54
ACADEMIC MATTERS
English
It was lovely to be face to face with students once again for an entire academic year. While the past two years undoubtedly created challenges, one positive has been an increased embedding of technology within the English classroom; this year, students have embraced working on laptops, leading to more organised notes, wider opportunities for collaborative learning and greater efficiency when sharing resources and homework. On a more traditional note, and with a view to bringing texts to life in a variety of ways, we were delighted to be able to organise an English trip and author, actor and drama company visits to KGS this academic year. Events got underway in the Autumn term when the English and Drama departments worked together to give Sixth Form students the opportunity to have a Q&A with actor Alex Waldmann. He gave us a brilliant insight into his career journey, and in particular, his roles as Horatio in Hamlet and Antonio in The Duchess of Malfi. Ms Stones’ Upper Sixth class were then lucky enough to chat to him more informally during their lesson on Hamlet. More followed in the Spring term, when The Handlebards Theatre Company’s all-female version of Macbeth, which they performed (with gusto) to the Fifth Year. This was quickly succeeded by 3L’s visit to Richmond Theatre and its visually stunning production of Animal Farm, which brought their study of the novel to life (as far as possible, of course!).
To complement the English Department’s commitment to equality and diversity, we welcomed author Catherine Johnson (writer of Sawbones, which 1S has enjoyed as their class reader this year) into school in the Summer term. We are very grateful to her for an inspiring workshop to the Scholars, a writing workshop with 1S as well as her talks to the First and Second Years on diversity and her journey as a writer.
KGS students have continued to excel in English, with Second Year Amy Parker winning the School’s Short Story Competition, Sophie Davies, also Second Year, gaining a Commendation in the Wimbledon Book Festival for her story The Tree and Izzy Reilly a Highly Commended in the Live Cannon Poetry Competition, Year 10 – 13 Group, for her poem about a lost place, Oradour-Sur-Glane. Special mention should also be given to Ms Stones for her very well received review of Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan for The Guardian. Finally, Mr Campbell and his writing group, The Inklings, have continued to produce exciting and inspirational work – look out for their anthology, Crossing Borders, coming to a school near you next academic year. So, while we sign off for a well-deserved break after a jam-packed 2021/2, we look forward to all the new opportunities and experiences waiting in the wings for our English students next year! Mrs S Garside, Head of English
Indeed, we have continued to embed our commitment to equality and diversity across the English curriculum, with First Years completing their ‘This is Me’ project on identity as they arrive at KGS. Thereafter, students across the year groups study a range of texts which provide opportunities to explore a variety of cultures and experiences, including She is Not Invisible, The Merchant of Venice, A View From the Bridge, Purple Hibiscus, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Kite Runner and White Teeth to name just a few.
KINGSTONIAN 2021/22
