What our students say…
About subjects:
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Art Creativity freedom of choice of what you want to explore and study and I was also surprised by how deep and mind broadening the subject is. |
Biology Studying biology has an equal balance of theory work and practical work. There are always fun practicals to do and alongside with the theory work it makes understanding the course much better. The best thing about studying biology is learning about the body and other organisms in depth and still having fun.
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Business I had never taken business before so it was entirely new to me. However, it ended up becoming my favourite subject as I ended up learning the most from it as it is all around us. You notice more things day to day. |
Chemistry It is so interesting and the Chemistry department make such a hard and challenging subject become a lot less scary. Practical endorsement means that you are not staying at a desk for every lesson, which makes the subject fun to study. |
Computer Science It's challenging but the small class size means that you always have someone you can ask for help when you get stuck. Teamwork is really important. |
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Economics Economics - satisfying how it all comes together and altogether helps you get a good understanding of a lot of things for later life |
English Language English language - The way the exam is designed gives you a lot of freedom. You can learn whatever theories you think will be useful and the essay questions are so open that you can interpret them in lots of different ways. |
English Literature English Literature- the content is very interesting and the lessons have quite a lot of class debate within them, which I prefer because it helps you to examine separate viewpoints. |
French French stops being about learning answers to questions such as what's your favourite food and becomes an exploration into different cultures and thought-provoking topics. You have to be more self-motivated, but this can push you to a higher level of proficiency in the language.
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Further Maths Further Maths - it's an extra challenge that lends itself to normal Maths (i.e. it makes normal Maths genuinely easy). |
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Geography I love how the specification gradually builds on GCSE making it a nice subject to study when other subjects are different straight away |
German The small class size means it really feels like a team. It’s a real step up from GCSE and you get a much deeper understanding of the language and culture. |
History It is simply a fascinating yet complex subject. It offers an insight into the time our ancestors have lived, but it also helps us understand the way the world and its surroundings worked. In my opinion history, teaches individuals to learn new things and while learning it teaches us to ask important questions to further our research. |
Latin Latin gives you the opportunity to learn language skills that not only allow you to read classical literature written thousands of years ago but also helps in understanding the origins of so many other languages. Studying Latin is an education in history, literature, and language all in a fun and close-knit setting.
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Maths With Maths, the main thrill comes from a question you struggle to answer but ultimately get it right with no help. The feeling of satisfaction is great. |
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Media Studies Such an interesting subject that is so different to all of the others. So enjoyable but academic at the same time. Allows you to get a good balance between practical and written work. |
Music Music - because it goes way more in depth at A level and you learn so many more techniques and appreciate the subject more as a whole. |
Philosophy & Ethics A very interesting subject that explores understanding and the fundamental questions under-pinning the human condition. |
Physical Education I like how the subject is full of different sub topics with 3 main components to it. It keeps the content fresh and prevents repetition. |
Physics The practical part of A-level physics is very interesting and helps visualise a lot of the difficult theories. I am finally getting answers to questions about physics that I have had for years now. That is the best part of A-level physics!
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Politics I expected I'd really enjoy this A level, because I knew a lot of it would be about discussing the news. I have politics last thing on a Friday, and I can always look forward to having a chat about the topical issues, which is very important for understanding the wider world for the course! |
Product Design Product design to me is imagining, creating, manufacturing and succeeding in order to solve a problem. It’s the perfect blend of creativity and theory in a subject at a level which is what makes it so engaging.
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Psychology There are many different areas of psychology and all different types of things included in the subject for example maths skills, science skills etc. It can be interactive by sometimes working in a group, which I enjoy. Finally, it’s a very interesting subject because it relates to everyday life.
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Sociology The best part about studying this subject is how much content you can apply to everyday life, it's very easy to incorporate your own personality and experiences into your study and vice versa. |
Spanish There's a much bigger focus on the history and culture of Spain making it even more interesting than GCSE. |
About their top tips for thriving academically:
- My top tip would be pick subjects you enjoy the most because there is a lot of work that has to be put in and if you don’t enjoy something you won’t have the motivation to do this.
