Holidays or not, some people are still at work. On Sunday 13 July 2025, Ms Agnieszka Mikrut, a historian, travelled to Avon Tyrrell in southern England to speak at the 2nd Avon Tyrrell Geography and History Conference 2025 – a gathering of teachers who share their knowledge and experience. Avon Tyrrell is a late 19th-century estate on the edge of the New Forest National Park.
The value of preparing for A-level
In her talk, Ms Agnieszka spoke about the value of preparing for the A-level exam. This exam, usually taken at the end of secondary education in Britain, is one of the main criteria in university admissions. Students from Polish families can also take it in Polish, and a good result in their mother tongue can be an additional advantage when applying for a university place. Preparing for such an exam requires not only fluency in the language but also a knowledge of Polish literature, history and culture.
Reflections after the conference
On her return, Ms Agnieszka shared her reflections:
To quote a poet: ‘There are moments in time and space which, through their uniqueness, later become the most beautiful pearls of human memory.’ Last Sunday became such a pearl for me. Thank you for inviting me as a speaker to the Second Avon Tyrrell Geography and History Conference 2025. I am delighted that, as a historian, I was able to share and demonstrate the value of preparing for the A-level exam. Together we are doing wonderful things here, far from our homeland. Let us value our schools.
‘Get stuck into A-level – that's where the future lies’ (thank you to whoever came up with the slogan). Thank you for the wonderful welcome, the atmosphere, the emotions, the reflections and the conversations.
– Aga
Taking part in meetings like this allows teachers at Polish Saturday schools to exchange experiences and work together to maintain the quality of teaching abroad.
