Sylvia Brett, Principal of Harrogate Ladies? College espouses her students to embrace a love of learning – not be defined by their GCSE exam results
It has long been my belief (perhaps based on my own not so illustrious performance at O-level) that GCSEs which are taken at the end of  year 11 are the hardest that pupils will ever do. The pressure to achieve as highly as possible at GCSE is immense at a time when teenage brains are very much still in their development stages and young people want and need both to be cared for as adults and as children.
It is the first major event in a child?s life which their families cannot control ? which is terrifying for both parent and child. It seems that so much depends on what happens in a few short hours in an exam room and press pictures (including our own) of young people bouncing in the air waving pieces of paper with faces full of joy only add to the sense of ?am I good enough"?. One of my key responsibilities (and joys!) as Principal of Harrogate Ladies? College is to lead a community which encourages all pupils to leave here empowered to take on their next challenge, and to have a lifelong passion for learning without feeling they?ve been defined by the emotion they?ve felt on GCSE results day. I?m so lucky to be surrounded by some incredible young people every day.
The hard work paid off for twins Alexa and Ava Turner, who recorded a combined 18 top level 9-7 GCSE grades.
Through running and participating in our e...