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A-level case studies
Posted: 15th August 2019Academic students are leaving Epping this summer and heading for top universities.
Year 13 students who collected their A-level results from Epping St John’s Church of England School today have secured their places in further education.
Among them was Will Jones, 18, of Epping, who picked up A in English literature, B in geography and B in history. He is off to Cardiff University – a Russell Group university – to study journalism.
He said: “I didn’t sleep too well last night! We were expecting to hear from UCAS at 8am with confirmation of university places, but I checked my email at 7.30am and it was already there. It was mental; I woke my mum and dad and kept refreshing the page in case it was an error.
“I am not sure whether I want to go into broadcast or print journalism, but this course will give me a taste for all areas and enable me to choose the path I want to go down.
“My teachers have been really good in all subjects; they have been really supportive. The small classes sizes have meant we have built up good bonds with our teachers. They were so happy for us to get good grades, so that is really nice.
“I am excited for the independence university will bring. I should be really good; I’m excited.”
Cleo Doncaster, 18, of Roydon, is off to Anglia Ruskin University to study adult nursing, having secured Distinction in BTEC health and social care, C in English and D in philosophy and ethics.
She said: “I feel really good now I have my results. I am going to go out for lunch to celebrate.
“I am not sure what field of nursing I want to go into, but the course covers them all. I have always known I’ve wanted to go into healthcare and some sort of nursing.
“My health and social care teacher Mrs Marshall has lots of experience and so was really helpful. She gave me mock interviews and asked really difficult questions, so when I got to the university the real thing seemed a lot easier.”
For Chloe Kyriacou, 18, of Roydon, results day has put her on her dream path towards a career in the literary world. She achieved A* in history, A in English literature, A in religious studies and B in sociology. She will study English literature at University of Sussex.
She said: “Ideally, I would like to go into editing, but any kind of career in that field would make me happy.
“It feels amazing to have got the grades I needed to go onto university. I am very, very relieved and happy to get the opportunity; it’s insane! I feel quite lucky to be able to go to university to do what I want to do.
“My teachers have been very, very supportive and helpful – even today, helping me to understand my grades. My experience of sixth form has been great; I could not have asked for more.”
Being able to be open and honest about her feelings and how she was coping enabled Madeline McLean to secure the university place she desired.
The 18-year-old, of North Weald, picked up A* in extended project, A in fine art, B in English literature and C in philosophy and ethics. She will study fine art at Lancaster University, which includes a placement year.
She said: “I could always be open and honest with my teachers. They picked up on how we were coping. Teachers would pull us to one side if they felt we weren’t ourselves to check we were ok. It was great to feel we weren’t alone and didn’t have to be the ones going to them for help.
“It feels surreal to get these results. It is a massive weight lifted off of my shoulders.
“I would like to work, in the long-term, in an art gallery or publishing house. I would also like to sell my own work, so I hope to get better at drawing and learn how to sell while at university. For each module of the course, it teaches you how to use what we learn in the real world.
While many Epping students are heading for university, others have found pathways which suit them better.
For Nina Honey, 18, of Epping, that means a three-year apprenticeship with Transport for London (TfL). She will start work – including on the new Elizabeth line – in September with her “dream job” after achieving a Merit in BTEC engineering.
She said: “That was exactly the result I needed to secure my apprenticeship.
“I was not sure exactly what I wanted to do within engineering and the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), so went to see the sixth form careers advisor. They helped me to research different opportunities and this one stood out to me. I had done work experience with TfL in Year 10, but our chat opened my eyes to their apprenticeship scheme. To be able to talk to someone in person at Epping St John’s was of great support to me.
“Alongside working, I will be studying for a higher, more specific qualification; a Level 3 in BTEC rail engineering. I will be on a rotation of placements, so will get to experience the whole organisation.
“This is pretty much my dream job. It is really exciting. I am feeling confident and am really excited to start work.”
