BBC Production Co-Ordinator Apprentice Scheme - PLACEMENT #1

It may seem like I’ve completely abandoned my blog recently, and whilst this is slightly true, I’ve had a complete whirlwind six months that have distracted me, and fairly so!

Having spent night-after-night writing and tweaking my answers, I eventually clicked ‘Submit’, sending an application to the BBC for a place on the BBC Production Apprenticeship scheme.

After a long summer of waiting, an email shocked through my inbox inviting me to an interview at BBC Elstree. Having met so many talented and passionate people, I was beginning to doubt my chances but was grateful for the interview experience I attained.

Just a few weeks later, I was contacted inviting me to attend a second interview, but this time for a different scheme. My love of organisation and planning must have come through to the assessors, who recommended I apply for the BBC Production Co-Ordinator Apprenticeship instead.

“Would you be able to come to Broadcasting House on Thursday 15th August?”

“Sure, of course, thank you!” I immediately responded. Just seconds later, I began to question why this date seemed so familiar in my mind; of course, it was my A Level Results day. If one day wasn’t already stressful enough, I now had the added pressure of the most important meeting in my life so far.

BBC Broadcasting House

Less than a week after my second interview, I received a call offering me a place on the Production Co-Ordinator scheme. Shock, nerves and excitement thundered through me as I looked forward to the 30th September and the all-important first day.

Having already met some of my fellow apprentices at our interview, I felt at ease as soon as I saw a handful of familiar faces in the room. Quickly I began to mingle and meet all of my fellow apprentices. It wasn’t long before we were all smiling, laughing and on our way to the pub after work! Many friendships begun on that day and I know that I’ll hold them dear for a very long time.

Upon entering the BBC Academy at Elstree, I have always felt hugely welcome and supported by the amazing team that run the apprenticeships and training schemes. My scheme manager, Maddy, and scheme co-ordinator, Darren, have been incredibly supportive from Day 1, firstly for giving me this opportunity having read my application and interviewed me, as well as their ongoing help and support 24/7 during our training and whilst out on our industry placements. Having started this scheme fresh out of secondary school, I really do have Gilly and Martina, our scheme assessors, a lot to thank for due to the incredibly useful and insightful training they gave us to prepare for our placements in the TV and radio industries; I’m not quite sure what I would have done without it. The organisation that the whole team have put into planning every finite detail of our apprenticeship, from co-ordinating our training, finding our placements and assessing our evidence and coursework, has been fantastic and one of the countless reasons why I would recommend this opportunity to anybody with an interest in working in the media.

I’m now coming to the end of my first placement and the 3 months have completely shot by; but time flies when you’re having fun. BBC Music Television was an ideal first placement for me and I’ve had the opportunity to work on some incredible shows that I’ve grown up watching. Top of the Pops and Jools Holland’s Hootenanny are iconic British TV shows that I feel very fortunate to have worked as a runner on. The experiences I had in December at these two programmes were made by the very intelligent, organised and talented colleagues around me, as well as by the guests and presenters I was responsible for looking after. They say that you should never meet your idols but I’ve certainly met some of mine in the past three months and will cherish the memories of meeting such genuinely lovely and interesting people.

Jools Holland Hootenanny

Another highlight from my time at my first placement was achieving my first broadcast credit as a Production Team Assistant on Sir John Tavener Remembered, a documentary shown on BBC4 on New Year’s Eve. There’s no greater buzz than seeing in the New Year celebrating the hard work you put into a programme.

One of the reasons I have loved BBC Music Television is the variety of roles I’ve been able to take on. As a Departmental Production Management Assistant, I’ve been very fortunate to have a role that oversees the whole department with the opportunity to work on all sorts of productions and projects. From BBC Learning, to Classical Music documentaries, Entertainment Music documentaries and larger Popular Music shows, my experience here has always been diverse, interesting and full of different challenges and opportunities to learn.

The iconic Top of the Pops sign

My colleagues here have always been supportive, helpful and willing to teach me and give me opportunities to learn and develop myself and I can’t thank them enough. I’ll be keeping in touch with many people here and will miss them when I’m gone.

