Students at the Bryn y Deryn Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Cardiff are among the hundreds of young people who will find out the results of their exams within the next two weeks.
At the PRU, they work hard to ensure that young people who had previously dropped out of school leave with the certificates they need to continue their education or find work and are prepared to do so.
Exams, in contrast to those at other schools, are administered not in a large hall but rather in classrooms with small groups, and pupils are given additional assistance.
On August 24th, students will get their GCSE results.
Prior to that, the results of the A-levels and other vocational credentials will be made public.
Cannabis use has been linked to a rise in the number of students being excluded from school.
Warning of a staffing issue due to increased demands placed on teachers
A guide to the examination outcomes for GCSEs, BTEC Level 2s, and National 5s
We went to Bryn y Deryn in June, on the day of a mathematics GCSE test, when the majority of the students in the PRU for 14- to 16-year-olds were participating in the exam.
Mason, who is 15 years old and took the test a year early so he could get some practice in before the summer of 2019, said, “I’m satisfied with myself. I did my best; that’s all I can do.”
“We start early in Year 10 and then can build up our confidence in examinations, and then in Year 11, we can just bang them out and get them done—it’s just so much simpler.” “We start early in Year 10 and then build up our confidence in exams.”
Megan’s expected grades have improved from failing to earning a B or a C since she started working with the team.
After what he characterizes as “continuous foolish behavior” at his old school, he found himself transferred to Bryn y Deryn at the beginning of this academic year. However, things have gotten better around here.
“I feel like I can act myself. I can ask for assistance when I need it, and if I’m ever struggling or need anything, I know I’m more than welcome to ask the instructors, and they’re always there to help.” “I feel like I can be myself. I can ask for help when I need it.
“I want to bring my grades up, but more than that, I simply want to be happy, continue going to school, and go on with what I’m doing now.”
Students who have left traditional schools because they were excluded or were in danger of being excluded are provided help by this section.
Young people who have not been attending school because of worry or other reasons related to their emotional or mental health make up the other fifty percent of the site’s total enrollment of ninety.
According to Hannah Smith, who is both the examinations coordinator and the deputy head of the school, test days demand an enormous amount of teamwork from the staff.
Megan, who is now 16 years old, is coming to the end of her time at Bryn y Deryn, which she described as having been “better for my anxiety and managing in general at school.”
“In my previous school, I have projected Fs and other things, but now I’m predicting Cs and Bs,” the student said. “It’s helped me develop a lot in my schooling because of this.”
After taking the mathematics exams, the conclusion was that “it went all right—it was a little challenging, but I managed to accomplish it.”
She went on to say, “Hopefully, I’ll get that higher grade than the one I received before.”
Because almost all of the students in the group need additional preparation for their tests, managing their schedules requires significant effort. Some people are given more time to complete the exam, while others are given the assistance of a reader who will clarify anything on the test that they do not understand.
At her previous school, Lishamarie said that she “got everything wrong,” but at her current school, she “gets part of it correctly and some of it wrong.”
Hannah Smith, who is in charge of coordinating examinations and serves as deputy head, said that “today is a really important test.” The examination will take place in every single room in the school, and each and every adult student will be required to participate in some capacity.
“Everyone’s involved—it’s a great deal of teamwork on the part of the staff,” she said, “and it’s crucial that we encourage the learners to achieve the best outcomes they can get.” “Everyone’s involved; it’s a huge amount of collaboration on the part of the staff.”
Even if just some of the students show up to school for their tests, this might be considered a little triumph. In preparation for the mathematics test, staff members are stationed at the school’s entrance gates to greet students and welcome them into the behavior portion of the school. Some students need support to enter the building.
According to the head teacher, Fiona Simpson, pupils are entered for examinations many times during the course of the two years to help them acquire examination abilities.
One of the students took some time to compose himself before beginning the paper by jumping on the trampoline that was located in the playground.
Lishamarie, who was in the tenth grade and 15 years old, described her emotions as “nervous yet enthusiastic.” She said, “I adore mathematics; I truly love it.”
If she is having trouble reading anything in the paper, she might inquire for assistance from the members of the staff.
She said, “I’m receiving more help here than I had at my prior school,” and that is exactly what is happening. “I’ve never been happy. She continued with a grin as she said, “At my former school, I got everything wrong, but here I get part of it correctly and some of it wrong.”
One of the teachers recommends that all of the students take GCSE painting since it has a relaxing effect.
It will be another year before she completes her GCSEs, so the grades she receives this summer will not be her last opportunity. She is hoping for grades of C and better but says that she would be satisfied with anything higher than an E.
According to Kath Miles, an instructor of both art and design, all students take the GCSE art course because of the “therapeutic” and “calming” impact it has on people. It is not necessary or important whether or not they are qualified or whether or not they can paint or sketch.
Art is “not necessarily about the certification and whether they can paint or draw,” according to Kath Miles, an art and design educator. “Art is not necessary for the qualification,”
Fiona Simpson, a headteacher, emphasized the need to develop one’s self-assurance as well as one’s social skills in addition to obtaining “the greatest number of degrees.”
During the course of the two years, learners will have many opportunities to take tests.
“Because sitting for your most critical examinations on the same day, in the same week, all throughout the country isn’t going to work for everyone,” the instructor said. “Because there are so many different time zones.”