This week, Year 10 English students have started to study ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley. Before accessing the play, students need to be able to evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of socialism and capitalism in order to explain why characters communicate certain viewpoints throughout the text.

Mr Latham’s class engaged in a physical simulation of both political systems: using currency (chocolate coins) to trade via the medium of ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ under varying amounts of government control and taxation (teacher led distribution of chocolate coins). As they had direct experience of each political system in a familiar context and environment, students were able to discuss which societal demographics would benefit from each system and then explain how these ideas were demonstrated through Priestley’s initial description of his characters.

All students in Year 10 have made an excellent start to their GCSE English Literature studies and have shown relentless engagement and enjoyment towards the new curriculum.