This term, our Year 8 students have been studying the topic ‘Out of this World’! This unit of work has taken them on a multi-genre journey from the dark world of dystopian fiction, through the starry skies of science-fiction, and now through the wardrobe into fantasy fiction (and Narnia!).

Recently, our classes have been working on creating their own pieces of creative writing, inspired by the texts they have been studying below in class.

Please enjoy reading this small selection of work by our creative and imaginative students:

 

A Dystopian Planet – Descriptive Writing

Shattered remains of an attempt of civilisation surround me. A constant reminder that we – the last survivors left on this horror of a place – have no hope of recreating what was once here. We are just a world left behind, an irrelevant waste of supplies in this void of darkness that surrounds us.

The sun’s blazing heat reflects against the last remains of glass, sending rays of light into the abyss. The torn down buildings, once grand visions of the future, cast shadows as da rans hopeless as our suture days to come.

Inside our last place of sanctuary, we are imprisoned, isolated in our own chambers. Rarely ever seeing any other form of life. Our population decreases rapidly each day, just like the starts we see burning into flames out in the void of the cosmos.

Anya L

 

Tangler

As you enter the abyss, you get swallowed by the unknown void of the cosmos. Once you enter, there is no escape; you get silenced forever. You get trapped. There is nothing past the abyss, but the deafening silence of space, and a settlement. It’s unusual and is in the shape of a sphere (which is the only normal thing about it). When you look at it, your last hopes and dreams get destroyed. Rocks plummet down, breaking off the planet and eventually crash on the earth. Its tangled looking shape soaks up all light and happiness.

It used to be along, straight path of rock (which floated round the atmosphere, however, after many years of research, we have discovered that over time, the straight rock has bent and squished itself into a tangled spherical shape. We have named it the Tangler. On it, it’s like a maze, but not a fun maze you may do for entertainment, if you can’t make your way out into the open, your life will be ended! You will be dead! When you fall through a gap in between the deadly paths, you will end up in the centre of planted Tangler. We don’t know what happens there. We have never seen anyone since they fell. Anyone.

Aliens. We have seen them a few times too. They are slimy, purple creatures, or should I say beasts? They leave a slimy trail wherever they do, but no-one has ever touched them, we believe they are cursed. The starts around the planet have lost their shimmer. They’re just full dots waiting to be revived – not like that will ever happen. The ground is dimly lit, by the two suns, submerged by death and smoke. Fear that this trap will take over the world isn’t unusual. It gets larger by around a meter each year, to drown life.

Never enter an abyss, now you know why. You will discover nothing more than a once in a lifetime experience: death.

Jenya Z

 

Science-Fiction Narrative Writing

22nd May 2022. It was the day my parents flight vanished. No one knew how it happened. With them, 200 other passengers were gone. It was a mystery. Were they dead? Were they alive? We never knew. We had to wait for the investigations to tell us.

This was my parent’s vacation. Me and my brothers all forced them, as we felt they needed it more than we did. Reluctantly, they agreed. They set off on the morning of the 22nd of May at 8:10 am. Everything went well, or so we thought. At exactly 9:30 am, we received a call from the airline, Auroair 505, confronting us with the news about our parent’s disappearance. We were baffled. How did this happen? What caused this?

Finally, after 10 years, the lead investigator called us up, asking one of us to risk our life and take a journey to Jupiter. Apparently, they had a suspicion that the plane that disappeared had been dropped somehow on the grounds of Jupiter, with layers of strata bordering the tops. Both of my brothers were scared, so I had to say “yes!”.

I spent months training, physically and mentally, for this mission. I was working very closely with some fellow scientists and a team of engineers to construct a spacecraft, capable of withstanding the conditions of Jupiter. We had to keep our main focus on the planet’s intense gravity, radiation, and the harsh environment awaiting us. It was extremely complicated and difficult, but I was determined to unlock the truths of the plane’s disappearance and find my parents.

Eventually, the day arrived. I was ready to embark on my historical journey. As I boarded the spacecraft, I couldn’t help but feel excitement gushing through my veins. However, I did feel a sense of anxiety. This mission was live on TV, meaning that the whole world was watching and the weight of my parent’s disappearance rested on my shoulders. Even through it was risky, I had to do it.

After tiring days and nights, I finally reached Jupiter. With the help of modern technology, it only took me 7 months. Usually, it would have taken at least 6 and a half years. Wow! I faced many challenges in this journey: from navigating through asteroid belts, to travelling through the jet-black skies of space. But, the commitment I had and support from my brother’s encouraged me to keep going.

I was prepared to face anything.

Sahasra V

Miss Starkie

English Department

Our Year 10 Drama students recently embarked on a thrilling theatre trip to Runshaw College, where they were treated to a spectacular performance of “Lord of the Flies.” The highlight? One of our own, Natalie B, showcased her exceptional talent alongside the brilliant Runshaw College drama students.

The production was brilliant, with outstanding acting, creative staging, mesmerising light design and a unique incorporation of physical theatre. Our students were not only entertained but also inspired, gathering valuable ideas for their own upcoming performances.

Natalie’s performance was a shining moment, leaving us immensely proud of her achievements since leaving PGHS. Her success serves as motivation for our current students, proving the lasting impact of their drama education.

A big shout-out to Runshaw College for a night of theatrical magic and inspiration. The trip was a resounding success, leaving our students buzzing with creative energy and eager to bring their own stories to the stage. The power of drama to captivate hearts and minds was truly evident, thanks to the outstanding talents at Runshaw College.

