English
King Edward VI School, Southampton (KES) has an outstanding reputation as one of the top cricket playing schools in the South.
Our Cricket Club has developed over a number of years producing some excellent teams and becoming one of the most respected cricketing programmes in the region. Since joining the school in 2018, Head of Cricket, Alex Penn has pioneered and championed the integration of girls into the already highly successful Cricket programme at KES. Enjoyment and equality are at the heart of every decision made and the school are putting out 14 girls teams matching the 14 boys teams put out each weekend. Facilities at KES are exceptional, resulting in KES being featured in The Cricketer Schools Guide of the top 100 Senior schools for cricket in the UK since 2019. In 2022,2023 and 2025 the U15 boys reached the Regional Finals Day of the Inspire Sport National 40 Over Cup, with the U14 boys and U15 girls in 2025 winning the County Cup the latter also coming second at the ECB U15 Girls Indoor Cricket Competition.
THE CRICKET PROGRAMME AT KES
- Quality cricket coaching throughout the year:
- A winter programme throughout the spring term delivered by Chris Wheeler (Hampshire CCC), and the School’s Head of Cricket, Alex Penn
- Throughout the Summer Term, all pupils can take part in several cricket sessions each week: one in Games, one after school, plus optional daily lunchtime sessions.
- Use of a Bola bowling machine with automatic feeder
- Entry into National competitions alongside a busy fixture card, playing a variety of formats
- A full and challenging set of Saturday inter school fixtures
- High quality grass cricket squares
- Excellent relationship with County Cricket Pathways, and Hampshire Cricket as their Education Partner for the past 6 years with a significant number of boys and girls progressing to academies and beyond in recent years
- Extensive pre-season and touring programmes with a tour to Sri Lanka planned for 2027
OE CRICKETERS
· Simon Francis (Somerset CCC)
· John Francis (Somerset CCC)
· Ian Brudswager (Hampshire CC and Southampton FC)
· Joe Weatherley (Hampshire Cricket, Southern Brave and England U19 Captain)
· Greg McKenzie (Hampshire Disability)
· Sanya Khurana (The Netherlands)
· Kamran Dhariwal (Gloucestershire CCC)
· Ben Mayes (Hampshire Cricket and England U19’s)
A number of our former and current students have represented counties at 2nd and 1st XI levels as well as junior pathways, academies and a number of international honours.
If you would like to follow the school’s fixtures in the Summer then below are the links below:
Play Cricket - King Edward VI School, Southampton
Live Stream - KES Sport | Cricket - YouTube
Year 7
In Year 7, students will study a range of texts and sources to develop understanding of:
- prose
- punctuation
- descriptive writing techniques
- comprehension
- research skills
- Shakespeare language basics
- Drama
- Non-fiction media
- poetry
Year 8
In Year 8, new texts and sources will be used to acquire the following skills:
- narrative writing
- deduction
- writing skills
- text analysis
- context
- drama
- essay writing
- character analysis
- persuasive writing
- speaking and listening techniques
Year 9
In Year 9, students will develop their understanding of Shakespearian language, through the study of Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. Students ability to analyse and compare texts will play a bigger role, specifically looking at different forms of poetry and non-fiction texts.
Year 10
In the Year 10 and Year 11 at King Edward’s, students will be studying the AQA and CIE specification for GCSE English. To prepare for examinations, students will study a range of texts.
Year 11
In Year 10 and Year 11 at King Edward’s, students will be studying the AQA and CIE specification for GCSE English. To prepare for examinations, students will study a range of texts.
Enrichment Opportunities
Clubs and Societies
The English Department works closely with library staff to ensure English students have the chance to make regular use of the school’s excellent libraries. All Year 7 students have a library induction and all Lower School students have fortnightly lessons in the Gould Library as part of their English course.
A number of societies across the school offer the pupils the opportunity to develop their communication skills further and deepen their understanding of literature, including the Debating Society and Upper School LitSoc. The following clubs and societies are available to Senior School students:
- Creative Writing - Chance to write and discuss all aspects of creative writing and composing (Upper School & Sixth Form)
- Debating Society - Debating on a variety of subject weekly (all years)
- Upper School LitSoc - Presentations, competitions and lectures to explore aspects of literature in greater depth (Upper School)
- Booker Prize Challenge - Presentations, competitions and lectures to explore aspects of literature in greater depth (Year 11 and Sixth Form)
- IGCSE Clinics - These take place in the Spring Term on different sections of the papers (Year 11)
- School Magazine
Meet The Staff
If you have a specific question for the English Department, please use AJSchofield@kes.school.
| Dr A.J. Schofield BA, MA, PhD | Head of English |
| Mrs H.K. Arnold MA | Teacher of English |
| Mrs S.Evans BA | Teacher of English | Head of Year (Upper School) |
| Mrs J.L. Gunton BA | Teacher of English |
| Ms C.E. Pyne BA, MA | Teacher of English |
| Ms E.B. Rawson BA, MA | Teacher of English |
| Ms L. Dara BA | Teacher of English |
| Mr W. Collinson BA MPhil | Teacher of English | Deputy Head (Pastoral) |
