This semester, our Secondary English students have embraced a range of enriching opportunities that have extended their learning beyond the classroom.
The Literary Explorers class partnered with the Literature Centre’s Young Writers’ Workshops at the State Library of Western Australia, where students worked alongside Australian authors including Madison Godfrey and award-winning author Lili Wilkinson. Through workshops in poetry, prose and fiction writing, students explored self-expression, developed their creative writing skills and gained valuable insight into the world of professional writing and publication.
Students reflected on how the experience challenged and inspired them, with many leaving the workshops eager to continue writing. One student shared that the workshops reminded them that “writing and literature exist outside of school and essays“, while another reflected that “words have power, and simple stories can reach people and change lives.”
Our Year 12 ATAR English students also attended the Curtin University English Conference, participating in targeted lectures designed to support their preparation for the WACE English examination. Sessions focused on key syllabus areas, exam techniques and writing strategies, helping students refine their skills and build confidence ahead of their final assessments.
Students described the conference as both engaging and practical. One student commented, “The excursion was incredibly helpful and gave me new confidence in approaching my WACE English exams,” while another shared, “I learnt new ways to add more depth to my writing.” The creative non-fiction workshop was also a highlight, with one student saying, “I had never tried creative non-fiction before, but now I want to use it in my exams.“
Beyond the learning sessions, students enjoyed experiencing the Curtin University campus, with one reflecting, “It was exciting to experience what studying at uni might be like.“
These experiences have strengthened our students’ confidence as readers, writers and critical thinkers, while fostering a genuine passion for English and lifelong learning.
