As another round of GCSEs approaches this summer, it has begun to seem as though teenagers are constantly preparing for the next exam. To help pupils to believe they can achieve their full potential, Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, Whitland, has taken a different approach to exam preparation this year and their unique project has already made a difference.

On Thursday, February 11, the school welcomed past pupil, Jodie Marie, introducing her to a group of girls aiming to fly high in their summer exams. They had the privilege of listening to her perform while asking her questions about everything from childhood ambitions to her writing process. The purpose of this exciting opportunity? To make the writing experience real.

Working now as a professional, self-managed singer-songwriter, Jodie Marie’s music speaks for itself. Her Blues, jazz and rock influences may offer her a background but she has carved out her own identify through songs which speak directly to her audience. Playing three songs for the pupils, she modestly explained the process of writing, suggesting to the girls that she often finds a ‘spark’ from the world around her. While she spoke about how she finds it important to seek her own voice in the songs she covers, and immediately impressed with her soulful rendition of ‘Reason to Believe,’ it was her performance of self-penned pieces ‘Everyone makes mistakes’ and brand new ‘Sooner than Never’ which make you feel everyone needs to hear her songs. You only have to sit back and listen to her sing to find yourself utterly spellbound.

There is no question that the pupils were lucky to be offered the chance to listen to one of the most talented singer-songwriters of her generation; little wonder the pupils agreed her songs gave them ‘goose bumps.’

Comparing her to Duffy, they certainly felt her music hit a chord with their generation and found themselves effortlessly planning a piece of writing which would capture the magic of their experience.

The organiser of the event believes that a pupil’s confidence in their ability is paramount, but there needs to be experiences for them draw upon.

“In between completing past papers and correcting apostrophes, it is hard to enthuse pupils with the magic of writing. As pupils get older, they lose their confidence as they worry about making a mistake or running out of ideas.”

With an insight into the life of a past pupil who is living her dream, the pupils will not only find themselves with material to write about, but they will now surely find it impossible not to be inspired.