26 November 2025
Mr Robert Stott, Head of English
Last week, the English Department marked the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with a wonderfully immersive Austen Tea Party, bringing Georgian culture and literary history to life for our students. Forty enthusiastic students arrived equipped with their specially designed ‘Austen Passports’, which they completed through a series of themed activities, each one offering a window into the world that shaped one of Britain’s most beloved writers.
At the party, students explored the secret language of fans (a charming social code of the Georgian era) before learning about the formal rules of introduction that shaped interactions in Austen’s world. They also enjoyed crafting their own decorative cameos, echoing a popular art form of the period.
The celebrations continued the following day with a thought-provoking lecture from Dr Klinge, who explored the extent to which Austen might be considered a radical firebrand. His session offered students a fresh critical perspective, enriching their understanding of Austen’s nuanced engagement with the society she depicted.
A warm thank-you goes to our dedicated Upper Sixth English Literature students, whose enthusiasm helped bring the activities to life, and to all staff and students who contributed to such a memorable two-day celebration. Jane would be proud!