Year 9 ACE Day - Dickens day

On Tuesday 30 January the Senior School and Sixth Form hosted an Academic Curriculum Enrichment (ACE) day. The day provides an opportunity to visit different exhibitions, places of interest, and to learn in different environments. Each year group embarked on an activity unique to their studies and year group.

The English department ran a workshop on Charles Dickens for students in Year 9. The girls enjoyed the chance to learn more about the famous writer's work and the background to some of his most memorable characters. Working in groups, the girls undertook some contextual research before exploring the plot of Great Expectations and its key themes.

This was followed by a trip to the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse to see Mike Newell's stunning film adaptation of the novel, which included standout performances from Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham and Holliday Grainger as Estella. The girls were gripped throughout and broke out into a spontaneous round of applause at the end! On their return to school work continued on a creative project, with each group focusing on one character from the story. There were some fantastically imaginative and original responses, including costume design, filmed versions of 'extra' scenes, an appearance of Miss Havisham on The Jeremy Kyle Show and even a song! The girls were really enthused and were left in no doubt that Dickens is an exciting writer who still has much to say to us today.