Diploma Journeys

Sixth Form has been very different to secondary school, and I really could not have predicted how it would have gone once the pandemic intervened. However, I am happy with what I was able to do. Studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry has definitely not been easy the whole time. There have been moments where I have been incredibly proud of myself, but also disappointed when things did not go as planned.

I’ve been able to learn from the times where I haven’t done my best, and use that as fuel to drive myself to succeed in ways that surprised me. Over the summer after year 12, I worked on my Independent Research Report as part of the Global Perspectives course which is equal in UCAS points to a whole A Level. Through hours of work, and help from my mentor, Mr Elmes, I investigated the different ways in which the universe could end and achieved the highest possible distinction. Classrooms and labs are places I’ve always felt comfortable in, but my time in the Sixth Form has also been spent outside these. Having played hockey since year 7, it felt right to continue and join the 1st XI Team. Playing alongside my friends and those from other years, persevering through all kinds of weather and watching ourselves improve has been an unforgettable experience. I had also never expected to be RSM of the Cadet Corp. Standing as next in the line of succession to all those responsible students who had come before me was a weighty responsibility, and I am really grateful for all the help of the staff and seniors who made settling into that leadership position more comfortable. Deputy Head of School was also an important role I had the honour of fulfilling, and being part of the Prefect team has really made me feel like I’ve made the most of my time at St Dunstan’s. It is strange to think that although I have done so much to try and develop myself as a person, I still have no idea what I want to do after university. I like to try and organise things as much for myself as I can, which includes thinking ahead into the future, so not having a plan for after university may seem like a glaring problem. But, this doesn’t scare me. The memories I have made at St Dunstan’s are really important to me, and I’m sure that everything I’ve learnt and experienced will come back to help me sometime later in life.

During my time in the sixth form, I chose to study 3 A Levels: English Literature, History and Economics. With this combination, I was not only encouraged to draw links between subjects to enhance my understanding of important practical matters, such as context in literature, but it also gave me a wider understanding of subjects that I previously never would have thought to have looked into.

For example, I initially chose Economics as I felt that it would complement History and boost my general understanding of international politics, but it has also imbued me with a newfound interest in the human side of economics and the psychology behind our economic decisions - I wouldn’t have thought of looking into this had I not been encouraged by the St Dunstan’s Diploma to do so. This is the magic of the Diploma, it enables students to not only look at what they’re interested in now, but it also encourages them to look beyond their horizons and find new interests. This sense of discovering interests beyond the syllabus does not end with the wide range of interconnecting subjects however, as exemplified by the Global Perspectives Independent Research Report where I was introduced to university style essay writing in debating over the effects of the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent. This not only provided a great talking point in my personal statement and university interviews, being worth the equivalent of a full A Level in UCAS points, but it also taught me valuable skills in coursework writing as I learnt to critically analyse different types of sources. The Diploma isn’t just limited to academic achievement either. I took part in a number of co-curricular Forder activities that were similarly useful in my university applications. I was a part of the Economics society and I was the joint head of Debating society, both societies helped me to develop my understanding of my A Levels beyond the subject. I took part in after-school care for the junior school which allowed me to gain some experience in teaching and leadership. I also held the role of WO2 in the army section of the CCF which helped to boost my confidence and leadership skills whilst also opening up incredible opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise have been available to me, such as shooting in a live weapons range. The St Dunstan’s Diploma opened up opportunities and helped me to foster my existing interest in my A Level overall, proving to be incredibly useful not only in my university applications but also in the benefits they will no doubt bring to me in transferring from school life to university.