But the adventure must continue – but where will I go next? My second placement is nearly here but still TBC. Watch this space!

Lawson: "It's been a mental year and it's gonna finish with a bang" - Looking ahead to V Festival 2013

The excitement and anticipation for this summer’s V Festival is hotting up, with just days to go until the gates of Hylands Park and Weston Park open up to campers and spectators for a weekend of incredible live music.

But it’s not just the visitors who are counting down the days…

Adam Pitts, Andy Brown, Joel Peat and Ryan Fletcher, better known as hit boyband Lawson, have been telling me what they’re looking forward to about V Festival, and what fans can expect from their set.

Lawson are no strangers to the V Festival crowd, having played on the Arena Stage in 2012. But with a string of success following them over the past year, it’s no surprise that they’ve been chosen to open the festival on the 4Music stage on Saturday 17th August.

Their latest single ‘Brokenhearted’ featuring American rapper B.o.B is the group’s fourth track to reach the UK Top 10, following the success of ‘When She Was Mine’, ‘Taking Over Me’ and ‘Standing In The Dark’.

After four years together as a band, 2013 is definitely set to be their biggest year yet.

Adam, drummer of the band, said: “It’s been a mental year already and it’s gonna finish off with a bang.”
“We're off to American for a month or so, we have a new record coming out in October and then we're touring the UK and Ireland too.”

Lawson’s ‘Everywhere We Go’ tour will start in New York for a 9-date US run, before Adam returns with lead vocalist Andy, lead guitarist Joel and bass guitarist Ryan for a 15-date UK tour.

So it seems that V Festival is just the start of a busy few months for the group.

This is your second time performing at V Festival. Is it a date you look forward to on your calendar?

ANDY: As a band, performing live is our favourite thing to do. It's how we started and if we could do a gig every single day then we would.

JOEL: Festival shows are particularly important for us as they allow us to perform in front of a more diverse sort of crowd usually. People who might not necessarily know the band or particularly like the band – they're one of the best crowds for us to play in front of as it gives us a challenge to win them over!

What do you enjoy about festivals in comparison to your theatre and arena gigs? What makes a festival special?

RYAN: Rain or shine, festival crowds are always up for a good time. They're there for the whole day, usually getting pissed up, it always makes for a great audience.

ADAM: We love going to festivals as punters anyway so we love playing them ourselves now. We always make sure we go and check out some of the other bands playing when we can.

What other acts on the V Festival line-up are you hoping to see?

ANDY: We're all massive Kings of Leon fans and have seen them play a bunch of times, so we'll be checking them out again.

RYAN: We start our US tour the day after V Festival so we can't go too mad, but definitely a few beers and seeing the likes of Jason Mraz and Calvin Harris sounds like a good day.

What song on your set-list is your favourite perform?

ANDY: I'm really enjoying playing a lot of our new songs which will be on our new record. We're still learning them and getting them properly tight, but they're some good songs in my opinion.

RYAN: Standing In The Dark is my favourite. Always a great sing-a-long moment.

ADAM: Everywhere You Go is going down well at the minute. It wasn't a single for us, but it's the name of our forthcoming tour and we open the set on it.

What can the V Festival crowd expect from Lawson and your setlist this year?

ANDY: I think people of all ages and genders will enjoy a Lawson set. We rock things up a fair bit, but there's those moments you can jump up and down to and have a good time in there as well.

Do you have any tricks up your sleeves?

JOEL: We've been doing a cover of a big dance song lately so no doubt we'll pull that out of the bag again.

Do you have any pre-performance rituals?

ADAM: We all do different things. Andy spends ages steaming and warming up his voice. I normally bang random bits of furniture with my drumsticks.

RYAN: We listen to different songs to get us pumped – usually Kings Of Leon or The Script. Sometimes a bit of country music too.

What will be on your V Festival rider to prepare you for your performance?

JOEL: We once read somewhere we asked for plasma TV's and fresh clean underwear. The reality is we just ask for beer, cider and popcorn.

For updates on Lawson’s tour dates and upcoming releases, follow @LawsonOfficial on Twitter or visit Lawson's Official Site

V Festival Countdown!

