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The first students to lead a new school are proud of the legacy they leave behind.

Ronnie Witcomb and Tara Osman became senior STEM Creators at BMAT STEM Academy when the business focused school opened two years ago.

Along with STEM Creators, the students – taking a role similar to head boy, head girl and prefects in traditional schools – were responsible for keeping communication going between teachers and their peers.

They organised fundraising campaigns, shared feedback and ideas with their teachers, including creating a menu for the newly refurbished canteen, and welcomed guests to the site.

As they became the first cohort of Year 11 students to finish their GCSE studies, they looked back on the impact they have had at the school.

Tara, who picked up three grade 7, six grade 6 and two grade 5 this week, will also become one of the first sixth formers to attend the BMAT STEM Academy sixth form in September, to study chemistry, biology and French.

She said: “I have actually loved being a senior Creator. I thought it would be hard to take on the responsibility. I have really enjoyed getting to know everyone, especially the teachers on a professional level. I have gained a lot of soft skills, such as the ability to talk to anyone and communicating really well, especially considering we have been talking to a wide range of people, including students, teachers and anyone who walked through the door. I have also learnt skills such as management, sharing ideas and working together as a team. It has actually been incredible.

“It has been so successful as a school, but also in creating a little family. We were the first year, so we got to know each other really well; teachers and students. We are such a unit together.

“It was hard to know what to expect from our results, considering the circumstances and the last-minute switch in decisions. I am happy with my results; relieved more than anything. I am glad it is over and done with.

“It is almost a privilege to be among the first sixth formers at BMAT STEM. I am really grateful for everything that has happened. I am really excited to start at the sixth form.”

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Ronnie, who collected four grade 9, four grade 8 and two grade 7 this week and is heading to Hills Road Sixth Form College to study chemistry, physics, maths and further maths, said: “We were the first cohort of the school, so it was as new to teachers as it was to us. We were all in the same boat and got through it together. As a result, we had a lot of respect for each other as it was all our first times at the school.

“As senior Creator, when teachers wanted to know what students thought or what they wanted, it was down to me to discuss ideas with my peers. It felt really good. The school will be all the better for other people who go there because of our work.

“The role has definitely helped me with management and time-keeping skills. It has been great.

“I am over-the-moon with my results. I was incredibly nervous to get them, so I was overjoyed; it was such a good feeling after not knowing what was happening.”

For more information on sixth form opportunities within BMAT, visit www.bmatsix.org