PSP English by Playful Scholarship Portfolio - Curriculum

PSP English

Playful Scholarship Portfolio - Curriculum

Only available to Students of Wimbledon High School GDST.

The study of language and literature is the study of the human condition: how we behave, think, feel. As such, in English we can expect to come across complex and exciting issues and themes. Through the written word, we can interrogate these concerns, search for ways of understanding and engaging with the world, and develop the language to speak about what affects us. In English we explore new ways of looking at the world, creating and enjoying texts which inspire us.

At Foundation PSP (Years 7–8), students are introduced to the core practices of literary study. Our expansive curriculum covers globally diverse writers and texts, with opportunities for independent research and exploration, such as the Year 7 Poetry and the Year 8 FictionFest projects. Students build core skills in close reading, annotation, and personal response, learning to identify writers’ methods and explore their effects. Structured writing tasks foster fluency in analytical essays, while creative writing encourages experimentation and originality. Presentations and discussions help students develop confidence and clarity in verbal expression.

In Pathways PSP (Years 9–11), students deepen their critical understanding, comparative analysis, and evaluation skills. Through texts ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries, alongside diverse anthologies of short stories and poems, students explore how literature reflects and challenges dominant ideologies around gender, race, class, and power. They learn to construct sustained arguments, and practise comparing texts, developing their own critical and creative voices, and nuanced responses to increasingly challenging material. Opportunities for independent projects include the Year 9 Investigation, and the Year 10 Spoken Language component.

At Advanced PSP (Years 12–13), students prepare for university-level study. Core texts such as Hamlet, Jane Eyre and Mrs Dalloway are studied alongside contemporary poetry, post-colonial fiction and 20th century drama. Students encounter a range of critical perspectives, including post-colonialism, feminism and Marxism, and interrogate texts within their contexts. Independent reading, extended essays, and seminar-style discussion teach students to formulate original arguments and engage with critical perspectives. Many pursue academic writing competitions or creative extensions of their reading.

Students can take part in super-curricular clubs, such as Inklings, LitSoc, or Literary Salon, where they extend and enrich their study of literature. Creative writers might join Troubadours, New Views or Young Reporters. There are also numerous creative writing and essay competitions.

This pathway ensures that students make progress from foundational literary literacy and self-expression to advanced textual analysis, theoretical engagement, and academic confidence — preparing them to navigate and contribute meaningfully to literary scholarship, cultural conversation, and the world beyond the classroom.