There’s just two weeks to go until some of the biggest names in the music industry arrive in Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in Staffordshire for one of the best weekends of the summer.

Over 180,000 visitors will travel to Chelmsford to help celebrate V Festival’s 18^th birthday in style with the support of over 70 performers across four stages.

Line-Up

International Queen of Pop, Beyoncé, will join Tennessee rockers, Kings of Leon, to headline the festival on 17^th and 18^th August.

Beyoncé, who will perform in Chelmsford on Saturday night, will be making her only European festival appearance at the festival and her first UK festival appearance since headlining Glastonbury in 2011.

Kings of Leon are no strangers to the V Festival stage, having headlined the festival in 2010. With undeniable festival anthems in their back catalogue, including ‘Sex On Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’, the Followill brothers can always whip the crowd into a chorus.

Their sixth studio album titled ‘Mechanical Bull’ will be released at the end of September, so spectators can expect to hear many new tracks in their set, which will close V Festival in Chelmsford on Sunday night.

Beyoncé will be joined (on Saturday in Chelmsford and Sunday in Staffordshire) by Irish-trio The Script, ‘The Voice’ judge Jessie J and Liam Gallagher’s Beady Eye.

Joining Kings of Leon are V-Festival-veterans Stereophonics, Scottish-sweetheart Emeli Sandé and DJ Calvin Harris.

Other returning artists on the bill include Essex-boy Olly Murs, who will complete his hat-trick of performances at the festival in his home-county, as well as Labrinth, Ellie Goulding and Scouting For Girls. They will be joined by V Festival newcomers Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines and X Factor-winner James Arthur.

Chart-favourites Rita Ora, Little Mix and Fun will also be appearing over the August bank-holiday weekend.

Bob Angus, one of three of the festival’s directors, has recently explained the process behind booking acts.

“We look at what’s currently out there and popular with the general public and try to get them, it’s as simple as that’.

“We ask ourselves who’s the hottest, most popular act right now, and we go after them.”

Craig Hayward, 22 from Folkestone, agreed with this. Having attended V Festival for the past 4 years, amongst many other festivals, he said: “It’s the best all-round festival on offer in the UK, simply because you get a bit of everything.”

“They always have a really good variety of acts from different genres, which attracts a variety of different people, which produces a great atmosphere.”

Price

So what price can you expect to pay to see some of the world’s top artists?

Prices start at £89 for a day ticket, but you would have to save £160 for a weekend ticket or £185 for a camping ticket.

Iona Rawson, 17 from Chelmsford, says she ‘would be silly not to go to V’ but is still shocked at the increase in ticket prices.

“The price has risen dramatically due to the celebrities performing and tickets are now ludicrously just under £200 when they used to be just over £100, but this is a price I can realistically be expected to pay for all musical events.”

“This year I look at is as I’m paying more for the camping experience than I am V Festival itself. By day it is a family event but by night it is party central.”

Despite any appreciation for the nightlife or line-up at V, a recurring issue is the price. Tickets may have sold out, but have organisers narrowed their demographic with a steep price that excludes a younger generation, particularly of students, who struggle to pay for a ticket?

Krina Patel, 18 from Essex, said: “Beyoncé is by far the greatest act V has ever managed to secure. But, I was a fool to think that I could afford a weekend ticket. I don’t actually earn enough to cover the cost of a ticket and still have enough money for university.”

Nevertheless, V Festival continues to sell-out each year and if world-class artists like Beyoncé are consistently topping the bill, people will manage to find the money to pay for their ticket to the most electrifying and exciting weekend of the summer.

Effect on local residents

Aside from the price of a V Festival ticket, This Festival Feeling have investigated further to find out the true price V Festival has on Chelmsford, and even more locally, Writtle, the small village where Hylands Park can be found.

Local residents, Margaret and Don Smith, live just a 10 minute walk from the V Festival site and are fed up with the annual event.

“We live on a private road that is usually quiet. The festival causes a lot of youths to come down our road and we don’t like the anti-social behaviour that follows, particularly as a result of alcohol and also the litter that they leave.”

