Caitlin

Why did you choose to come to The Bulmershe School?

My sister had started at the school two years above me, so I had already seen the intentional support and opportunities given to her, and to be honest I was a bit jealous! I wanted to get involved in the choir and netball club and the production just like she had. I remember during the open evening talk, Mrs Woodfin seemed very down-to-earth and friendly, telling us her door was always open for anyone who needed to talk to her. Although she obviously aimed to show us Bulmershe’s strengths, she caveated that we needed to decide where was right for us, and ultimately that was what informed my decision- Bulmershe seemed right for me.

How has The Bulmershe School inspired you to strive for you aspirations and dreams?  

Bulmershe has taught me to find what I’m passionate about and work hard at it. For me, that looked like pursuing my love of English to A-level, and then submitting an application to Oxford university to study English Literature. As well as this, I have found an interest in acting through our engaging and committed Drama department, which inspired me to take up employment in a local theatre company that specialises in SEND.

How do you feel the co-curricular (extra-curricular clubs, trips, opportunities) experience at The Bulmershe School has benefited you? 

I have performed in four of Bulmershe’s much-loved musical productions over my time here which have developed my confidence and love of theatre. A huge community effort goes into these shows, from students singing, acting, designing and programming to staff directing, choreographing, organising and even sewing. It is such a joy to see months of patience and perseverance pay off, and I am repeatedly told that our shows are west-end standard. The teamwork and communication skills I have gained from being cast in these productions have prepared me not only for Drama A-level but also the world of work.

What would you say is your favourite moment so far in your time at The Bulmershe School? 

One of my most treasured memories from my time at Bulmershe was winning a regional netball tournament at PGL Liddington alongside my year 10 teammates. Not only did I enjoy playing and competing against other schools- something I hadn’t previously had the opportunity to do- the team-building activities were a lot of fun and created memories for life. Receiving the trophy from an England Netball player was just the icing on the cake!

What is your favourite subject and why?  

I’ve always had a passion for English that has definitely been enhanced by studying it at A-level. Whilst some struggle with the subjectivity of literature, I love arguing my own interpretation of a text, as well as expanding my understanding by listening to others’. What I particularly value about how Bulmershe teaches is that they don’t just teach ‘safe’ texts that the majority of schools cover. For example, I was given the opportunity to explore diasporic identity in Anita and Me from the perspective of a second-generation immigrant, Meera Syal, at GCSE instead of An Inspector Calls, as most students do. The English department intentionally made this choice to expose us to a wider range of authorial voices that we may not have read before.

What advice would you give to a student about to join The Bulmershe School? 

Don’t worry about it! Before I started, I stressed way too much about getting lost, not making new friends and not being able to do the work. But, when I got here, everything was fine! I had a map, classes taught to my ability and about 250 new friends to meet! Make sure you take every opportunity you can in lower school, whether it’s sports clubs or residential trips- try it all, because you only get these kinds of opportunities once.