It is always a thrill when a piece of classic literature truly clicks with a class, but what is happening right now with E31 Explorer in English is on a completely different level. We have recently dived into William Golding’s masterpiece, Lord of the Flies, and to say that this group of students is getting into the text would be a massive understatement.

From the moment we crash-landed on the island in chapter one, E31 Explorer has brought an incredible level of maturity, curiosity, and deep thinking to our reading sessions. The discussions we’ve been having are phenomenal, proving just how insightful, articulate, and truly great this group of students is… But the absolute highlight of our lessons has to be how E31 has pulled one of the most iconic symbols from the novel right out of the book and into our classroom culture: the conch.

Just like Ralph and Piggy use the white conch shell on the island to establish order and ensure everyone gets a fair chance to be heard, E31 has adopted this exact system for our class. The rule is simple, pulled straight from Golding’s pages. It has completely elevated our reading, discussions and debates, making sure every single voice in E31 Explorer is valued and heard without interruption.

I could not be more proud of how E31 Explorer is navigating this challenging, intense novel. I can’t wait to see how they react as the tension on the island builds in the final chapters. Keep holding the conch high, E31!

Miss Buckley, English Specialist and Expeditionary Teacher