It’s the holiday: Anyone for school?

During any school holiday, most pupils would be only too eager to stay at home and not go back to school. But, at Clifton, some do. And it’s not just Cliftonians that return: pupils from other near-by schools drop in for a week of continual study. That may sound quite daunting and, quite frankly, boring. To be honest, I thought so last year when I was doing my GCSEs. I’m not absolutely fantastic academically; certainly not when I was doing subjects that I didn’t want to do for GCSE (Maths, Physics etc). My parents encouraged me to book a place on the Easter Revision Course. It may not turn me into a scholar overnight, but it could do no harm and it would at least give me a little bit more confidence in the exam room.

For the 2006 course, I opted for History and Science. This year I put myself down for English Literature and History. Now, I like both of these subjects and, I’m told, I am not too bad at them. So why am I on the Easter Revision Course? Because it’s fun! (And we get to wear our own clothes.)

Now, we all know that we’re there to learn and learn we did, but in the process we all had a laugh and enjoyed ourselves. The structure of the study sessions is not too dissimilar to a normal lesson (although on the course they go on for longer so we can learn more without stopping for games).

As I said earlier, the Easter Revision Course is open to non-Clifton pupils and each year more-and-more external pupils join. Whilst it can be difficult for them as they are in theory going to a new school, we (at least my classes) tried to make them feel comfortable and happy in their new surroundings and by Tuesday afternoon, the new pupils might just have well been at Clifton for seven years.

The course's lessons are divided by breaks. The first comes at ten-thirty for half an hour and then the second (and longest) at twelve-forty five for a lunch break until two o'clock. During these, the library and computer rooms are open for use – as well as the newly revamped JCR. Luckily this year, the weather became more and more glorious as the week went on and by Friday, the remaining pupils were sunbathing on The Close and, no doubt, begging their teachers to let them revise outside.

So, why do the Easter Revision Course? It's a chance to revise with a structure and teachers able to advise; it's a great social opportunity; it's only for five days, and you do learn!