Our Year 12 English Literature students recently attended the flagship GDST English Symposium at Wimbledon High School on 4th June. It was an immensely enriching and inspirational day designed to showcase academic excellence, foster networking across the GDST trust, and provide university-level intellectual challenges.
Beyond its academic rigor, the day served as a powerful reminder of what English has to offer as a truly interdisciplinary subject – one that top universities highly respect and one that beautifully balances and enhances the study of STEM subjects by mastering the power of the written word.
The day kicked off with an opening address and two brilliant keynote speeches from prestigious external speakers: Barbara Bleiman (The English and Media Centre) opened the symposium with a vital discussion on The Value of Literature, exploring why stories matter and how studying them shapes our understanding of the world. Later in the day, Professor John Mullan (University College London) delivered an engrossing afternoon lecture titled What is Gothic Fiction?, drawing on his deep expertise in 18th- and 19th-century literature to unpack the mechanics of terror, suspense, and literary atmosphere.
Our sixth formers threw themselves into the active workshop sessions and discussions. They were particularly captivated by Dr. Joe Jackson’s talk on Black writing and urban spaces, Dr. Elizabeth Scott-Baumann’s fascinating exploration of early modern women critics (“Shakespeare’s sisters”), and Tristan Daws’ cinematic look at global Shakespeare adaptations.
Following an inspiring student panel, the day ended on a wonderfully community-minded note with a lively book exchange, leaving everyone with fresh perspectives and new favourite reads for the summer.
Ms Cotton
Head of English
