Years of Friendship

Denisa and Gerssa are a perfect example of the power of friendship, hard work and a bit of healthy competition. They both joined in Year 7 and became friends through lockdown, supporting each other through the challenges of online home learning.

Denisa didn’t speak any English before Year 6, and was helped by other Romanian-speaking classmates. They studied hard through their GCSEs with an “unspoken competition” between them, both achieving all nines at the end of Year 11.

Gerssa also played football, basketball and netball; Denisa was Student Council leader, and both went to Maths Club. They describe their relationship as “motivating” as they both pushed each other to do their best. “We were in it together to achieve the best possible grades,” say Gerssa.

Gerssa highlights the role of their class teachers throughout their time at the academy:

“The teachers created an environment which made me want to come into school. It felt like family,” says Gerssa.

They both chose Biology, Chemistry and Maths for A-Level and continued this tradition of hard work and competition throughout Year 12 and Year 13, working with their teachers, their peers, and with each other to achieve amazing marks in all the mock exams, finally culminating in three A*s each at A-Level results day. They say they feel “good; satisfied; relieved.”

“They went above and beyond; any resources, anything we asked for, we were spoilt” says Denisa.

The journey doesn’t end here: they are both going to study dentistry at Kings College London. They have both received a Harris Scholarship to help them on their way. Denisa says she dreams of opening up a clinic together!