Our English students have been treated to a number of special visits from industry professionals. Below is a summary of what they have been up to!

Dystopian talk – Prof John Mullan

Professor John Mullan, Head of the English Department at University College London, delivered an engaging and thought-provoking lecture to first-year English Language and Literature and English Literature students on the origins of dystopian literature, in connection to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Professor Mullan regularly contributes to Radio 4 cultural programmes and to The Guardian newspaper. His insight and passion for literature inspired many of our students to explore the genre further in their own reading and was a great introduction to university teaching. 

Podcast Tour

On Friday 20th June, we were delighted to welcome Jimmy Ewing, Lecturer for BA TV and Radio at the University of Salford’s Media City UK Campus, along with two of his students, as part of their national college podcast tour. Our students had the exciting opportunity to take part in podcast interviews, demonstrating confidence and professionalism—interviewing a variety of guests and even a member of college staff! Jimmy and his students will now edit the recordings, and we can’t wait to hear the finished episode when it’s released. A fantastic opportunity and brilliant experience for all involved!  

Elise Davies – speech and language therapist

Elise Davies, NHS Speech and Language Therapist at Frimley Park Hospital, delivered an informative and interesting talk on the work of SLTs in a variety of settings, from A&E to the courtroom, to schools. Elise's talk about the different routes into speech and language therapy prompted a range of questions from students and possibly inspired some future SLTs! Elise also gave some very helpful advice about various work experience and volunteering opportunities to prepare students for a future career in allied health professions.

Refugee Awareness Week – Simon Barraclough

As part of ‘Refugee Awareness Week’, our Year 12 English Language and Literature students were joined by visiting Year 10 pupils from Tomlinscote School for a powerful poetry workshop led by the poet Simon Barraclough, who has taught at The Poetry School and was writer in residence at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory. His debut collection ‘Los Alamos Mon Amour’ (Salt 2008) was a Forward First Collection finalist. Drawing on his extensive experience as a writer, performer and educator, he guided students through close readings and creative responses to poems by W. H. Auden and Ilya Kaminsky, whose works grapple with themes of displacement, conflict, and the human cost of political upheaval. Students then composed their own pieces inspired by these texts, with many producing moving and original responses. You can read their poems here.