What are the ways you are protecting yourself and your family

tress is a significant factor in a ____student's life, especially when it comes to exams. Some say that this stress helps students become aware of their responsibilities - but it is not always healthy to be under a lot of pressure. We asked some students about the stress they face and how it contrasts with their experience in primary school. S

Here was the question asked: What kind of stress do you experience due to exams and how do you think you could change that? What can you do to lessen the stress-inducing workload of revision?

“The pressure I face primarily comes from me. I could decrease the stress by finding more resources beforehand, or using the ones already given to me. I also think that students should start revising a few weeks before the assessment week, instead of just one week beforehand.” - Sophia Pereira, 8B

“The stress I go through before an exam is mainly because of my performance in previous Assessment Weeks. The reason for this is the fact that I might have received extremely positive results during the assessment week prior, however, there is always the worry of wanting to perform just as well - or even better - in all exams in the future.” - Saif Tareen, 7B

1. Make sure to slot your revision in at different times of the day, and break it down!

2. Do not revise in huge portions. Make sure to take breaks to help relax the mind, as well as helping to recall important information.

3. Find innovative and creative ways to plan your revision! Do not just stick to normal notes; use flashcards, past exam papers, etc.

4. Organise your workspace efficiently, and if you do not already have a workspace - find one! Extra clutter on a desk will not help your revision progress at all.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone learns differently. Unintentionally overwhelming yourself with different revision strategies and subjects is one of the worst things you can do. Exams are important - however, it is also important to remember to take a break and step back to relax your mind. In the end, relaxation does help with your memory, which is always something to rely on in exams.

The English Language IGCSE 2020: By Lisa Menezes A Triumph!

The English Language GCSE was the first of many, taking place in January this year. The students had spent weeks on end prepping for this exam, submitting extra essays and re-reading and re-annotating texts mercilessly in hopes to achieve the best grade they could. The beloved English teachers - Ms. Ridley, Mrs. King, Ms. Mason, Mrs. Wood - had also worked relentlessly to mark mounds of essays and prepare resources for their classes, all building up to this one moment. At the time it all felt like a surge of adrenaline and fear - what if I do not do as well as I am expected to? What if I missed a comma in my 45- mark transactional writing? What if?

All these fleeting emotions and doubts were replaced with pure joy and excitement when, on the 5th March 2020, the GCSE class of 2020 received the best English Language results the school has had yet.

One hundred percent of students achieved between a grade A-B whilst seventy- four percent achieved between a grade A*- A, excelling past the previous years’ students and even exceeding past the students’ own expectations! The work put in had clearly paid off and there were many tears of triumph as the students received their results from their teachers. Despite all the trials and tribulations the students had faced before and during the English exam, the results have been exceptional, thus keeping morale high and paving a path to success for the upcoming GCSEs in May and June. The students’ notable performance this year not only showcases their capability, but their drive and skills to perform just as well in their proceeding exams. There is undoubtedly a bright future ahead.

“When I'm stressed, it's usually because I'm struggling to remember my revision notes. However, I normally fix this by revising substantially in the day and separating my study sessions into different slots.” - Dyala Abou-El Naja, 8B

As a final note, thank you to all the English teachers for supporting the students and for the students themselves, who put in the hard work to achieve these phenomenal results - Congratulations to the GCSE class of 2020!