The Clapham School Podcast

Want civilization to crash? Lock up the Great Books. Head of School Kolby Atchison and Class 8 faculty member Isabella Vander Woude discuss the definition of the Great Books and why these texts are key to preserving a flourishing society and cultivating thoughtful, wholehearted, lifelong learners. Further reading: Breaking Bread With the Dead by Alan JacobsPassing the Torch by Louis MarkosCheck out Clapham's Secondary and Upper School here.

At Clapham School, every single middle school student is guaranteed to have a significant experience with Shakespeare through spending each spring semester studying and performing a Shakespeare play. As a classical school, Shakespeare is naturally part of our curriculum, but why? How does the Great Books canon serve our students, and in what way do they support and engage with a biblical worldview? How can parents serve their students as they approach the formidable task of memorizing and performing

At Clapham, teaching is a vocation and a craft. Since our teachers are the key to what makes Clapham so unique, our administrative team is highly selective in the people they hire to fill the crucial faculty roles in our school. So, what goes into that process? Join Head of School Mr. Atchison and Academic Dean Dr. Egan as they discuss the characteristics, content, and competencies that comprise the unique role of a Clapham faculty member, as well as the culture and atmosphere that exists among and

What is the purpose of homework, or as we call it at Clapham, life's work? How does our unique philosophical approach toward learning inform the kind of work we bring home at night, and what are some practical tips to make sure that life's work is truly serving our students? For Lower School students, the most fruitful, effective way to approach life's work involves parents coming alongside their students in meaningful time together. As students mature into Secondary and Upper School, they become

What does it mean to be prepared for the public square?In this episode, we dive into the Senior Thesis, the capstone academic project for Clapham upperclassmen. Instructor Kelsey Peterson guides students through a year-long process designed to refine both composition and oratory skills. This isn't just a research paper; it's a foundational experience that trains students to be thoughtful, eloquent, and effective Christian voices in the world, prepared to discern and speak the truth.++The NYT article

From TikTok to textbooks, students growing up in a digital environment encounter a barrage of rhetoric everywhere they go. Join us for a conversation with Clapham faculty Kelsey Peterson as we explore the unique aim of a Christian approach to training in rhetoric.

How does a uniform support the student experience in a school? In an age of expressive individualism, uniforms serve as a signal of a different worldview: one where identity isn't defined by a brand or material status, but is rather rooted in a relationship with God. Join us for a conversation with Clapham Middle School principal Miranda Quinn as we discuss the purpose and advantage of the Clapham dress code.

Head of School Kolby Atchison sits down with upperclassmen Taline, Eli, and Lucy to discuss the unique features of Clapham's Upper School.Clapham students truly get the best of both worlds. They thrive in a close-knit community with small class sizes, where meaningful discussions foster deep relationships between students and teachers. At the same time, strategic school partnerships offer access to an expansive range of athletics, extracurriculars, and courses at other local schools or