This week, as you know, has been Flair Week across the school, with the theme of ‘Initiate’. Here in the English department, we have been busy engaging with a range of activities designed to get everyone taking the initiative in terms of their own learning – a really important skill for future study.

Many students have taken on the roles of teachers, in planning and delivering exciting ‘soundbites’ in their English lessons, with Year 10 in particular taking a real lead in proceedings: Mrs Famili’s students designed and presented a ‘Word Splat’ starter based on the poem their class are currently studying, while several students in my own class created enjoyable (and sometimes fiendishly difficult!) Kahoot quizzes and discussion starters to test their peers’ knowledge. Perhaps we have some future BMS members of staff in the making?!

Meanwhile, Key Stage 3 have taken a creative approach, giving students ownership over their writing in numerous ways. Miss Collins’s Year 7 students have become journalists for the week, writing and filming news reports based on their recent reading of Roald Dahl’s short story ‘Lamb to the Slaughter.’ Likewise, Mr Carter’s Year 9 students have used this term’s work on the novel Stone Cold as a springboard for some excellent independent presentations on the theme of homelessness. Mr Cox and Mr Johnson’s groups have turned their attention to the brilliance of Shakespeare, with Mr Johnson’s group trying their hands at an investigation of the murder of King Duncan in Macbeth, and Mr Cox’s group producing some beautifully crafted creative writing linked to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Our excellent A Level students have not been left out either. Ms Bowe’s Year 12 English Language and Literature group have debated their own interpretations of a range of critical readings of The Great Gatsby – a brilliant preparation for the intellectually stimulating discussions they will experience at university. Ms Court’s Year 12 Literature group reflected on the meaning of ‘flair’ in English through the creation of acrostic poems, and also signed up for some Future Learn courses linked to their current studies. These courses will involve some independent study in their own time over the next few weeks: a really positive example of initiating improvements in their own learning.

We hope that all students involved have enjoyed their chance to participate in Flair Week. Your teachers have been so impressed by your willingness to get involved and take the lead this week, as well as the support you have shown to your peers. Bushey Meads Students really are the best!