In the dark of the Jamieson Building Lecture Theatre, twenty-five Year 7 students jump out of their skins as the corpse of a shark attack victim floats across screen in Spielberg’s classic nautical nightmare, Jaws. A couple of weeks later, the same students are enchanted as Johnny Depp’s naive Edward Scissorhands encounters a weird new world.

Since its inception in Spring 2011, Film Club has been a massive success. Students have been invited to engage with great films from cinematic history, rather than the latest summer blockbuster. Furthermore, the engagement lasts longer than the length of the picture; students are required to become mini Mark Kermodes, uploading their own film reviews to the Film Club website.

The club is also opening up new and exciting experiences to the students - in late June, for example, members will be attending an advanced screening of Ridley Scott’s Life in a Day, a whole month before it opens in cinemas.

And, following cinematic tradition, expect Film Club II and Film Club III later this year as further clubs are opened at Alsop for KS4 and KS5 students!

Miss Stewart and Mr Newland