Meet Jirina Mala
Before Jirina Mala decided St David’s College was the school for her, she had never even been to Wales.
Before Jirina Mala decided St David’s College was the school for her, she had never even been to Wales.
She discovered St David’s when trying to find a new school, as the place she attended in East London wasn’t a good fit for her.
Jirina found the class sizes too big and said she wasn’t receiving the help she needed, as the school simply didn’t have the resources.
“I found about St David’s when I was surfing the internet, and I was attracted to the idea it was a small school, DT sounded brilliant and that it had a family type of atmosphere,” said the 16-year-old.
“I thought it sounded a little too good to be true, but then during my interview with the headmaster, Mr Russell, he made it all sound so idyllic that I decided to apply and I think it’s has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Jirina, who is originally from the Czech Republic, started last September and has never looked back and says she has never felt homesick despite not having boarded before.
“I absolutely love it here,” she said.
“When I went home for exeat for the first time I was going on and on to my parents about how happy I was here.”
Jirina continued:
“I love the surroundings, it’s just so beautiful with the hills and I can even see lambs from my bedroom window.
“I would describe it as a kind of bubble from the rest of the world. I feel very relaxed here.”
Jirina, who is studying English, Maths, Chemistry and DT in the Sixth Form says she hopes to go to university to study psychology neuroscience.
“The teachers are so supportive here, if I need any help there’s an open-door policy, I feel that the teachers really care, in my other school I just didn’t have that.”
When asked what she enjoys about boarding at Augusta House, she said: “There’s always something going on in the house, it’s very cosy and we watch films together.
“We all watch out for each other, and Mrs Appleton was so welcoming.”