Joscelyn
Joscelyn has blossomed since joining LVS Oxford, three months into Year 9. It was a very big transition for her, coming from a mainstream school with classes of 30. “I’m now in small classes of eight to nine people, sometimes four,” she says, adding that she found her mainstream school experience difficult.
“Here, there aren’t the crowds of people and I find it easier to communicate what I’m thinking in class. I felt too afraid to say anything before, but now I have the confidence and I’ve seen both my written and spoken English improving,” says Joscelyn, who has passed her Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Functional Skills Level 1 in Maths. She is also studying Geography and Art GCSE, while undertaking a hospitality course, as she hopes to have a career as a flight attendant.
“I felt too afraid to say anything before, but now I have the confidence and I’ve seen both my written and spoken English improving.”
“I love travelling and being a flight attendant is a good career, so I’d like to do a Travel & Tourism course next,” says Joscelyn, explaining how Gayle Fox has helped her think about her future, giving her interview tips and talking about visiting colleges. “We’ve had colleges visit the school to talk about their courses and college life too.
“The teachers here are very helpful and always try their best to understand what I need. They are always there for you,” she says. “I like being able to do my work,” she adds.
Joscelyn enjoys the wonderful facilities at the school too, from the outdoor spaces to the Art department.
“The Art department is a great facility. We do textiles and drawing and a recent chosen subject was ‘nurture, thrive and bloom’, which was interesting. I did drawings of insects mostly, bees and butterflies, but also some sea animals, a starfish, dolphin and octopus arms. I also enjoy sewing. We’re allowed to use the sewing machines, but I prefer to hand stitch. I stitched a flower on the front of my bag. Sewing is a good skill to have, because if you have a hole in something, you can mend it.”
Joscelyn has thrived and bloomed since joining the nurturing and encouraging environment of LVS Oxford. “I feel a lot happier because I have more confidence. I can tell you what I want to do with my life, whereas before I had no idea.
“This is a good school: academically and mental health wise. People are here for you, the students and the teachers. My parents feel supported too and are kept updated on how I’m doing in class.”