For business owners however, it’s a slightly different story.

Barry Long, Landlord of the Rose & Crown Pub in Writtle, said: “V Festival is good for our village. Our pub and the shops get really busy and it definitely boosts revenue if you’ve had a bad start to the year.”

Anne Martin, landlady of the Sir Evelyn Wood pub, just a one minute walk from the V Festival site, says that she has ‘never had a hint of trouble’ over the V Festival weekend.

Just a stone’s throw from the site, the pub is a popular destination for many festival go-ers, with many punters returning each year.

Mrs Martin, who has been running the pub for more than 14 years said: “V Festival is wonderful for us. There is always such a wonderful atmosphere. We see people returning year after year and it’s lovely.”

Nevertheless, living and working so close to the site of one of the country’s most popular festivals will inevitably have some drawbacks, particularly for Anne, with the closure of her road. After much inconvenience, Mrs Martin complained to Essex County Council and managed to attain several passes to show to the officers who stand at the top of her road to allow local taxi firms to access the pub.

In recent years, Anne has found the festival to be slightly more ‘self-contained’, with many visitors utilising the food and drink stalls in the park and campsite instead of returning for a drink in the pub.

“If you’re being inconvenienced you want to join in. If this continues we may not get the financial benefit that the chaos is worth.”

“Even so, I do always look forward to it.”

Despite many expectations, a Tesco superstore situated just a 10-minute walk from the V Festival site say that they only get ‘a little bit busy’, perhaps as a result of the festival’s self-contained nature described by Landlady, Mrs Martin.

The Tesco store’s Duty Manager Darryl John said: “We get a flood of people in the morning for food, water and alcohol and also to use the toilets, but it’s nothing massive.”

Is it worth it?

Whilst some local residents may find the festival a nuisance, it seems that for just two days in the year, the advantages heavily outweigh the disadvantages. V Festival benefits the area financially and in terms of reputation, helping to put Chelmsford ‘on the map’. 

Richard Branson’s Virgin team and the V Festival organisers provide residents of all ages with an exciting date in their calendar, enticing some of the world’s biggest stars to the newly-crowned city of Chelmsford, compensating for the short-term noise and traffic disruptions. 

A year on... Is Grimmy the just successor to Moyles?

“So, er, this is actually happening.”

Nick Grimshaw’s uneasy first words reflected the reluctance of the nation, who listened in anticipation on Monday 24th September 2012 to hear the voice of the next generation of the breakfast show.

The latest RAJAR listening figures, however, reveal that many of Chris Moyles’ older listeners may have not been as pleased with his replacement. From 6.73 million listeners when Moyles left the breakfast show, the 6:30-10am slot has faced a slight decrease to an average audience of 5.9 million.

It is considered that some devoted fans of ‘The Chris Moyles Show’ may have switched their allegiance to Radio 2. The station’s flagship morning show, fronted by Chris Evans, has swelled in support with almost one million extra listeners, allowing Radio 2 to extend their lead as the UK’s most popular breakfast radio programme.

Nevertheless, Grimmy’s introductory figures stand side-by-side with Moyles’, who started the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 2004 with 5.93 million listeners; just marginally higher that Mr Grimshaw.

So it’s not all doom-and-gloom for the 28-year-old from Manchester.

Ben Cooper, controller of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, will be particularly pleased with the effect Grimmy has had upon introducing nearly a quarter of a million extra listeners in the 15-24 age bracket within his first three months as the breakfast show host. A recent BBC trust document had outlined Radio 1’s need to lower the station’s audience age profile, which the placement of Grimshaw has certainly accomplished.

Research has found that over the past five years radio listening among 15-24 year-olds has fallen by 16.9%, with Grimshaw’s dramatic spike in listeners from this age category proving to be a meaner feat than originally considered.

In a world where radio is no longer the only source of new music, teenagers tend to turn to online sources to access the music they want, but Grimshaw’s chat, funny features and celebrity guests appear to have enticed listeners ahead of these online competitors.

In fact, the ‘Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw’ currently holds the highest proportion of 15-24 year-olds in any Radio 1 breakfast ratings for three years.

