Future Choices

Budehaven Sixth Form Students making plans for University

Budehaven Sixth Form students are currently making their plans to study at university next autumn. Many students have applied for places at universities all over the United Kingdom this year and we are very proud that many have received some excellent conditional offers. Often the application process involves sitting entrance exams and being put through rigorous interviews; our students have acquitted themselves extremely well. Sixty students have applied to university this year.

Budehaven Sixth Form has had great success with university applications with over a quarter of students receiving offers from prestigious Russell Group Universities, this exceeds the national average. Furthermore, Budehaven A level performance has sat consistently in the top 20% nationally.  In 2022, A level performance was placed in the top 10% nationally and 43% of our year 13 students went to Russell group universities. Last week, student alumni returned for the Celebration of Achievement Evening, collecting certificates.

Celebration of Achievement Evening

Two students, Indigo and Heather are currently enjoying their time at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Indigo is reading French and Russian at St. Edwards College, Oxford University and Heather is reading History at Cambridge University.

Oxford University

Cambridge University

This year’s Year 13 have applied to university, with the January deadline looming. Bea has a place to read Geography at Christ Church College, Oxford University. Matt has applied to Cambridge to read Maths and is awaiting a decision having been put through a series of tests and rigorous interviews.

Business and Mathematics degrees are popular choices for our students and it is important to point out that in Budehaven Sixth Form, Economics and Mathematics A Levels are well-subscribed and successful courses; it often inspires students to take the subject further. Erin has an offer to read Marketing at Liverpool John Moores University. Sonny has an offer to read Business and Environment from The University of Exeter.

Exeter University

Law and Criminology degrees are always sought after and a number of students this year have received some excellent offers. Chaya has an offers from Bath Spa University to read Criminology and Psychology.

Living in a coastal town has inspired many students to love their environment. Consequently, applying for Environmental Science degrees are popular, Liam has an offer from Bristol UWE, Kai is keen to study Ocean Science and Marine Conservation at Plymouth University. Jack has an offer to read Environmental science at Aberystwyth University. James and Archie are keen geographers, James has offers at The University of Birmingham, Manchester, Manchester Met and Queen Mary University, London. Archie has offers from Bristol UWE, Cardiff university, Plymouth and Southampton. Will has offers to read International relations and Politics at Cardiff university, Human Geography and International relations at Liverpool Hope university and Politics and International relations at Bristol UWE.

Apprenticeships

For those students not attending university, Budehaven has two experienced Careers Officers to support them with High Level Apprenticeships at organisations such as Sky, BP and Thames Water. Students are helped with CV writing and with navigating the variety of careers that exist in the world. Matt and Alex have offers to enter the Armed Forces.

Budehaven Sixth Form spend a considerable amount of time helping students prepare for interviews. We have been very lucky to have the support of a variety of external business people who voluntarily coached our students providing them with the confidence to perform well. In addition, a number of senior teachers have been coaching students with their interview skills.

Science degrees are always popular at Budehaven with many students wanting to follow a degree in biomedicine or engineering. Dan has offers from Birmingham and Bristol. Dylan has an offer to read Paramedic Science from Bristol UWE, Surrey and is awaiting a decision from Canterbury Christ church University.

The current Year 12 are beginning their journey on the UCAS path. Several students have been selected to be part of The University of Exeter Scholar’s Scheme where they attend workshops on subjects such as ancient history, theology, bioscience, geology and mining. Four students have been visiting North Devon Hospital, shadowing surgeons and doctors, as they have aspirations to become medical students.

Enrichment

Enrichment activities

Enrichment is very important for a sixth former and many Year 12 students are working with lower year students helping them develop their literacy and study skills. Budehaven also offers the acclaimed Extended Project Qualification, Duke of Edinburgh and Higher Sport Leader awards. In 2020, Budehaven received the plaudit “Best Sports Leader College in the country.”

This week the current year 11s will be attending the Budehaven sixth form experience day, learning about A Levels and how to study as a sixth former.

Our students’ future choices demonstrate a Sixth Form with proven high aspirations and every promise for success. One of the things which Budehaven always sets out to achieve is to prepare Sixth Form students for university life, in such a way that the transition from school to university is smooth, because students have not only worked hard, they have also matured as young adults, able to cope as readily with examinations as with the immense opportunities which university life presents. It is good to see that hard work is really paying off, with first class offers from universities right across the UK being made to local students who deserve every success in their exams.

Written by Matthew White – Assistant Headteacher and Director of Post 16