News Category: English

Since half term, the English Department have been teaching Year 7 about persuasive writing skills and the art of constructing a well-researched argument. Pupils have learnt how to form a viewpoint from which to write, the use of rhetorical and persuasive techniques and the impact of their choice of language and style of delivery on […]

Chris Bradford, author of the popular ‘Young Samurai’ and ‘Bodyguard’ series of books visited school this week and entertained Years 7 and 8 with his martial arts and bodyguard techniques. During the session students were invited to experience some of the training he had undergone in preparation for writing the books. He talked about the […]

On Wednesday 6th November, our team of Year 8 students won the Lit Quiz 2019 at Bootham School, York. Congratulations! They won the Quiz and the trophy and are now through to the National Finals, which will be held in London on 4th December.

Our Year 12 students had a wonderful writing week in Wales as part of Sixth Form Enrichment.

Since half term, the English Department have been teaching Year 7 about persuasive writing skills and the art of constructing a well researched argument. Pupils have learnt how to form a viewpoint from which to write, the use of rhetorical and persuasive techniques and the impact of  their choice of language and style of  delivery. To mark […]

When the film “Sister Act” was released in 1992, it rapidly became a worldwide box-office hit and helped to cement Whoopi Goldberg’s position as one of the great comic film actors of her generation. Fast-forward fourteen years, and the story of nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier’s experiences of living in a convent under a witness-protection […]

On Monday 5th November, Mrs Parris and Mrs Roth took a team to Bootham School in York to compete in the Yorkshire heats of the annual International Kids’ Lit Quiz. After a hard-fought battle over ten rounds, our team finished in a very impressive third place out of 14 entries, only missing out on second […]

Congratulations to Maiya Dambawinna on being selected as one of the 15 winners of the Foyle Competition. This is a fantastic achievement given that there were 11,000 entries. Congratulations also for having been invited to take part in the “Contains Strong Language Festival” in a BBC broadcast from Hull that will be aired on National Poetry […]

The annual year 8 inter-form spelling bee was won by 8Y this year, with the individual competition trophy going to Isabel Miles in 8S. In a nail-biting tie-break, Isabel narrowly defeated runner-up Daniel Bryant of 8G. Her winning word was ‘verisimilitude’ – a truly tricky one! All of the students really got behind their teams […]

Chris Bradford was sorry he was unable to meet everyone at St Aidan’s on World Book Day. Anyone who requested a signed copy of his book will still receive the book – watch out for further details. Chris hopes to visit St Aidan’s in the future  

During April, the writer Helen Mort came into school for the day to run a number of workshops and talk to the Year 10s in the hall. Helen is a celebrated poet, a five-times winner of the Foyle Young Poets award; she has also received an Eric Gregory Award from The Society of Authors. Her first […]

Battle of the Books During Literacy Week Battle we took a team from  to the annual Literary Quiz for pupils in Years 9 and 10 from local schools competing for the Michael Rosen Trophy. The 2017 event was held at Roundhay School. . The quiz consists of six rounds of  literary questions, this year the rounds […]

St Aidan’s were delighted to have a very welcome visit from British Library CEO, Roly Keating last week. He spent the morning talking to pupils in Year 11 and Year 9 English classes as well as speaking with Sixth Form students taking Media Studies, History and Politics courses. Roly took over the top job at the British Library […]

Tuesday 1st March saw rock concert levels of excitement descend upon the main hall for the inaugural St Aidan’s Spelling Bee.

Our Year 8 pupils were entertained by visiting author Phil Earle who spoke about his career and the unusual places we can all find inspiration for our own writing. There were lots of laughs, as well as a few poignant moments and Phil (who readily admits to being a reluctant reader at their age) really motivated […]

Year 8 student Jessica Barry and Year 10 student Harry Fawcett have been chosen as the winners of the Raworths Young Writers’ Competition.

As part of their preparation for Year 13, a group of students went to Fountains Abbey to explore the gothic and pastoral genres as well as developing their writing skills.

At the end of June, sixteen members of the Associated Sixth From went to Tŷ Newydd, the National Writing Centre for Wales just outside the Cricieth