David Pargetter, Head of English, believes that English is not only the most important subject in the senior school curriculum, but that it also teaches students the most transferable skills used on a day-to-day basis in every aspect of life.  

“[Students] are going to need skills to communicate,” he explains. “They need to develop their own viewpoint, they need to be able to communicate those ideas in written and oral form, and they need to share those ideas with their peers and their teachers.”

Studying English through texts such as novels, plays and poems is also integral to a young person's development and understanding of the way the world works. Year 10 students studying Macbeth, for example, are investigating complex ideas about the corrupting influence of power, and how it can damage relationships. Likewise, Year 9 students studying A Midsummer Night’s Dream explore the complex nature of relationships and its social commentary on love and marriage.

“If they aren’t transferable ideas, I’m not sure what are,” says David. 

“Sadly there is evil and corruption all around us,” he points out. “So If you don’t read books and study plays and read poetry where authors are talking about these really complex ideas... all you are going to be doing is seeing it and hearing about it on the news and social media.” 

“So reading is crucial,” he says. 

But to be able to fully engage with the subject, students need to enjoy it first. “What we are trying to do [in the English Department] is create a culture around enjoying the subject, so we are really trying to give the students autonomy over what they do.” 

With this in mind, this year Year 10 students worked on an extended project in response to Macbeth; like a “mini thesis”, he explains. “We are trying to give them a different feel, and a bit of academic writing. We hope it champions free thought and free ideas which is what English is all about. It’s about coming to your own understanding based on a body of research.”

Based on feedback from students, in 2022, the English Department is also introducing a new elective program for Year 10 students, where students get to choose from four literary “adventures”. The students will choose a major, similar to the university model, and study four “high powered” texts. “We don’t shy away from really important powerful texts that will push students,” David explains. 

This program will be backed up by changes for staff in the English department too. Instead of a single Year 10 English coordinator, there will be staff coordinators across each of the four electives, and leadership opportunities to match.

“I think it will spur on a culture of thinking and working in English,” he says.