How did you find your experience in St Edward’s sixth form?
My journey throughout sixth form differed to most. Whilst studying for my A Levels I was also caring for my terminally ill father. I make this point not for sympathy but to acknowledge that each and every one of us has other ‘stuff’ going on in our lives. I always enjoyed school so it was a good distraction for me although challenging given the circumstances. I cannot thank the staff at St. Edward’s enough for the support during this time – particularly the PE team!
I honestly really enjoyed my experience as a student at St. Edward’s sixth form. I grew closer to my teachers as they supported each of us as we prepared for our next ‘big’ move in life.
I encourage all of you to embrace and make the most of this time!
What A Levels did you do?
I studied Geography (AS), Biology, English Language and Physical Education
How did the teachers support you?
I found sixth form to be a platform where you could openly make your learning needs known to the teachers. We all learn differently and at this stage of education it is about taking charge of this to be the best you can be. The staff were fantastic at being able to tailor their teaching at each individual to suit their learning style.
How different was sixth form to normal school?
There was definitely an increase in work load and complexity in our chosen subjects. Self directed learning was a huge part of our day to day studies and something that I really enjoyed. This allowed us as students to really identify the gaps in our knowledge and feed this back to our teachers. There was also more freedom with an emphasis on the importance of balancing both work and social life but with that came more responsibility.
What did you go on to do after sixth form?
After sixth form I went straight to University – I studied Physiotherapy at Brunel University London. In that time I gained experience in many areas of physiotherapy across the country. After 3 years of blood, sweat and tears (and a fair bit of dancing) I was fully qualified and awarded a 1st Class Hons. Towards the end of my degree, the global pandemic broke out so unfortunately I didn’t have the fairytale ending I had always wished for….I am hoping we will have our graduation in the next year or so.
Nonetheless, I was able to support the NHS in these hard times as I worked alongside the physiotherapy team at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
I now work in the sister hospital, Harefield Hospital, a specialist centre in cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation. My day to day job is very rewarding and lends itself to working with such a wide range of individuals. No doubt it comes with its challenges but I think the most important thing about being a young professional is to ‘love your work!’
What words of advice would you give to those thinking about applying to St Edward’s Sixth Form?
I think there is a lot of pressure on young adults these days to have an idea about what their future will look like with a career choice in mind.
My advice would be to choose subjects that interest you, and only you. It is easy for me to say as I knew I always wanted to go into the medical field. However, those of you that don’t know what you want to do yet – that is totally okay! Think about the things that interest you on a daily basis, think about your hobbies, think about what subjects you enjoy, or don’t enjoy. This should help provide a framework for your chosen subjects at A Level.
Like anything in life, for me the key to success is enjoying what you do. St. Edward’s offers a warm and welcoming environment which strives to create students that excel. I don’t believe I would be where I am today without the support from the staff at this wonderful school.