In the first of a new series of blogs written to help you make the jump from GCSE to A-Level, Y13 student Princess Emeanuwa talks about the importance of knowing what you need to improve, and how LAE helped her do this.

Dear Year 11,

The transition from Year 11 to Year 12 is many things: bittersweet, hard work, exciting and above all, so rewarding. Trust me, by the end of Y12 you will change in many great ways, not just academically but as an individual. But, to finish well you must start as you mean to go on, taking every opportunity you can, from your teachers, friends and loved ones to get there.

Covid-19 has changed a lot for you, including your GCSEs and you may feel that all the effort you put in is for nothing, but it’s not. Exams may be cancelled but your future isn’t, and LAE, a place you’ve worked hard to get to, will encourage you academically and personally.

A key thing I wish I had known before starting Y12, or any new chapter of life, is that you must be honest about your weakness and fears in order to make real progress. Once you better understand your weaknesses, you can seek and accept the best guidance from the right people. When I started to do this in Y12, I was able to identify the support I needed from staff to improve my skills across all my subjects and boost my confidence in Y13.

The teachers at LAE want you to achieve the best grades that you possibly can and deliver a variety of revision/skills sessions to support you. For example, you can attend a drop-in session for your subject, where you get one-on-one help from a teacher in the department. There are also small group interventions which aim to fine-tune your exam and revision techniques. And there are many opportunities to visit a teacher after lessons to get help with something you find difficult- or even ask for challenge questions.

The staff at LAE also truly want you to develop in other areas of your life by facilitating a variety of extracurricular sessions and clubs that you can join (or even create your own) to explore your interests.

Also, staff provide so many games and fitness activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle and there are counselling and safeguarding services in place to prioritise our mental health.  Plus, there are various opportunities at LAE to improve your public speaking and leadership skills, including joining networks, the school council or becoming a prefect.

You could also perform in front of an audience, singing, playing an instrument, or acting just to name a few. So, no matter how you feel with your skills during the pandemic, LAE will challenge you and help you to grow academically and creatively.