| Society: British Social Behaviour |
| How is the UK similar or different from your country? Students will explore British customs and social expectations, from queues, politeness, punctuality, and dress codes to the art of avoiding awkward questions. Through discussion and debate, they’ll develop confidence using English in social and cultural contexts. |
| Society: Digital Society – Big Brother is Watching You! |
| Sir Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, but with the rise of social media, smartphones, and online tracking comes growing concerns about scams, spam, hacking, and digital privacy. Students will examine how technology shapes modern life while developing critical thinking and communication skills in English. |
| Society: Education in Oxford |
| Students will compare access to education in the UK and around the world, from elite private schools to state education systems. They’ll also explore how Oxford’s collegiate university system has produced famous alumni such as Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Hugh Grant, and Rowan Atkinson. |
| Society: It’s Criminal |
| Are crime rates really as bad as the headlines suggest? This theme explores gang culture, sink estates, white- and blue-collar crime, and the unique quirks of the British legal system. Students will use English to discuss media representation, justice, and social responsibility. |
| Values: Human Rights |
| Students will investigate important global issues including racism, sexism, ageism, colonisation, and cultural imperialism. They’ll also explore online rights for children, women, and ethnic minorities while analysing the language of propaganda, persuasion, and activism. |
| Values: Moral vs. Business Ethics |
| This topic explores the relationship between business, morality, and society. Students will discuss issues such as environmental responsibility, pay-day loans, online gambling, tobacco, copyright, industrial espionage, and corporate ethics while practising persuasive communication and debate. |
| Values: Personal Values |
| Through discussion and reflection, students will examine ideas such as happiness, pride, achievement, tolerance, and the meaning of “live and let live.” They’ll explore how personal values shape decisions, relationships, and society as a whole. |
| Customs: Multicultural Britain |
| Students will explore Britain’s ethnic diversity and how customs from around the world have become part of British culture. Topics include the legacy of the British Empire and celebrations such as the Notting Hill Carnival, highlighting the richness of multicultural life in the UK. |
| Customs: Freedom from Oppression |
| From Guy Fawkes to modern protest movements, students will investigate ideas of freedom, authority, and political power. Discussions will include dictatorship, monarchy, oligarchy, and the influence of famous speakers such as Churchill, JFK, Obama, and Mandela. |
| Customs: Remembrance |
| Students will learn about remembrance traditions in Britain, including the symbolism of red and white poppies and the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The theme also explores war-themed art, literature, poetry, and ideas of conflict, peace, and reconciliation. |
| Oxford Literature & Film/TV Adaptations |
| Explore the rich literary and cinematic traditions connected to Oxford, from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia to Alice in Wonderland, His Dark Materials, and detective series such as Inspector Morse and Lewis. Students will discuss storytelling across books, film, and television. |
| Traditions: Culture and Language |
| This theme examines colonialism, the rise of English as a global language, and the influence of UK and US culture around the world. Students will also discuss the challenges facing endangered minority languages and the relationship between language, identity, and power. |
| Traditions: Christmas is Coming! |
| Students will discover how figures such as Charles Dickens and Prince Albert helped shape the modern Christmas celebration. They’ll also explore traditions including Santa Lucia, Sinterklaas, Saturnalia, Yule, wassailing, mistletoe, holly, ivy, wreaths, and candles, tracing how ancient customs still influence the festive season today. |
| Traditions: Seasonal Food and Drink |
| Why do festive foods hold such an important place in holiday traditions? Students will explore Christmas cakes, puddings, gingerbread, stollen, panettone, turkey dinners, sprouts, and mulled drinks while discussing how food and celebration connect cultures and communities around the world. |