This half-term the English Extension Club continued to flourish. The Extension programme of lunch-time lectures has been a core component of the English Department’s extra-curricular offering for some time; this year marked the first time that the series has been entirely student-led. The result has been a genuinely impressive series of seminars, which has showcased the depth, breadth, and intellectual curiosity of students from across the school.
The half-term began with a thoroughly engaging presentation from Gaia and Aqsa (Y13) on The Bloomsbury Group. Both speakers approached the subject with real academic maturity; their discussion skilfully introduced the audience to leading Bloomsbury figures such as Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster, exploring their literary contributions as well as the group’s radical ideas about art, society, and personal freedom. The talk was brilliantly researched, insightfully delivered, and a perfect reminder of how independent reading can illuminate areas far beyond the syllabus.
Our next seminar was led by Akzhayaa and Sharvari (Y13), who offered a detailed and compelling exploration of The American Dream in Literature. Ranging from John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald to the Beat Generation and Tennessee Williams, their talk traced how writers have celebrated, criticised, reshaped, and even dismantled this defining cultural ideal. For students studying American texts at A-level, the historical and thematic context provided was particularly valuable. The speakers handled the topic with confidence and depth, demonstrating an impressive command of both their literary material and wider social commentary.
We then enjoyed a fascinating and highly original presentation from Paradise (Y13), titled “Rap and Poetry: Two Sides of the Same Coin?” In this seminar, she examined the rich literary techniques found in contemporary rap, drawing connections between modern artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator and long-established poetic traditions. Paradise highlighted the shared use of metaphor, allusions and other literary techniques encouraging the audience to appreciate the poetic craft embedded within music often overlooked in academic settings. Her talk was dynamic, thought-provoking, and interdisciplinary.
This half-term also saw two outstanding contributions from Year 10 speakers, whose confidence and originality were particularly impressive. Shreyaa and Sai Venisha (Y10) presented a talk entitled “You Are What You Eat: How Writers Use Food to Explore Power, Trauma, and Identity.” Their exploration of food symbolism in literature ranged from Miss Havisham’s infamous wedding cake in Great Expectations to the visceral sensory detail in Seamus Heaney’s “Blackberry-Picking.” Their analysis revealed just how powerfully food can operate as a metaphor for characters’ emotions, experiences, and relationships.
To conclude the term’s programme, Neha and Aanya (Y10) delivered a stimulating and timely talk on “The Literary Canon: Who Decides What Good Literature Is?” Their seminar sparked lively reflection, delving into how books come to be labelled “classics” and questioning whose voices have historically shaped those decisions. They also explored how platforms such as TikTok might be shifting the landscape of literary visibility and influencing which texts gain critical or popular attention. It was a fitting end to the series: ambitious, inquisitive, and highlighting how the world of books and reading is ever-changing.
This half-term’s Extension talks—innovative in format and entirely student-driven—have been a real success. The quality of research, confidence of delivery, and sheer range of interests on display have been truly inspiring. Well done to all students who have taken part!
Mr Graff