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English Department News
It has truly been an event filled term with the English department, and we have been so proud of all of the amazing work that has been produced by all of our wonderful LAB students. Our department has been steadily growing with the addition of Ms Parker and Ms Young. We even have a mini English teacher in the making with the arrival of Ms Collins-Jones new baby girl. Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to our amazing English tutor, Mrs Spencer-Lewis, who has helped our most vulnerable students.
We have been continuing to take students through the western canon by teaching our students some of the foundational works of Western literature, in chronological order, so they gain an understanding of the journey that literature has taken. In module 2, Year 7 have studied Beowulf and read of the Geatish warrior’s three fights with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and, finally, the dragon. In Year 8, we have been reading Dr Faustus and have learnt how his thirst for knowledge and greed leads to his downfall when he signs a deal with the devil. With Year 9, we moved onto our study of Modernist Poetry and the effects of WWI (alongside the advancement of science and technology) on both the form's content and style; students dealt extremely well with the confusing, often erratic, nature of the poetry and were able to understand the influence of contextual factors. Year 10 have continued to develop their understanding of Boys Don't Cry, a social realist Bildungsroman that explores what it means to grow up as a young man in modern Britain.
Below, two of our Year 7 students describe their experience of English so far:
“English is exciting and fun to learn about because you can see what literature was like a long time ago. English at LAB is better than primary school”
Marni 7F
“I really enjoy English. I like how I’m learning about old English. I really enjoyed reading The Odyssey”
Ebube 7F
In addition to all of the amazing things we have been doing in class, we have also been running some amazing clubs after school as well. Clubs such as reading club, film club, and Newspaper club have been providing students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and interest in English.
In module 3, we will be expanding our student’s understanding of the subject by having special screenings of films that they are set to study. First will be Year 10, who are invited to watch Romeo and Juliet on the 13th of January.
Until then, the entire English department wishes you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
I wandered despondently, like a lost soul
That clings to sorrow
When all at once I saw a cloud,
A host of ashes. Smoke;
Beside the passage, beneath the moon,
Consuming all but gloom.
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