- Choose subjects that you want to study, not the ones that your friends take or that you think look good, but also ones that suit the way you work. Don't take a subject if it is incredibly hard for you to do.
- Make a definition list and put it at the front of your folder adding in every new definition you receive as soon as you get it.
- Keep on top of work and make sure to ask questions about what you don’t understand. Always try to get the best result possible in mocks because you don’t know what could happen down the line. (lockdown)
- Get homework done. Do not let it gather up because you will regret it.
- Utilise your study periods.
- Love the subjects you’re doing.
- Consolidate what you’ve learnt in lessons and ASK QUESTIONS.
- READ AHEAD!!! I find it so much easier in lessons and further down the line for revision by reading ahead to start with. At the start of year 12, I was told to do this but was a bit too lazy to do it but then everything gets a bit much and you end up stressed to bits. It’s far better to do it now than later.
- Get on top of your work and don’t get stressed. A LEVELS ARE SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT! I went comfortably from 8s to Ds and I understand now that I needed a different approach. In fairness, I was told this was the case in assemblies. Making mistakes is fine so long as you change and learn from them (after that I’m not getting Ds anymore).
- Use your private study periods!! Even if you set aside your one-hour period for a more relaxed work approach, using your frees for work is the best habit to get into. Make a study playlist - this will help you 'get in the zone'.
- Work with the teachers help because that’s what they’re there to do and they will happily help you.
- Use sessions provided for extra support. Some subjects do lunchtime or afterschool drop-ins and if it’s about anything else then Mrs Lennon can see you early or at lunchtime. Don’t be afraid to ask.
About their top tips for thriving at DJSF generally:
- Make the most of it and enjoy what Johnston has to offer.
- Be yourself and don’t make a new personality to fit it.
- Hit a good balance of work and play. If you don't work enough, you'll fall behind and will only get more and more stressed but equally importantly, make the most of your time to enjoy yourself. The lessons and relationships with the teachers are more relaxed and so that element of fun is crucial.
- Don’t abuse the free time you’re given between lessons as it comes in very valuable for homework if you’re struggling to do it at home. Also get in a good relationship with your teachers and constantly ask them questions about things you don’t understand.
- Getting involved in societies. Looking back at year 11 me, I never thought I would have joined any and am so happy that I was encouraged in assemblies at the start of year 12. I enjoyed them way more than I thought I would and it had become valuable to my studies as well as just a lunchtime activity! Loved MedSoc and Language Soc. Also taking other opportunities such as becoming a house leader, which I also never would have done in the past but it has been nothing but fun and rewarding.
- Don’t miss days of school, keep your attendance high, lessons have so much more content compared to GCSEs lessons (which are easier to catch up on the work).
- Don’t hold back, meet new people, try new societies, learn new things.
- If you’re new to the school (coming to the sixth form from doing GCSEs at another school) then don't stay in your previous school bubble, make friends. If you came from Durham Johnston previously then make new friends with the people from other schools, I made friends with somebody from another school who I would now consider to be one of my closest friends - so do it.
- Never be afraid to ask for help - whether this is for subject help with your teachers or personal issues with the sixth form leadership/head students, there are always people around who are more than willing to share their knowledge and advice.
- Collaborate. Be resilient. Get involved.
- Only surround yourself with people who make you happy. Remove yourself from negative situations. Don't necessarily cut off friendships completely, but if it is bad then it will translate into the rest of your life and cloud your enjoyment of school. Also, if you get a job, always prioritise school; say no to shifts if you have tests and deadlines because at the end of the day that is going to be more important than the £4.35 an hour you would have gotten. Don't work too much; the money is nice but you need time for yourself to keep sane, and no one is forcing you to have a job.
- Don't compare yourself to others. Just because someone else is working / revising in a certain way doesn't mean it will work for you! Be confident in what you are doing and know that if you are always focusing on learning and meeting deadlines, you are doing well.
- Be kind to everyone, it really does make the year feel more like a community.