The Big Lecture 2025

Earlier this week Year 11 students took part in a ‘Big Lecture’ led by Mrs Phipps and Mrs Boorman of the English department. This was the first in the ‘Big Lecture Series’, which will deliver focussed revision strategies for each unit of the English Language and English Literature GCSEs throughout the remainder of the year. 

Romeo and Juliet was the text under review, and students were given techniques and practical strategies to help them with themes and characters as they start their revision ahead of their PPEs, and ultimately their summer exams next year.

Mrs Boorman, Head of English said: ‘Our 'Big Lecture Series' is a unique and significantly impactful offering from the English department in terms of exam and revision support. Students leave these sessions with personal revision priorities, supporting resources and most importantly a clear path through their English revision. Year 11 conducted themselves excellently on Monday and we look forward to hosting this event for them again before their exams.’

Students have been directed to department resources for revision, and  specific websites that are recommend by the English Department, including Massolit  to which the school subscribes, but were also given printed resources to take away with them. Students were also warned about the perils of AI providing incorrect information, so were encouraged only to used school-recommended sources.

Following this first session we received some incredibly encouraging feedback from a student survey issue. there was an overwhelming positive response with many students saying that they felt confident to know where to start their  Romeo and Juliet revision. Below are just some of the fantastic responses received:

"It was very clearly delivered, and is useful to have the booklet to revise now."

"Found it useful having methods on summarising info and big ideas and how to link it all together."

"I found it useful, because the activities are easy to understand, and I believe that while they will be simple to complete they will help me build the foundations of the knowledge I will need in the exams. Also with the amount of activities in the booklet it will allow me to slowly build my knowledge hopefully helping my long term memory for the key information."

"I found the character boxes useful, it made sure I can really understand them and it made starting revision easier."

We would like to give a huge ‘thank you’ to the whole English team, who have spent many hours putting these resources together for our students and for supporting the students in the sessions.