The year 10 English students have been undertaking their exams this week. After studying the novel ‘Love Ghosts and Nose Hair’ by Steven Herrick, and watching the film ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ by Kate Woods, students were required to write a comparative essay about themes in the two texts. For some students, this is their first experience of being a formal examination, and also their first time writing this kind of essay under exam conditions. Prior to the exam, students had been learning about directorial techniques, and how they impact the audience’s interpretation of the film, whilst they were watching ‘Looking for Alibrandi’.