Year Nine - Back to school after the pandemic

Year Nine saw our return to school after the pandemic. I was apprehensive at the beginning of the year as nobody was sure how school life would change, however I was always met with constant support and care from both staff as well as other students, who assured me that everyone was being kept as safe and healthy as possible. Everyone at Deyes helped us to catch up effectively with any gaps in knowledge that we had as a result of the pandemic. It was during Year Nine that we learned about JFK in History, which sparked my passion for the subject, and lead me to where I am today, after choosing to study the subject further at both GCSE and A-Level. The impact of the pandemic meant that things had to change, but we worked hard continue doing the things we were passionate about, like performing our annual Christmas Carol Concert virtually: meaning that we were able to spread joy and happiness to our families and wider community in a time of hardship.

Y​ear Eleven - My last year of lower school

In Year Eleven, lesson content and workload became more intense, however, my teachers always ensured that we understood the value of revision and at-home learning, and gave me the tools to maintain a healthy balance between my academic responsibilities and personal life. My passion for English Literature flourished in Year Eleven, as I became more confident in my ability to write analytically and critically, and this confirmed to me that I wanted to further my study of the subject. All my hard work throughout the year payed off, as in August I achieved a set of GCSE results that I was extremely proud of, and we got to celebrate the end of our high school journey with a fantastic prom at the end of the year, where we let our hair down and danced the night away!

C​ollege@Deyes - Preparing for university and a career in teaching

When it came to choosing the right place for the next step in my education, I had no doubt that i wanted to continue my academic journey at College@Deyes Sixth Form. I came to this decision because of the strong relationships I have formed with my peers, who have become some of my closest friends; as well as my teachers, whom I knew wanted me to achieve my full potential and would support me fully in making that happen. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sixth Form so far, and I have thrived under the style of teaching and studying that it offers. I have also loved the opportunity to study subjects I care for, and the staff have always encouraged my passion for my subjects. Throughout Sixth Form I have been given the opportunity to become a reading mentor for children in lower school, helping them to improve their literacy and fluency skills, and passing on my love of English and reading. I was also given the opportunity to visit Cambridge University, which gave a brilliant insight into Higher Education. I am excited to see what my final year at Deyes has in store, and I am hoping to continue on to University to study History and English Literature before getting my primary teaching qualification.