English - Activities
Activities through the Year in the English Department
AUTUMN TERM: Theatre Trips
As a welcome to the new arrivals in Year 7 each year, the English Department have been pleased to organise during the Autumn Term, a theatre visit to the Theatre Royal in Plymouth to see a suitable play for that year group. Previous years’ visits have been to see ‘Tracy Beaker’, ‘Tintin’ and ‘The Doubtful Guest’.
There was also a joint Drama and English trip in September for older students to see Othello at the Theatre Royal.
SPRING TERM: GCSE Poetry Live Roadshow!
Each year, the English Department has organised a trip for Year 11 to Plymouth Pavilions to participate in GCSE Poetry Live Roadshow! This is an event organised at venues all over the country, to support students with the poetry element of their English GCSE. There are always at least 6 contemporary poets whom students are currently studying in their GCSE Poetry Anthology attending the event, usually including Simon Armitage, Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy (the Poet Laureate), John Agard, Imtiaz Dharker. Students attending have the opportunity to hear the poets themselves reading their poems and talking about the events, experiences etc which inspired them. This day has proved invaluable in helping the students to connect with the poetry that they are studying.
In-college visits
The English Department looks for opportunities to host as wide a range as possible of visits from authors, poets and theatre companies during the year. Previously we have hosted visits from:
• Brian Patten, a well-known author, who spent time with students in the classroom, giving readings etc.
• Box Clever Theatre Co also came in March and carried out a workshop for Year 7 students entitled ‘An Introduction to Shakespeare’ and also performed ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ for Year 9 and Sixth Form students.
We are at present looking forward to a visit from Adisa, a performing poet, who will be spending 4 days with us in October. He will spend time in classrooms with students as well as giving readings and performances of his poetry throughout the college during the week.