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The Department runs a lively and varied extra-curricular programme. Edinburgh is fortunate in its theatres and, because understanding of set-texts is always enhanced by watching a professional production, theatre-trips are popular. English teachers also play an active part in the School's dramatic and debating activities.
Our extra-curricular programme for Junior Boys includes visits by authors and poetry workshops.
We are keen to promote recreational reading throughout the School: our 'Bag-a Book' bookfairs furnish our pupils with regular opportunities to browse through a carefully-chosen selection of modern and classic fiction. We also supply books for the House Libraries, ensuring that pupils always have ready access to enjoyable and stimulating fiction.
The Department has been praised by HMI for the vibrancy of its reading culture which is well in advance of National Standards.
The Department administers four of the School's annual competitions:
The Peyrebrune Declamations, held in the Autumn Term, test the ability to recite a passage from memory; the Edwards Reading Prize examines the skills needed for expressive public reading. The Fiction Prize draws a large number of entries, as too does one of Merchiston's longest standing competitions, the Kingsley Darling Verse Prize.
Drama
Debating
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