English Blog

WARHORSE

Mr Fitzgerald — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:17:28 +0000

One of the better plays, written by an author who is alive, is War Horse. On at the National Theatre in London. Why don’t you ask your English teacher to oraganise a trip?

New Champions!

Mr Warde — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:22:18 +0000

Mrs Sewell’s Year 8’s with their creative responses to “Lamb’s to the Slaughter” are the new Super Star champions!

The same group are responsible for the children’s books on display in the front entrance to the school.

Well done to Ellie Riddell who scooped the top prize for her book!

Repeat Performances and Trips

Mr Warde — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:18:25 +0000

We look forward to a repeat performance of the Year 11 & Year 8 “Collaborative Drama” this Friday 4th May - with reviews and photos to follow!

We also look forward to our Year 8 trip tp see The Lion King in July - sorry that we were over-subscribed. All disappointed pupils will have their opportunity next year.

YEAR 11 & YEAR 8 COLLABORATIVE DRAMA!

Mr Warde — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:23:00 +0000

I had to tell you about a brilliant collaborative lesson recently in which my petrified Year 8’s joined ranks with Miss Staff’s battle hardened Year 11’s for a drama session. The outcome was so outstanding that we intend to repeat the experiment before the end of the school year. Joe Gilling serenading Mia Vega-Real! Who would have thought it??

Much Ado About Nothing

Mr Warde — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:10:29 +0000

Forty-six Year 9’s sacrificed the last day of their Christmas holiday to accompany the English Department to the West End for the RSC production of Much Ado About Nothing (our SATS play!). A brilliant time was had by all (see the pictures, especially the eccentric Joe Langley!) and we even had the unexpected pleasure of a visit to the National Portrait Gallery. The various portraits were fantastic but, even better, was a live sighting of Jeremy Paxman!!

Blood Brothers

Mr Warde — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:06:48 +0000

Another successful trip last weekend when Ms Staff, Mr Godson and a group of Year 10’s traveled to see my favorite musical Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in London (see picture). Unfortunately to the great disappointment of the girls Anthony Costa had finished his run as Mickey! Shame!

Year 10’s - What did you think of the production?

SUPER STARS!

Mr Warde — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:56:36 +0000

Watch out for excellent work on our Super Stars notice board in the English block. Current champions are 8-3 English for their brilliant poetry work!

YOUNG WRITERS

Mr Warde — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:55:27 +0000

Congratulations to all thirty three of our Young Writers recently published in the “I Have A Dream” anthology. I was particularly struck by the poem below written by Sion Davies currently in Year 8.

I Have A Dream

I saw a smile upon a young child’s face,
She had once lived in the poorest place,
Thirty thousand children a day,
Thirty thousand wasting away.

But now that is all in the past,
Better days are here to last.
I â€œmade poverty history.

I woke up to another day.
Thirty thousand still to die
Who will make a difference, you or I?

Well done also to all entrants who have been published in the “Amazing Tales” book of short stories. Remember: All competition details are posted on our English department notice board outside Room 17.

Have Fun with English

Mr Warde — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:26:09 +0000

Have a look at this blog run by an English teacher in Portugal. It helps pupils practice their English outside the classroom and to communicate with teachers and other pupils across the world. Perhaps you might communicate with them?
See the Fun with English blog.

BATTLEFIELDS 2006

Mr Warde — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 20:18:02 +0000

I was privileged to be a part of the recent History department trip to the WW1 battlefields of Flanders and the Somme. The picture opposite features the grave of V J Strudwick, the youngest soldier to be killed in the Great War at just 15 years of age.

Of course the War inspired some of the most famous and enduring poetry ever written. I have included here an emotive poem created by Year 11 student Dan Stamp, inspired by his experiences on the trip

A Poem of Commemoration
Exploding shrapnel, flying dirt
Perishing the wounded and the hurt
Mines crackle, barbed wires hold
Artillery explosions for the Earth to mould.
Silence greets the thumping man’s heartbeat
Quietness plagues upon the violent heat
July 1^st men hold weapons and pray
Ready to cross the morbid land so decayed.
Quickly set in place snipers and every gun
An attack that so imminent has just begun
A leap over the high trench wall
A glimpse of Tommy advancing tall.
Sudden clench, monster released
Swiping human lives, the devils beast
Ten by ten, thousand by thousand
Drop down dead upon No Man’s Land.
Barbwire attacks all those who flee
Soldiers gunning down those past the Danger Tree
Death rich upon those soldiers of the Somme
The Jerries merciless attack against our Tom.
The Great War to end all wars
Deep wounds and heavy scars
Still defending are those with Nationalism and Pride
Holds morale so they do not hide.
Flanders, Ypres and Passchendaele
All those souls who will never fail
For we thank you and will not forget
Always in our hearts, always in your debt.
Now in Europe, Commonwealth and Britain
Never shall we allow you to be forgotten
Every year on the 11^th Month of the 11^th Day
Two minutes silence with our poppies we pray.
Great Britain, Canada and Turkey
New Zealand, Commonwealth and Austro-Hungary
Was old enemy now a redeemed ally
Do we forgive the nation of Germany.
Millions of lives taken away
Ninety two years later we continue to pray
A single remembrance, a global slogan
The proud red poppy of those not forgotten.
Every soldier who fought in the War
Although lost, forgotten no more
As we should now say the least
That God bless you and rest in peace