Veteran Radio 1 listeners who were discouraged from tuning in due to the apparent desired cull of older listeners could have been deterred even further after Grimshaw’s highly-speculated first song, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s ‘N***as In Paris’.

Grimshaw’s audacious charm shone through this decision, ignoring any inner obligation to conform by playing a more BBC-friendly track; Grimmy says himself: “the ruder and cruder the lyrics, the better. Obnoxious hip hop is my favourite genre.”

Grimshaw’s bold selection represents his connection with the intended young demographic and his true love and devotion to music.

Following a long stint on the prestigious 10-till-Midnight slot, playing his favoured current artists and trendy-tracks alongside best friend and DJ Annie Mac, Grimshaw has had to become accustomed to a reduced sense of choice. Nevertheless, he has still managed to fill listener’s ears with an abundance of Jessie Ware, Aluna George and his personal favourite, One Direction.

Within his first show, Grimmy name-dropped the boy-band a grand total of 23 times, as well as continuously referencing Harry Styles, who he is repeatedly snapped with by the paparazzi on the celebrity party circuit.

There is no doubt that having Styles as a close companion will irrefutably attract teenage listeners, particularly females, with whom this ‘1D’ star is the figure of their infatuation as the UK’s current teen-heart-throb.

As a friend-to-the-stars, Grimmy’s phone book is a list of the country’s elite with models, Kate Moss and Agyness Dean, joining Lily Allen, James Corden and former flatmate, fashion designer Henry Holland, as potential victims of his most popular radio feature ‘Call or Delete’.

Who would have thought that the most efficacious and creative item of one of the biggest radio programmes in the UK would come in the form of a practical joke?

The feature suffered unnecessary criticism, however, in light of the Australian DJ prank-call scandal, despite the “rigorous editorial procedures around the use of hoax calls on air” that a BBC spokesperson outlined. Nonetheless, the show took a minor hiatus in the wake of the death of Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who took her own life after revealing medical details about the Duchess of Cambridge to Australian radio presenters.

The respectful decision is likely to have derived from Grimmy’s faithful production team, who are undeniably, the secret of his success.

The reliability and resourcefulness of Grimshaw’s ‘breakfast clique’, which includes producer Matt Fincham, assistant producers Ian Chaloner and Fiona Hanlon, and social media producer Laura-May Coope, enables the continuous output of an entertaining show with engaging features, impressive guests and amusing dialogue.

Left to right: Fiona Hanlon, Matt Fincham, Ian Chaloner, Nick Grimshaw

It is without hesitation that the team behind a breakfast show are of equal significance to the presenter in regards to the overall success of the programme. You must simply take a look at Grimshaw’s predecessor to understand the sheer magnitude that the supporting voices on the show can have.

The Chris Moyles show became renowned for its prominent zoo-format that combined the participation of multiple contributors, including sidekick Comedy Dave, newsreaders Dom and Tina, producer Aled, plus assistant producers, a role which Fincham previously held.

It was initially envisioned that, the transformation of the breakfast show would include the removal of this format, a particular wish held by Ben Cooper. Within the first few weeks, this was somewhat apparent, but Grimshaw’s familiarity with having another agent, whose contributions he could deflect from, became increasingly evident.

Similarly to his predecessors Moyles, Evans, Sara Cox and Zoe Ball, Grimshaw also has a wealth of experience in television. The introduction of his voice to people’s mornings will not be too unfamiliar, with many acquainted to hearing his Northern tone at sunrise when watching T4 and Freshly Squeezed, which Grimmy fronted between 2007 and the shows’ culminations in late 2012.

It seems that the RAJAR statistics highlight an even further increase of younger listeners to Radio 1, with Channel 4’s teenage morning audience redirecting to Radio 1 to follow Grimmy since the axing of T4 in December 2012.

There can be no denying that Moyles was one of the most talented and passionate radio broadcasters of his time, but like all things, everything must come to an end. There could have been no better substitute than Nick Grimshaw, who has embraced the role with observable dedication and a great hunger for the entire industry.

