Theatre trips are a regular feature of life in the department. Recent performances we have seen include A View from the Bridge, The Homecoming, Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, Othello at the National Theatre, Orlando, and the NT Live screening of Vanya starring Andrew Scott. Pupils also attend the live poetry reading event Poetry Live.

Reading is an important part of the girls’ day, and there is an enthusiastic independent reading culture in the school. In addition to dedicated reading time in lessons, every girl has 15 minutes of reading time before bed, called ‘Little Lights’. There are two pupil-driven Reading Groups, one for younger girls, and another run by senior girls for the Sixth Form. The Library is well stocked with contemporary and classic fiction, and is open throughout the day, including on weekends.

The Debating Society meets regularly, and is open to girls in all year groups. The girls develop their skills by debating a new motion each week. The Society competes in friendly debates with other local schools each term. It enters four teams into the annual Oxford Schools Union Debating Competition, and one team into the ESU Mace competition.

Public Speaking takes place in both junior and senior formats. Teams compete in local public speaking competitions, as well as in the annual House competition.

The Creative Writing Club meets every week. Workshops are run by members of staff, and give the girls the opportunity to experiment with the writing of both prose and poetry, and share their work with each other. There is an annual Poetry Competition in Year 9 which all girls enter. Younger girls take part in annual poetry workshops with a visiting poet.

Journalism is a popular activity, and is run entirely by the girls. They write regularly for the school magazine and newsletter. They also produce a more substantial annual magazine called WHAT, which contains a mixture of news and feature journalism, and is sold for charity.