Changing the world seems to be beyond our reach, even more so considering the complicated times we are living in. However, there is always room to inspire others and have a strong social impact, as exemplified by Jessica and Michael who have discovered purpose beyond the classroom and are ready to make an impact and leave an indelible mark on society.

At St. Bede’s we know that you don’t need to know the future to face it, but you do need to be prepared with the best tools. This has been demonstrated by many of our alumni who have become role models and examples for the generations of Bedians following them. Being part of a legacy is more than carrying knowledge with you, it is becoming the person you want to be thanks to what you have learned, sharing it with others and never tiring of fighting for those dreams that once may have seemed impossible. That is why we are proud to be part of the story of many young leaders who are ready to achieve those dreams.

To Make an Impact on People’s Lives

Each student who passes through these classrooms is irreplaceable; they all leave a mark on the lives of those of us who remain at St. Bede’s. It is really gratifying to see our students developing both personally and academically and it fills us with great joy to know that we are part of their pathway.

Jessica N, a Sixth Form student, tells us a little about how she envisions her future. She has had offers to study medicine at the University of Cambridge, Imperial College, London and Queen Mary University of London.

Why do you want to become a doctor/why did you choose to apply for medicine?

I want to become a doctor because I have always been interested in learning about human biologyand being able to apply this knowledge to helping people makes for a very fulfilling and rewarding career.

What kind of things have you done in preparation for your application?

I have done a lot of things to prepare for my application. This includes gaining some work experience with a community mental health team and volunteering with a charity called Kissing It Better whose goal is combat loneliness amongst the elderly. Through these, I was able to develop my communication skills as well as my sense of empathy. Reading books such as Do No Harm by Henry Marsh also helped me gain more insight into the challenges that come with being a doctor. A very important aspect of my preparation was the help I received from Dr McMonagle and the Medical Forum led by Mrs Prince. They kindly took the time to review my personal statement and prepare me for my interviews, which were probably the most difficult parts of the application process.

What are you most looking forward to at university?

I am looking forward to learning a lot about medicine and building on the knowledge that I have gained from my A-Level subjects. One of the best parts about studying medicine, in my opinion, is the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives, so I am also looking forward to going on placements in hospitals and becoming more familiar with the practical side of medicine. The vibrant student community at university is also appealing and I will make sure to join a few societies in my time there.

What field do you think you might specialise in?

At the moment I am not completely sure, however, foetal medicine is a field that I found myself interested in after watching a documentary called The Surgeon’s Cut and reading about how different a foetus’ cardiovascular system is compared to that of an adult. Therefore, foetal cardiology is an area I could potentially specialise in.

What advice would you give to our current GCSE students who are thinking of applying for medicine?

The first step to having a competitive application is having good GCSE grades, so I would encourage them to work hard and be focused during their lessons. Revision outside of lessons is also crucial. As a medical applicant it is important that they show that they are well rounded individuals so they should try to take part in the extracurricular activities that the College has to offer.

An Amazing Day of Work Experience

Michael W from the Lower Sixth had an incredible work experience opportunity in Birmingham a few days ago.

He spent the day with Steve McCabe MP on the Erdington Parliamentary by-election campaign and then met the Lord Mayor of Birmingham at the Valve Disease Awareness Campaign in the evening.

During the course of the day, Michael acted as a researcher and had the opportunity to observe a series of meetings between Mr McCabe, election stakeholders and the public as Mr McCabe supported the Paulette Hamilton election campaign.

Reflecting upon his experience, Michael said, ‘I have had an amazing day of work experience with Steve McCabe MP. I’ve observed casework and have spent time in the by-election control room. I’ve been working alongside Ed Miliband and Lisa Nandy too. Steve gave me such an insight into politics and he was so open and honest. He has invited me down to Westminster to experience how things work in the Houses of Parliament.’

Whatever career path Michael takes in the future, he will no doubt reflect upon what he learned in one special day. – Mr D Rose

An Intense Debate on the Global Market

Economists in the Sixth Form at St Bede’s regularly use debate as a platform to develop research and presentation skills in the context of current issues. In a recent debate, students wrestled with balancing the need to protect infant industry and national security using tariffs or quotas with the need to achieve global efficiency in the consumption of natural resources through specialisation and free international trade. William argued eloquently, justifying free trade to maximise efficiency and Dominic built strong counter arguments supporting the need to protect, particularly a developing nation’s interests, to ensure a stronger economic future for everyone. The debate was intense, creating well balanced analysis and evaluation of the issues facing developing nations when they strive to trade on the global market. The conclusion: This time a draw with well justified points made on both sides highlighting the need for a sophisticated mixed economy approach to global markets.

Positions of Head Girl and Head Boy of St. Bede’s

This week, several highly impressive candidates put themselves forward for the positions of Head Girl and Head Boy of St. Bede’s. The start of the selection process saw them present their visions, plans and innovative proposals to their peers; they spoke about their deep loyalty to the College and their commitment to representing it. Both staff and students were highly impressed by the confidence and conviction with which the candidates spoke, as well as the superb quality of their ideas. – Dr A. McMonagle