To a station that has faced a bout of negative coverage in the media in recent months, Grimmy is a breath of fresh air and evidence of a strong and lengthy future for Radio 1.

A Clubbing Holiday To-Do List

If you’ve just left school or university and are in need of a week-long getaway in the sun with your friends and don’t want to spend much money, it’s likely you may choose to go on an 18-30s holiday to one of Europe’s top clubbing destinations.

Now you’ve seen ‘Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents’, ‘The Magaluf Weekender’ and ‘What Happens In Kavos’, it’s time to jump on a cheap flight to Magaluf, Kavos, Zante, Ibiza, Kos, Malia, Ayia Napa or Faliraki to experience a holiday like no other.

Before the summer is up, there’s still time to book a last-minute trip to one of these destinations before the resorts shut down in late October.

Whether you want to enjoy a week in the sun and a few cocktails with friends or stay out all-night-every-night, this list compiles eight of the top itinerary fillers that you need to add to your holiday to-do list, ensuring it’s a fun-filled, exciting and memorable week that you’ll never forget!

8 – Visit a Karaoke Bar

Every resort has a handful of great karaoke bars, but do some research and talk to your holiday-rep to find out which is best. These bars are always a great spot to start your night with a bang and often supply some of the greatest and funniest moments of your holiday. Pick a song, gather your friends and sing your heart out!

7 – Buy a fish-bowl

Every hotel, bar and restaurant will have a cocktail list complete with ‘Sex On The Beach’, ‘Woo Woo’ and all of your favourite holiday drinks. Upgrade your glass to a bowl and share with friends! If you’re heading to Zante, start your night at the centre of the strip at ‘Fish-Bowl’, one of the busiest bars in Laganas, overflowing with groups gathered in circles to share their favourite cocktails on a rather large scale.

6 – Book a trip to the waterpark

No holiday is complete without a dip in the pool, so why not shoot into it after a ride on a flume or rubber-ring slide! Speak to your holiday-rep to find out when trips run and be sure to check that your excursion includes your travel. One top tip: if you have a choice, try to go to the waterpark towards the end of your holiday so that your skin is used to the sun; it’s very easy to burn at the waterpark whilst queuing for attractions and your sun-cream has washed off in the water.

5 – Jump on a Booze Cruise

If you like boats and you like booze, this is the perfect trip for you. Pay before you go and enjoy a free bar all day! These trips are often the most popular so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

4 – Silent Disco

You can guarantee that there will be no stranger moment on your holiday than walking into one of the busiest clubs on the strip to find everybody in silence! Put on a pair of wireless headphones and dance the night away.

3 – Celebrity DJ Night

Every resort has their fair share of celebrity-endorsed club nights, complete with Radio 1 DJs, chart-toppers and TV stars. If you’re booking your trip last minute, you have the opportunity to co-ordinate your travels around the stars you wish to see. If you’re heading to Zante, head to Plus Club, where Radio 1’s Scott Mills, Danny Howard and Vernon Kay are regulars year-upon-year. Ibiza Rocks, Mallorca Rocks and BCM in Magaluf have been host to the likes of Example, Rizzle Kicks and Calvin Harris this year so try to book tickets as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!

Vernon Kay at Plus Club in Zante 2013

2 – Foam Party

So you’re probably thinking ‘been there, done that’… but you would be wrong. Foam parties in your local UK clubs are nothing compared to these European party resorts, where you’ll find yourself knee-deep or even to your neck in foam! If you’re slightly concerned about the smell, as many tourists sometimes are, don’t hesitate as this will truly be one of the funniest and most memorable nights in your stay.

1 – UV Paint Party

Wherever you’re heading this summer, be sure to find out where the weekly UV paint party is held – you do not want to miss out! As part of ticket price, you should receive glow sticks and a T-Shirt, so don’t concern yourself with having no old clothes to wear. Throw on your new tee, customise it and head on out to one of the messiest, busiest and craziest club nights you will ever experience. Paint is fired at you from all angles, so don’t expect to come out without glowing from head-to-toe!

UV Paint Party at Rescue Club, Zante

Best Celebrity Photobombs

Social networking can be a very funny place sometimes.

