senior?
The Purvis Society is Cranleigh’s forum for pupils who love thinking deeply and debating big ideas. It gives academically curious pupils the chance to explore philosophical, ethical and geopolitical questions in a relaxed, discussion-led setting. Weekly seminars, guest speakers, presentation evenings and student-led debates help pupils build confidence in speaking, questioning and defending their views.
The Purvis Journal sits alongside these opportunities as an annual publication showcasing pupil essays, research and reflections. It’s pupil-led and pupil-produced, providing a platform for them to publish their ideas, share their academic interests and contribute to the wider intellectual life of the school.
What academic societies does Cranleigh Senior run?
What academic societies does Cranleigh Senior run?
At Cranleigh, academic enrichment extends beyond GCSEs and A Levels with a lively mix of pupil-led academic groups and societies, from Maths and the Sciences to History, Classics, Politics, Economics, Philosophy and Modern Languages. Pupils choose the topics, shape the discussions and often set up new societies themselves.
In Years 9-11, the focus is on introducing pupils to open-ended discussion and analytical thinking through weekly lunchtime groups that explore topics such as global politics, current affairs and ethics. These sessions help pupils form opinions and articulate them with growing confidence. They also build skills in public speaking, supported by Presentation Evenings that bring together parents, teachers and older pupils.
Staff are there to support, but the real drive comes from the pupils. These groups and societies give students space to explore subjects more deeply and discover what genuinely interests them, which over time can shape future choices and strengthen applications to competitive universities.
Support for Oxbridge is available through the Scholars’ Programme.