Former Head Girl returns to inspire current pupils
Former Head Girl Anna Parry-Williams, who attended Rydal Penrhos from 2007-21, spoke to Year 12 History pupils about her approach to the subject, as well as revision more generally.
Anna, the younger sister of former Deputy Head Boy Lloyd Parry-Williams (RPS 2007–16), left the school at the end of the previous academic year having achieved three A* grades in English, History and Religious Studies.
Speaking to the class, Anna recounted her time studying history, during which she focused on periods as diverse as the Crusades and Yeltsin’s Russia. She highlighted her observations having studied the subject, stressing the particular importance of essay-writing technique.
Anna also talked through some revision strategies based upon the principles of Active Recall, which suggests that long-term memories are best consolidated when a person is repeatedly stimulated to retrieve certain information.
Having been part of a cohort of pupils unable to sit their A-Level examinations due to COVID-19 – receiving a grade based on continuous teacher assessment and coursework – Anna and her peers were forced to maintain exceptionally high standards throughout their time in Sixth Form, knowing that any piece of work could be instrumental in their final result.
Anna said that this need to remain consistently dedicated ultimately proved an immense benefit, adding: “While I didn’t have the opportunity to sit final exams because of Covid, the way that my year group were assessed actually helped me realise that every day was crucial to the outcome of my exams, not just the final weeks of revision or a couple of hours spent in an exam hall.
“I appreciate this opportunity to present to the class because I loved studying history and really enjoy any chance to talk about it.”
Anna is currently taking a gap year working in the NHS before she studies English and Philosophy at university from September. She is one of a number of former pupils who have visited the school to speak to current pupils, sharing their experiences in fields as diverse as dentistry and fashion.