Cafe window puts school exam students to the test

A cafe has turned its windows into giant revision board in a bid to help students through their GCSE exams.

Willi's Cafe, in Jesmond, Newcastle, has partnered with a sign-writing company to create interactive displays covering a range of core GCSE and A Level subjects for students and passers-by to tackle.

Each floor-to-ceiling window features revision questions and prompts designed to encourage students to test their knowledge in maths, English, physics and more.

The displays also include revision advice from cafe owner Rod Davies, who said he wanted to give "practical tips" to students preparing for exams on the morning of each paper.

Students who correctly answer questions are rewarded with a sweet treat.

Davies said he wanted to create "a fun and supportive atmosphere" for young people during a stressful period of the school year.

He said he came up with the idea when making the window Christmas display which included the names of all the primary and high schools in the area.

"We knew we wanted to do something to support all our local kids and families during exam season, and it's turned out even better than I imagined," he said.

"I didn't write the questions - I just give away the free treats if they get a correct answer.

"What they get depends on my mood. It starts off at a nice lolly, and it goes up to a bit of tray bake which is very, very rare."

Davies said teachers from nearby Newcastle High School for Girls and the Royal Grammar School (RGS) contributed questions for the display.

Economics teacher Andrew Gough from Newcastle High School for Girls contributed some questions.

"I think it's an bsolutely brilliant because the cars go past slowly, parents can sit, they can ask the kids some questions, see whether they've done any revision or not," he said.

"I gave Rod a few economics questions, but I haven't had a go at any of the science or English ones myself in case I get them wrong, frankly.

"They look quite hard. I'd have to really dredge the memory banks and I'm getting older."

The questions are geared towards student sitting their GCSEs and A Levels.

"It's gridlock in the morning so the parents have got some quality time to ask the children all the exam questions and see if they have been revising," Davies said.

Laura Hall teaches maths at Newcastle High School for Girls.

She said: "I had a picture of a pentagon with some exterior angles and the question was 'what do the angles add up to?'

"The answer is always 360 degrees with exterior angles."

Jennifer Hastings of Love Lettering made the display.

She said: "As soon as Rod mentioned the idea to me, my head was flooded with ideas and I knew I wanted to turn the cafe into giant sheets of A4 lined paper with the revision content looking like hand-drawn doodles.

"It took a good few days to complete the project, not least because so many passers-by stopped to chat to me while I was up the ladder."

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