A mix of emotions lingers in the air as the tension builds – arguably the most important part of school life is rapidly approaching for our Year 11 pupils. Revision is essential to develop memory skills and confidence in preparation for their GCSEs. To help with this, Year 11s now have two independent study enrichments each week until Christmas. After the Christmas break, all enrichment sessions will focus entirely on revision to help everyone feel as ready as possible.
We decided to find out how our pupils are feeling about their GCSEs, what subjects they’ve chosen, and what plans they have for the future.
When asked how they’re feeling about their upcoming GCSEs, one pupil said they felt quite nervous, but also excited and prepared since they’ve spent three years building up to this moment. Another said they know they’ll need to revise a lot to reach – or hopefully even exceed – their target grades but were feeling hopeful and up to the challenge.
Some pupils said they feel confident about doing well, while others admitted they might need a bit of extra support and revision time. A few told us that Maths is the subject they feel most positive about after doing well in their mocks, but many agreed that Science might be the hardest test because of how many different topics there are to remember!
When we spoke to Jess and Polly in Year 11, they said they’re “nervous but have enough time to prepare.” Both chose Art, PE, and Spanish for their GCSEs and plan to take A-levels after leaving school, with hopes of pursuing sports in the future.
Nathan and Seb, also in Year 11, said that while GCSEs are “unavoidable,” they’re still excited for them. They’re studying Triple Science, Geography, and PE, and both hope to become aerodynamicists one day.
In Year 10, Ryan and Harvey told us that things already feel “more serious” this year as they begin their GCSE content. Harvey chose Drama and Computer Science, while Ryan picked Media Studies and Drama. They admitted they feel a bit worried about what’s ahead, but they’re determined to keep trying their best. We know they can do it!
When we asked what the highlight of school life has been so far, pupils mentioned drama performances, activity week, and the friends they’ve made over the years. Others said they’ve really enjoyed seeing how much they’ve learned since joining the school.
Some pupils said being at the top of the school feels exciting — they’re proud to be role models and are looking forward to celebrating after their GCSEs. Others said they’ll feel relieved once GCSEs are over, as exams can be stressful and take a lot of energy.
When asked which teachers they’ll miss the most, one pupil said, “Miss Horton, because she’s a good science teacher. I really enjoy her teaching style – she’s thoughtful and cares about how we do on our tests and mocks.”
Although there’s a mixture of nerves and excitement, one thing’s clear – our Year 10 and 11 pupils are working incredibly hard to prepare for their exams, and the whole school is cheering them on.
Good luck to all the GCSE pupils this year – you’ve got this!
By Eleanor K, Zack F, Oliver R-H, Jack C, Mason B, Junior K and Rhys D