Who would have thought a decade ago that we could find so much entertainment in a Korean man dancing-to and singing a ridiculous song? Or a 7-second long video of a man vomiting lemons? Or a goat singing over Taylor Swift?

Nevertheless, the power of Facebook, Twitter, Vine, YouTube and their social-networking counterparts have played a major role in shaping the internet in the past 5 years. 

One of the latest sensations that appears to have been adopted is the art of photobombing - jumping unexpectedly into the background of a photo right before it is taken. And it seems that some of Hollywood's finest have taken it up, with some hilarious results.

So here are my top 10 photobombing stars:

10. Jake Gyllenhaal

9. Michael Cera

8. Tina Fey

7. Dave Grohl

6. Michael Douglas

5. Zach Braff

4. Kelly Clarkson

3. Jesse Tyler Ferguson

2. Jennifer Lawrence

1. Verne Troyer

Exams finally come to an end!

As I dropped my pen, waited for my paper to be collected and walked out of the exam hall for one last time, an overwhelming sense of elation hit me instantaneously, as I could feel the weight of the past two years lifting from my shoulders. But what was this heaviness being lifted from me?

A-Levels.

Years 12 and 13 are an immensely stressful time in a teenager’s life and it is fair to say that the past three months in particular has been an especially demanding period.

Perhaps three months seems a little excessive in preparation for the five exams I sat this month, but in all honestly, I couldn’t have done any less. A few hundred pages of notes, a dozen pens and nearly a whole black ink cartridge have prepared me with revision tools and practice papers to ensure that I could walk confidently into the exam room knowing I’d worked as hard as I possibly could.

Nevertheless, there have been two things that have managed to knock me down at this challenging time and it is more than likely that at least one or even both have affected other A-Level students across the country.
As I said, I, and all of my friends and fellow students, have abandoned our social lives and locked ourselves indoors to revise incessantly to ensure we can be confident and prepared for anything the exam paper could throw at us. However, there is still the element of the unknown as to what on earth the exam boards may choose to ask. And it is particularly demoralising when they decide to throw you off entirely with complicated and incredibly difficult papers.

I can truthfully say that my German A Level paper is perhaps one of the toughest exams I have ever sat. The two-and-a-half hour exam, complete with listening, reading and writing sections, is difficult regardless of the questions, with a study conducted by Durham University showing languages to be the hardest A Level subjects after Mathematics and the three Sciences. So why do the exam board decide to make it even worse by including such complex vocabulary and structures? It leaves us students disheartened and deflated after months of work, completely unaware as to how well we may have done and worried for two months in anticipation of the impending results.

The second of my knock-backs came in the form of a news story. And once again, Michael Gove has sparked controversy (and irritation). On the morning of an exam, waking up to the news of education reforms in England as a result of ‘easy GCSEs’ is not the most encouraging and uplifting item. This isn’t the first time Gove has angered students, having reported previously that A-Levels are also too easy and how school days should be made longer (click the links to see my previous posts on these stories).

By removing any form of coursework or modular assessment, the Education Secretary is turning exams into a memory test instead of a true assessment of a student’s intelligence and work ability.

Whilst I’ve already sat my GCSEs, the outlandish and unqualified claim that GCSEs are too easy repeatedly vexes me. With no past in education himself, I cannot understand where Gove makes these claims from and it stands solid to me that such decisions should be a democratic matter among the teachers in-the-know.
There will be students currently sitting their GCSEs who will certainly feel discouraged by assertions that the exams, which they have worked incredibly hard for, are too easy and require reformation.

Gove claims that students are currently living in a ‘resit culture’, where it is deemed acceptable for students to try again and again to achieve their target grade, but Gove is no better for repeatedly changing his plans on education reform.

Education Secretary Michael Gove

As I sit and enjoy my first relaxed and stress-free weekend in months, I plea that education ministers make up their mind and stick to a plan on GCSEs and A Levels and soon accept students’ success as nothing more than its face value than deceiving it as a result of easy exams.

I wish all the best of luck to those who still have exams – freedom is just around the corner! You can do it!