Latest News
GCSE case studies
Posted: 3rd September 2020After a six-month break from education, Ronnie Joscelyne is looking forward to getting back to school – and work.
He is looking to start an apprenticeship in quantity surveying, having collected one grade 8, four grade 7 and four grade 6 in his GCSEs from Royal Docks Academy.
He said: “I am very happy with my results.
“Having been told about colleges and apprenticeships at school and speaking to my family, I decided to go for an apprenticeship. Jobs are hard to come by even when you have been to uni as some employers are looking for experience over education. So, doing an apprenticeship will give me the experience I need, while learning at the same time.
“Construction is interesting to me and is something I would enjoy.
“I will be doing two days a week at college and the rest of the time out in the field working. I can’t wait to start.”
Having joined secondary school nervous of education, Seun Ogunbanjo is proud to have picked up top grades in his GCSEs.
The teenager collected one grade 9, five grade 8 and four grade 7 this summer from Royal Docks Academy.
The results mean he has achieved a Progress measure of 3.3, meaning he has improved on the outcomes he would have achieved if he had continued at the level he was when joining secondary school.
He is now going to study economics, history, philosophy and English literature at NCS (Newham Collegiate Sixth Form)
He said: “I feel really good about my results and happy that I am able to go on to do the things I like. Over the last six months, I’ve had time to think about what I am going to do and to prepare for college, so I know what to expect.
“I have made a lot of progress at Royal Docks. I was not the best when I joined as I had not done that great at primary school. I was nervous about joining, but the teachers helped me and made sure I understood my subjects better.
“We had to go to school on Saturdays which was helpful. It allowed me to do my homework and to prepare for the exams we were going to take.”
Arriving in London just a year ago has not stopped Milena Velea from securing six grade 9 in her GCSEs – including top grades in English.
The student from Royal Docks Academy moved with her family from the Republic of Moldova.
She collected six grade 9, three grade 8 and three grade 7 in her GCSEs and will study maths, further maths, French and economics at Brampton Manor Academy Sixth Form.
In the six-month enforced break from school, she has read 60 books.
She said: “I used to read a lot, but had stopped to prepare for my GCSEs. During these last six months, I have returned to reading as something to help me along. It was a bit of escapism, but I now have books focusing on my college courses on my reading list.
“I was born and raised in Moldova, but had studied English before moving to London. It improved a lot when I started at Royal Docks. I met friends who were kind and understood me and my teachers were really helpful and checked to make sure I was understanding my lessons.
“I achieved my high grades due to my studying method. I looked at papers from previous grade 9 students and used resources aimed at higher grades; there’s a difference between a textbook aimed at a grade 5 and one aimed at a grade 7, for example. They helped to push me further.”