Miss Garlick

English & Drama Department

Once again, a number of our students have shown huge ambition by going above and beyond in their quest to become the next Susie Dent in the world of words. Our top 10 wordsmiths are:

Student                                                Class                                      Points

Naomi S                                              9En2                                      948                                                                        

Lily T                                                    9En1                                       916                                                        

Lily S                                                    10/Me1                                812                                                        

Amie K                                                10En6                                    649                                                        

Eda M                                                  7En2                                      607

Maayana C                                          8En2                                      599

Claudia B                                             10En6                                    598

Sophia A                                              7En6                                      593

Ellie B                                                   7En1                                      566

Lucy B                                                  7En1                                      533

All of these students will be awarded with a Head’s Breakfast.

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

October in the UK is Black History Month. As a school, we wanted to use this opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions that black people have made to our society. This year, the theme of the month is ‘Saluting Our Sisters’, which aims to highlight the remarkable achievements that black women have made in the fields of literature, music, fashion, sport, business, politics, academia, social and health care and more!

At the start of the month and to mark the occasion, we launched a poetry competition. This competition asked students to learn about black women who have made significant contributions in various fields. They needed to write a poem about a pioneering black woman and explain why she is inspirational.

We were absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of brilliant, heartfelt and well-researched poems that were submitted! Our students chose to celebrate a wide range of black women, both modern and historical. From Mary Seacole and Rosa Parks, through to Simone Biles and Beyoncé, our students produced so many beautiful poems about inspirational women.

After much deliberation, we selected our KS3 and KS4 winning poems. Congratulations to Lydia W in Year 10 and Jessica O in Y9! Thank you for your wonderful poems – prizes will be headed your way! You can read their excellent poems below.

We also selected ten ‘runner-up’ poems, which were also both powerful and inspirational. Well done to:

Eden F (10S)

Harshey R (7J)

Jessica R (8S)

Maisie L (7G)

Alice T (7S)

Saffy E (8H)

Ruby C (10J)

Abigail M (7S)

Zaakirah M (10J)

Rosie Y (10H)

Thank you to everyone who submitted a poem! The high level of engagement with this competition was truly wonderful and it was a pleasure to read every poem submitted.

Miss Starkie and Mrs Hall

 

 

Harriet Tubman

 

Harriet Tubman, a hero so very brave,

Led so many to freedom, all of them slaves,

Daring and strong, she fought for their rights,

She never gave up without a fierce fight!

She was a conductor of the railroad,

A life’s long mission was bestowed,

Harriet’s secret web of pathways,

Gave liberation and happier days!

 

Harriet Tubman, the champion of the underground,

Led so many to freedom and escape from the compound,

Determined and brave, a traveller at night,

She never gave up on anyone’s rights!

 

A monetary bounty on her head,

Many searched and wanted her dead,

A fugitive outlaw hiding in the dark,

Over 300 enslaved would soon embark.

 

Harriet Tubman, a heroic nurse of the sick,

She assisted patients’ recovery, they healed really quick,

Sensitive and caring, their futures were bright,

She was a beacon of hope and guiding light!

 

A union spy who was undercover,

She helped the army to discover,

Gathering intelligence behind enemy lines,

Scouting and snooping were her secret signs.

Harriet Tubman, a hero so very brace,

Led so many to freedom, all of them slaves,

Daring and strong, she fought for their rights,

She never gave up without a fierce fight!

 

Lydia W (10S)

 

 

 

Black History Month Poem

 

We all know about Rosa Parks,

Who paved our future when she felt a fearsome spark,

To defend herself by keeping her chair,

She made others on the bus look and glare.

She didn’t see the meaning to the black and white ,

We’re all human, and that’s nothing to debate and care,

It may not be front and centre, but it’s there.

Mary Seacole’s achievement is the next story I’m going to tell,

She wanted to provide those in war with nourishment and care,

So, she asked for the funding,

But ended up finding her own way there.

She gathered a group of nurses to assemble a team,

Then they travelled to Crimea,

So proud that she made herself beam.

Next, I’ll talk about Claudia Jones,

Who set up a campaign to make sure her ideas were show,

She wanted to spread the word about civil rights,

By publishing newspapers, but not making a fight,

Finally, I’ll talk about Catherine Johnson,

Who was the only one would could complete the sum,

The sum to send up Apollo thirteen,

She had practiced her maths, this wasn’t a dream.

This poem has been about saluting our sisters,

Putting them first instead of the Misters.

 

Jessica O (Year 10)

 

Miss Starkie

English Department

As part of the celebrations for the Festival of Literature and Languages, Year 7 and Year 8 enjoyed a visit from Redheart Theatre and watched a performance of ‘Gothic Tales’.

As the nights grow longer and darker, it has been a tradition since the Victorian era, for people to gather together and share ghost stories. We felt that the festival was a brilliant opportunity to honour that tradition.

The stories were performed as a one-man show and it was incredible to watch the way that the actor switched between characters and perspectives seamlessly. The production’s creative use of lighting and sound kept the whole room captivated.

First, the students watched the story of ‘The Red Room’ by H. G. Wells; a sinister and spine-tingling tale of a man facing a haunted room and fear itself!

Then they were drawn into the world of Edgar Allan Poe and witnessed the unreliable narrator and the madness of ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’.

For Year 8 students, this was the perfect way to revisit their knowledge of the Gothic, which they studied in their English lessons in Year 7. For current Year 7s, it was an exciting taste of the eerie genre which they will be learning about in the Spring Term.

Thank you to Rupert from Redheart Theatre for his engaging and exciting performance.

Miss Starkie 

English Department