WRITING gothic tales, designing cushions and performing musical theatre are just a handful of exciting activities Yr 7 students at Marlwood School have enjoyed this week.


Nearly five weeks into their secondary school education, the students are well and truly settled in to their new environment.


Yr 7 students have been learning in a variety of ways over the past week, through their new timetables of subjects. `


In English classes, a gothic theme has seen students write letters to and from Dracula and creating their own stories with a quirky narrative.


Head of English and literacy at Marlwood Fiona Scott said the work based on the gothic genre has been introduced as a way of raising the challenge for the students.


“Students read a number of pre-1914 gothic texts, including 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula' and complete an assessment at half term where they analyse an extract from one of these texts,” she said.


“By doing this, we are preparing them for the skills they will need for the new English GCSEs where the challenge has been raised in terms of a 'pass' grade.


“We look at film extracts that are appropriate to their age group and are very careful that what we teach is not too scary. 


“This extended unit teaches a number of key skills such as analysis, writing for information and to entertain and how to persuade an audience.”


Student Lottie Parsons, 11, said: “I’ve liked writing in the gothic theme as we are doing it in gothic settings and watching some clips from Woman in Black.”


In other classrooms, students have been designing and making their own cushions and pen holders which they will soon be able to use.


Students are also being encouraged to work together in groups in music lessons, where they are writing songs and exploring rhythms, and also preparing for the school’s musical performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.


Eleven-year-old Faustina Smuilinskaite is looking forward to performing on the stage.


She said: “Drama is one of my favourite subjects and I love rehearsing for the play which is all in song.”


Headteacher James Pope said the new Yr 7 students have settled in extremely well.


“We’ve had some fantastic feedback from the newer students that they are enjoying their time here, which is great news,” he said.


“It’s been a really positive start to the school year. Because of our mixed-age tutor groups and school houses, the youngest students are also mixing with the oldest – our sixth formers.

“This means they get a sense of community and feel supported while allowing them to learn from the older students and get help with choosing subjects. It also creates some healthy competition and rivalry.


“We’ve already had some go back to their old primary schools with staff to talk about what the transition is like and share their experiences.


“The feedback has been amazing.”