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As the leaves turn gold and the mornings and the evenings draw in, so begins one of the busiest periods for the school, the staff and the students – including, of course, the English department. We are embarking on two new courses this autumn: the new GCSE rolls into year 11 and, with the controlled conditions work all completed (well done, students!), we begin to explore the selection of contemporary and literary heritage poetry n the AQA anthology. All students in years 10 and 11 will have the chance to go to see “An Inspector Calls” one of their set texts at the Curve Theatre in Leicester. In addition, we start the AQA B English Literature specification with our new year 12 students. We are excited about this new (to us) course. The first term will see the students studying two plays in the genre of dramatic tragedy. All of the students will study Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and will have the chance to support their study by going to see the production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Students will write a piece of coursework about “Macbeth” as well as a piece about another play in the genre of dramatic tragedy. In addition, students will study two novels and two selections of poetry throughout the year, both under the heading “Aspects of Narrative”. It is in the autumn term that all RHS students have the chance to enter two creative writing competitions. Rugby School’s Rupert Brooke competition has the theme of images this year and we hope to enter as many excellent pieces of writing as possible – poetry, prose or drama – by the deadline of 11th November. Our own Jessie Wright competition provides older students with the opportunity to write poetry – this year on the theme of Endurance – and pupils in years 8 and 9 to prepare poetry recitations. Our annual Jessie Wright Poetry Evening will take place in February. We are also very pleased to be able to host a visit by a very successful RHS old girl. Popular children’s novelist H.J. Ralles (Hilary has published work in the U.S.A, where she now lives, rather than the U.K., so don’t be surprised if her name isn’t familiar to you!) has kindly offered to deliver creative writing workshops when she visits her home town in December. Each year 8 form will have the chance of an hour and a half’s workshop with Hilary. The autumn term also sees years 12 and 13 students competing in the mock bar trials, National Poetry Day activities, the autumn re-launch of our student book groups, the year 7 pupils’ visit to the theatre and the family theatre trip at the end of term.
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