Meet Jemmila
STORIES OF PRIDE
MEET JOE, OUR CURRENT HEAD BOY. HE TELLS US ABOUT PLAYING TEAM SPORTS, THE CRAYFORD COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL.
Can you tell us about your interests?
I’m currently studying English, Philosophy and Politics. Outside the classroom, I have always been involved in sports, whether it’s playing on the football, rugby or cricket team. Basically, whenever there's a fixture, I'm involved.
Which extra-curricular activities have you been involved in?
Crayford offers quite a wide variety of sports and opportunities. I have been part of the football, athletics and rugby teams. I also had the opportunity to coach Year 7- 9 football teams and referee games, which was such a great experience as I enjoy sports and inspiring the younger years. It's fun being part of a team. Within school, it is easy to fall into being obsessed with friendship groups, but I have tried to break away from this and I feel like I am friends with most people in Sixth Form. I think my involvement in different sports teams has had a big impact on this because I have got to know different people and build strong relationships with them.
Can you tell us about your experience as Head Boy?
Normally, I don’t enjoy being in a position of responsibility because I prefer to be on the same level as everyone else. It has been interesting for me to take on a leadership role and the added responsibility because although I wouldn't naturally take that path, it has been quite a rewarding experience. Whether it's speaking in assembly or taking part in the Remembrance Service, the school has encouraged me to do things that I wouldn’t necessarily volunteer to do.
What are your plans for next year?
I have applied to do Media and Journalism at Loughborough, Cardiff and Sussex, and to do Sports Journalism at UCFD and Brighton. I am very keen to continue playing football because I love it and the social aspect of it pushes me to meet new people and try new things. I hadn't really considered attending university, or sixth form, before speaking to Miss Prior about my plans for after school. I had always been set on doing an apprenticeship as an electrician and thought it was the only thing I could do in my area. It's quite a one route place – school then apprenticeship then work. But Miss Prior helped me realise that if I wanted to do something different then I could and without her encouragement I probably wouldn’t have attended sixth form or applied to University.
What do you think makes Crayford unique?
One thing that I love about Crayford is that I feel like I can always speak to staff members, no matter what is going on, and they will listen to me. I have a good relationship with my teachers, whether it's having a chat or giving advice that has really made an impact on my life. I will never forget the moment in year 9 when my form tutor sat me down and challenged the way I had been behaving that school year. He was very open with me and spoke to me on my level, and as a student I really appreciated that from a teacher. It had a massive effect on me.
The teachers will help you no matter who you are or what you want to do - whether its to do a local apprenticeship or go to Oxbridge – they will give you the resources and the support that you need to try your best to achieve your goal. From a chat in the morning to a two hour revision session after school and everything in between, they are always there for us.
What makes you feel most proud of Crayford Sixth Form?
I am most proud of the community feeling around the school. I’ve been here for nearly 7 years so I do feel at home at the school but I really couldn’t imagine myself at any other school or college. I live quite far out of the catchment area and I actually heard about the Year 7 music scholarship through a friend who was sitting it. So it was by an off chance that I heard about the opportunity to get into the school!
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