What a feeling. She did it. She got so much more than she needed to move forward to her next chapter. Hard work, resilience and belief she could do it has paid off.

Evie’s GCSE and iGCSE results are so much higher and personally significant than was she was predicted at school. Her highest predicted grade was a 5 back in year 9 – with grade 4’s predicted for most subjects. To be honest, we needed what we needed – but she deserved to smash those predictions and she did! An 8 in English Literature being a highlight! (her outstanding school back in Hampshire predicted a 4!) I’m so thrilled for her, and we get to move forward to a new life back in a college setting.

But a few thoughts, which will no doubt form another blog or 2…

1 – The transition to college – this last few weeks has not been easy, and I dare say the next 2 are going to be tough. It’s daunting for any 16 year old – but for those who haven’t been in school for a while, its likely even tougher. I’ve had a bit of a rude awakening that all that exam access I’ve sorted out doesn’t count when you move to college… we are starting again… (another blog!)

2 – I’m going to miss her. So very much, I went from having all my 3 children in education and having my own life 9-3 every day suddenly changed 2.5 years ago. It took some getting used to – but now? I’m going back to that, and it feels weird. All this hope, and fight and determination is feeling a bit redundant right now. But I’m shifting my thoughts to using this journey to help others more and more.

3 – I got angry. I still am. I’m cross at school for failing her. I’m cross at the children who have stripped her of her confidence and love for herself. I’ve written a letter to school that I will never send, but it was pretty cathartic, – detailing how much they have failed Evie. In the process I read through all the countless emails from me with various staff – telling the school how she was crying asking not to go, how the homework was hindering her education and confidence, not helping, how they were failing to get teachers to adapt their teaching so that Evie could understand and learn, how Evie didn’t feel safe in school. So many emails, so much anger, sadness and lack of control. I am so very glad ONE person told me to listen to Evie and to take her out. It’s the best decision we ever made.