It’s been a busy and inspiring start to the year for our English faculty!
Year 11 began the term with their Spoken Language Endorsements, delivering individual speeches to their classmates. Students demonstrated excellent creativity, confidence, and public-speaking skills – valuable life skills that also contribute towards their GCSE English Language qualification.
Meanwhile, a group of Year 10 and 11 students were treated to a live performance of Macbeth at a local theatre in High Barnet. This special trip gave students the chance to see their GCSE set text brought vividly to life – and at a discounted local rate rather than London prices! It was a fantastic opportunity for our Free School Meals students to experience Shakespeare in action and deepen their understanding of the play.
Our Writer in Residence, Caroline Green, has also been inspiring students across the school this term. As a published author and crime thriller writer, Caroline has been running creative writing workshops with Year 7 and Year 10, sharing her expertise and helping students develop their storytelling skills. Year 11 will benefit from these sessions later in the autumn and spring terms, as they focus on strengthening their creative writing for the GCSE exam. Caroline also runs a Creative Writing Club every Monday after school in Room 324 – a fantastic opportunity for budding writers to develop their craft and work alongside a professional author.
Over in Year 9, students have just completed their first assessment on Animal Farm by George Orwell. They explored themes of government, power, and corruption – drawing some striking parallels between Orwell’s dystopian world and modern events. This challenging text has sparked great discussion about allegory, history, and society, encouraging students to think critically about the world around them.
Year 8 have been showing off their creative talents, taking part in several national writing competitions. Many students had their work selected for publication in the WonderVerse poetry collection by Young Writers UK! In addition, several students were successful in the Grim Tales story-writing competition – with their stories also set to appear in print. We’re incredibly proud of their achievements! Keep an eye out for more competitions coming soon – details can be found in the library.
Year 7 students are currently being encouraged to enter the Ghost Stories Competition (details on the Student Portal via Bromcom). Those interested should see Mr Gallagher in the library to find out how to take part – a perfect challenge for creative young writers!
Finally, the English team brought some festive magic to our Open Evening English Extravaganza, transforming the department into Dickens’ London with a brilliant performance of A Christmas Carol. Special thanks go to Mr Harris for his memorable portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge – and to all the English staff who donned costumes and helped create an unforgettable, immersive experience for visitors!
What an incredible start to the year – well done to all our students and staff in English for their enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication!
