Working from home blog #5

Brought to you by Jema Kinsman

To my wonderful Year 11s,

You probably don’t know this but I grew with you. I joined the school as a cover supervisor when you were baby-faced Year 7s and taught you during my teacher training when you were ‘those’ Year 8s. I kept those same classes through to Year 9 when I was newly qualified and you were just as colourful as you were the year before. We spent a year working hard (and laughing harder) and lots of you chose the subject at GCSE. Some of you ended up with me again in Year 10 and 11 – four whole years of History with Miss Kinsman. GCSEs were tough but you were tougher and, together, we made a great team. You are the first cohort of students I have seen the whole way through secondary school and that meant more to me than you will ever know.

When the news broke about the exams being cancelled I was angry and upset for you. I was bitter and felt you had been robbed of the opportunity to show the world just how amazing you are, but I was wrong. It doesn’t take an exam to show that because you show it every day, even in the most challenging of times. I saw you show compassion when you checked in on me after the news. You had lost your exams yet you cared enough to come and find me to ask how I was coping. You showed solidarity when you came together on the final day. It wasn’t the last day any of us wanted but you stayed strong and made the most of the hand that had been dealt to you. I watched you show optimism as you laughed and joked through those final days before the schools closed, even though the world as we knew it was flipped on its head. Despite all of the chaos we found ourselves in, you kept shining bright like the stars you are and you’re still shining now.

Please do not ask me about grades as you know I am not allowed to talk about them. However, ultimately, there is more to school than exams and there is so much more to all of you than marks and certificates. You are kind, hardworking, resilient and endlessly positive. You have proven this over and over again throughout your time at KC. These are just some of your many qualities which will make you ideal sixth form students or apprentices next year. One day, they could help you reach your full potential as amazing bosses, business owners, university students or anything else your brilliant minds dream up. These personal traits will stay with you for the rest of your lives and help you grow into the productive and phenomenal members of society I know you will be.

Dream big, work hard and stay humble. The world is yours for the taking Year 11.

Miss K