As part of our English curriculum at KS3, all students have a Bedrock account and are expected to engage in Bedrock weekly as part of their homework. Students are targeted to achieve 20 points each week. Points are achieved when students are making progress and this has a positive impact across the curriculum as Bedrock covers all curriculum subjects. In addition to developing vocabulary, Bedrock has also launched a grammar programme which is designed to support students in their understanding and application of the rules of English grammar. Students can use either the vocabulary programme or the grammar programme to collect their points – we recommend a combination of the two.

Each month, the English class in year 7, year 8 and year 9, who achieve the most points will be rewarded with an early lunch – beating the queues and getting the best seats in the dining room!

If you’d like to read a little more about how Bedrock works, then simply follow the link: https://bedrocklearning.org/what-is-bedrock-learning/how-does-it-work/ And, if you’d like to be able to monitor your child’s Bedrock activity and progress, I have also attached a ‘Parents Guide to Bedrock’. Your child will need to ask their English teacher for their ‘access code’.

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

Just a few words to give you some insight into what is happening in the Drama department. Apart from the hardworking cast and production team rehearsing the summer show, ‘The Sound of Music’, the Year 11 Drama group have been rehearsing their scripted performance pieces for the external moderator’s visit at the end of March.

The GCSE Drama students have been rehearsing tirelessly on their monologues and duologues for their practical exam. They have already completed their devised pieces which were extremely impressive. Now they must perform roles from scripted plays.

Khamilla and Laura are performing the roles of Adele and Nicki from ‘Shakers’, set in a cocktail bar in the 1980s. They have chosen to perform two powerful monologues from this acclaimed comedy drama. Alice and Emily are performing monologues from ‘Five Kinds of Silence’ by Shelagh Stephenson. The monologues are harrowing explorations of a mother and father caught in a cycle of physical and emotional abuse. Beth is performing a moving monologue from ‘Notes to Future Self’ by Lucy Caldwell; she plays the role of a terminally-ill girl who has to come to terms with saying a final goodbye to her family.

Finally, Scarlett and Ruby are performing a duologue from ‘The Wasp’ by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm. This psychological and chilling drama is full of twists and turns as the two characters use revenge to tidy up some unfinished business from their schooldays.

The girls have worked incredibly hard on their pieces. Although their names may appear in lights in the future, for now, we wish them all the very best for this last unit of their practical, and for the written exam in June. They are a really inspiring group who thoroughly deserve to do well. Good luck, girls!

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

This week, the school celebrated International Women’s Day. The English Department wanted to put together some recommended reads that are either by, or that feature, interesting and inspirational women. There is a mix of fiction and non-fiction books that celebrate the power of girls. Some of the books are linked to what the students have been studying in their English lessons, but they would be suited for other years too! Take a look! 

Hidden Figures – Margot Lee Shetterly

 In Year 8, we have been studying ‘Out of this World’ texts and this non-fiction book is a perfect way to learn more about the women who made it possible for man to walk on the moon!

This true story looks at the bright, talented African-American women who worked for NASA as ‘Human Computers’, using pencil and paper to write the equations that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

One of these mathematicians, Katherine Johnson, is also the focus of ‘Counting on Katherine’ which is suited to younger readers. Some students may even have chosen to focus on her for the STEM bunting in their form rooms!

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
and a retelling by Tanya Landman

In Year 9’s ‘Iridescent Adolescent’ unit of work, they read an extract from the classic novel Jane Eyre.

This dark and brooding tale follows young Jane along her journey to independence.

There is also a brilliant retelling of this story by Tanya Landman, which takes the tale and makes it more accessible for younger readers. If your interest was piqued by the extracts we looked at in class, try the rest of the story! The boarding school is only the beginning…

I am Malala – Malala Yousafzai

Students may recognise Malala Yousafzai from the 20’s corridor in school, where she is featured as someone who embodies our school values!

Year 7 have also been reading extracts from Malala’s book in their English Lessons this term. This truly inspirational young woman fought for girls’ rights to have an education and is a wonderful reminder of how brave and strong girls can be.

Here are some more recommended reads for ages 13+, collected by the National Literacy Trust:

Things a Bright Girl Can Do, Sally Nicholls (Andersen Press)

Through rallies and marches, in polite drawing rooms and freezing prison cells and the poverty-stricken slums of the East End, three courageous young women join the fight for the vote.

Noughts & Crosses, Malorie Blackman (Penguin)

Noughts and Crosses are fated to be bitter enemies – love is out of the question. Then – in spite of a world that is fiercely against them – these star-crossed lovers choose each other. But this is love story that will lead both of them into terrible danger . . . and which will have shocking repercussions for generations to come.

Becoming, Michelle Obama (Penguin)

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States.

Break The Fall, Jennifer Lacopelli (Penguin)

A fiercely told survivorship novel about one girl’s determination to push her body to win gold at the Olympics, and the power of uniting as women to speak out.

The publishers, Penguin Random House, have also put together a list of 45 books about ‘Women Who Changed the World’ which can be found online. It’s amazing to hear about the diverse range of women who have impacted the world!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Miss Starkie, English Department