Bevis Hillier Writing Competition 2017

Renowned English art historian, author, journalist and Old Reigatian, Bevis Hillier has once again very kindly judged the shortlisted entries for the Creative Writing competition. It was open to Fifth Form students and produced some exciting pieces; there resides within the year group quite a number of talented writers and artists. The students were set the challenge of writing on one of three titles: Lying Still, or Still Lying; The Darkest Hour; The Ball. The creativity with which the students approached this competition was deeply impressive. The winner was Andrew H with a brilliantly satirical description of a student struggling with the existential crisis that revising can engender… His winning entry can be read below. Congratulations, Andrew!

AH BH17 winner

A Novel Approach – RGS Literary Society

Lovers of literature unite!

Another exciting half term of mind-expanding, off-piste/curriculum literary explorations for all students in the 4th form and above…

Beginning tomorrow with a tasty bite into the neck of vampire poetry.

Subsequent weeks alternate between an expert speaker on a literary topic, and poetic explorations with Mr Chevalier – this term they feature a contemporary poet and are themed… Halloween, war, and the Magi.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Nov-Dec 2016 – literary programme

31/10 –     vampire poetry
7/11 –       post-colonial literature (RAP)
14/11 –     female War poetry
21/11 –     Irish Literature (RPS)
28/11 –    Alice Oswald’s poetry
5/12 –      Literature and the bible (CTW)
12/12 –    Magi poetry

Bevis Hillier Creative Writing Competition 2016 – Winner: Oscar S-S

Renowned English art historian, author, journalist and Old Reigatian, Bevis Hillier has once again very kindly judged the shortlisted entries for the Creative Writing competition. It was open to Fifth Form students and produced some exciting pieces; there resides within the year group quite a number of talented writers and artists. The students were set the challenge of writing on one of three titles: Followed, The Secret, or The Musician. The creativity with which the students approached this competition was deeply impressive. The winner was Oscar S-S with a rhetorical and powerful account of man’s inhumanity. His and the other winning entries can be read here: 2016 bevis hillier win entries bk . Congratulations, Oscar!

Academic Essays – all subjects

a essay competitions 2016

If you are interested in exploring academic ideas beyond your A-Level courses and are in the Lower Sixth, please read the attached powerpoint and get involved. Prizes, kudos, and pleasure in writing await.

Oxford has a list of current essay competitions here: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/open-days-outreach/events-students-teachers/resources-teachers/academic-competitions-schools-and-colleges

The RGS essay competitions database contains an enormous range of competitions: http://rgs.to/vncqe

See Mr Chevalier for further support and details.

 

Bevis Hillier Creative Writing Competition 2015 – Winner: Clara G

Renowned English art historian, author, journalist and Old Reigatian, Bevis Hillier has once again very kindly judged the shortlisted entries for the Creative Writing competition. It was open to Fifth Form students and produced some exciting pieces; there resides within the year group quite a number of talented writers and artists. The students were set the challenge of writing on the subject of “the last person I expected to meet on the train…”. The creativity with which the students approached this competition was deeply impressive. The winner was Clara G with a moving and slightly terrifying story set during WW1. Her winning entry can be read here: BH 15 clara. Congratulations, Clara!

Imaginative writing has powerfully shaped our culture and greatest thinkers for centuries and it is with great pleasure that the English Department continues to nurture this tradition in its students today. We look forward to reading the entries of next year’s writing challenge.

#scifi15 – unleashing the science and crafting the art

The Third Form broke down curriculum borders today by learning about scientific concepts, in a series of lectures, and then responding to them artistically, through writing, comic design, art, music and drama. The emphasis was on developing a holistic approach to learning, sharing and appreciating the talent and imagination in the year group, and enjoying the creative freedom of the day. #scifi15 was a fantastic success.

The final pieces produced by the students were impressive and everyone involved deserves congratulating.

A taste of some of the best writing of the day can be seen here: scifi writing booklet 15.

Book bloggers!

Third Form students have once more been exploring a genre of their own choice and creating blogs as they read their books. This independent study has led to some fantastic responses.

Please enjoy this exceptionally interesting blog exploring the crime genre: crime blog

Perhaps it will inspire you to begin your own writing career online!

English Results 2014 – congratulations!

Congratulations to all of our English students at A-Level and GCSE on some superb results. With more students than ever going on to study English-based courses at university, the multiple successes in Oxbridge entrance, and some of our highest ever A-Level passes (71% A*/A ; 94% A*-B) now is the time to pick up a book and join an A-level English Literature group!

Our GCSE English Language results were excellent with a continued rise this year to 87% A*/A.

The GCSE English Literature results were also strong with 75% A*/A, and 98% A*-B.

Rewilding – speech

Inspired by George Monbiot’s recent book, Feral, outlining the case for rewilding, RGS student Benedict Springbett, wrote his own impassioned, and brilliantly witty, speech on the same subject: read it here: Rewilding – Springbett14.

For those of you interested in reading Monbiot’s writing: www.monbiot.com

 

 

 

 

 

Revising for your GCSE English Lit. and Lang. exams

A critical part of revising well for your GCSE English exams (Literature and Language) is to re-read your texts critically and actively.

– Make notes of key quotations that might illustrate multiple themes

– Analyse key scenes exploring how the writer develops characters and themes

– Consider the FUNCTIONS character and symbols play in creating meaning: what do they add to the ideas or narrative of the text?

There are plenty of online resources to help you revise but your most valuable resource (beyond your own excellent brains) will be the specific notes and support that you have gathered in class. One of the best ways to prepare for the exams is to complete PPQs – you will have been issued with this material in class.

Here are two brief revision guides to help you get started in planning your revision:

aaFifth Form GCSE Exam Preparation A4 ENG LIT

aaFifth Form GCSE Exam Preparation A4 ENG LANG

Work hard now and reap the rewards in the summer!