The Faculty of English & Drama

Lookingback, the last academic year was very successful and full of fun. Our students achieved excellent grades in the public examinations and made super progress despite the many changes emanating from the Government.

Our spirits and souls were enriched by the appointment of Mrs Sezgin Kemal, former Head of English at Newstead, to the department for a year. As an ambassador for The Poetry Society, her enthusiasm and knowledge energised us all creating a number of opportunities for the boys to enter competitions and write their own poetry.

Working with the British Council, we hosted a poetry tea in the main school library for other schools across the borough. Our students and those from La Martiniere, India composed peace poems which were shared at the tea and prizes were presented for the best pieces. Through Mrs Kemal we have established a link with Joelle Taylor, a performance poet, who inspired our younger students in a workshop and then shared her work and advice with our Sixth Form Literature Society at lunch.

Such was the success of this event that we invited Dan Simpson, a spoken word poet, to school in the summer having met him at the final of the Poetry by Heart competition in London where Richard Decker (year 10) competed.

Speaking and listening are vital skills that our students develop in school and, although removed from the GCSE qualification, they continue to be a critical part of students’ preparation and experience here at Olave’s.

The poetry work aids students’ creativity and offers an opportunity for performance. In years 9 and 10 the boys were invited to attend a public speaking workshop and compete in the Bromley Speakout! Challenge. There is a Junior Debating Club where boys can engage in lively, thought provoking debates and demonstrate their analytical skills and logic. The Senior Debating team competed in both the Cambridge and Oxford Schools’ competitions, winning through the first rounds.

For the first time we entered the Winston Churchill Public Speaking Competition which culminated in a final at Blenheim Palace. This was a marvellous opportunity to learn more about Churchill and gain access to some excellent coaching at Chartwell in the spring term.

Drama has been a highlight of the year with many student led productions and some superb exam performances from the GCSE and A Level classes. Miss Wilkie’s Shakespeare Trilogy was an ambitious undertaking and proved a terrific success. Over 50 students were involved. The theme was ‘love and war’ combining a reduced 1930s jazz version of ‘Richard III’, a Motown ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and a modern ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ featuring the popular band ‘Colour Blind’. All three plays were interspersed with live music and dancing, ensuring fun for the whole family!

Liz Goodman S___Head of English Faculty