The Sixth Form Difference

Warwick had a wealth of resources to help along the way…chatting to Mr Perry and Miss Gurnett about material to use, talking about plays that we’d seen… they were always available to run through monologues in the studio at lunchtime or after school.

I always believed that my own voice and intuition is what would best serve me to get into drama school, but Warwick had a wealth of resources to help along the way. Reading as many plays as possible from the great library there, chatting to Mr Perry and Miss Gurnett about material to use, talking about plays that we’d seen, all of this would help in choosing the monologues that would best support me. Following this, they were always available to run through monologues in the studio or budio at lunchtime or after school, but I was keen to not overwork any of it. You want to be going into auditions fresh and inspired, not stressed out or having had your instinct taken away! I’d spend careers lessons on drama school websites. Rada had audio of monologues from graduating students from the most recent years, and I took lots of inspiration and ideas from here. Really though, just applying to all of the ones that weren’t UCAS because I was also applying for university (maybe a waste of time as I was set on being an actor) and then enjoying the audition process and knowing it might take some time and patience was the way forward.

Warwick School Sixth Form sparked my interest in international affairs, both inside and outside of the classroom.

I studied History, Politics, French and Spanish in the Sixth Form. At the time, I wanted to be a diplomat, and the head of the Sixth Form suggested I study Chinese or Arabic at university to make myself stand out. I was able to get a taster in both languages while I was at Warwick and decided to go the Middle Eastern route. I studied Arabic and Hebrew at Oxford, lived in Lebanon, and then moved to Washington DC to do a master’s in Middle Eastern politics. Ten years later, I’m now the deputy director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a leading think tank.

Beyond the choice to study Arabic, the Sixth Form shaped my career in other ways as well. Hearing leading politicians address the Politics Society nurtured my enduring interest in politics, performing in plays no doubt helped prepare me for media interviews and public speaking, and visiting Washington DC on a school trip helped me decide to move here many years later. Even though I have not continued to study French or Spanish, the foundation that A Level gave me remains, and I used both languages professionally in recent research trips to Morocco and Tunisia.

Colleagues are often surprised to hear that I’m from a small village in the middle of England. But the truth is that I am only here today because of the advice and encouragement I was given in the Warwick School Sixth Form.

I had an amazing experience at Warwick School Sixth Form, where I developed the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary for a successful career in medicine. Having been a pupil at Warwick School since junior school, progressing to the Sixth Form felt like a natural continuation of my educational journey. The Sixth Form’s structured learning through lessons, coupled with the flexibility of free periods, allowed me to balance academic pursuits with extracurricular activities such as music and sports.

I studied, such as chemistry, biology, maths, and economics, primarily chosen as requirements for medical school. The free periods were particularly valuable as they allowed me to engage in independent learning and research, as well as seek guidance from teachers and mentors in that time. This helped me develop into a more independent thinker and identify the most suitable pathways for my future.

The support provided by teachers and mentors during university application and interview preparation was invaluable, helping me navigate the complex process and build the confidence to excel in my interviews. Additionally, the opportunities to lead and public speak through various extracurricular activities honed my communication skills, which have proven essential in my current role as a doctor (currently in GP training).

Warwick School Sixth Form not only provided me with the necessary academic qualifications for medical school but also developed essential skills, such as time management, problem-solving, and critical thinking, which have been instrumental in my professional and personal life.