I'm proud of you - My open letter to my year 11 students

To my students that are about to sit their GCSE's,

I wanted to write to you all to let you know how proud of you all I am. I have taught some of you for just this last year and others for a few more years and I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all how very proud of you I am.

I know that it hasn't been easy taking on the new GCSE and the new grading system. I know that at times you sit in my lessons listening to me drone on about something abstract that I have been trying to teach you and I may have been talking double dutch as you haven't picked up on something that I said but I want you to know that all year I have been teaching you not only to be good at maths but skills in order to tackle problems that you may face in later life.

I have tried to make my classroom as friendly and relaxing as possible as I know this year you have been hearing lots of messages about working harder and planning revision sessions but I hope that you heard my message about spacing revision with time to switch off, relax and let your mind and body rest as I believe that you need to give yourself a chance to demonstrate how amazing you are.

I also want you to remember that life is more than your exams will ever assess you for. There is no test for friendship, loyalty or honesty. Your exams will be over in a couple of weeks and then you can enjoy your long holiday before whichever sixth form you have chosen to go to.

Life throws situations at you which you either tackle by yourself or get some advice from friends and family to help you along your path and I hope that we have helped you to develop these skills during the last few years at school.

At the start of this year, I took on the biggest group of year 11 students I have ever had. I have seen you all develop over the last year and I know some of you have really struggled with the pressures this year and I hope that I have helped you to manage the exam stresses so that you are as comfortable as possible in the run-up to exams.

Good luck with your exams, I wish you all every success in them and in the future and I am so very proud of you all.

Mr C