“After completing my GCSEs, I found it extremely difficult to decide which subjects to continue taking; I was interested in so many areas it was impossible for me to choose 3 or 4. The International Baccalaureate (IB) allowed me to continue taking all the subjects I enjoyed, as well as others I may not have otherwise chosen, but proved to be equally interesting. I also liked the multi-disciplinary approach in GCSEs, and wanted to carry this on at the next level of education. Additionally, I found the small class-size and tight-knit social group on the IB appealing, as I came from a fairly small school.
Prior to Exeter College, I attended the South Devon Steiner School, near Dartington. I knew about the IB before I applied, however, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to study this course. Therefore, in around November of my final year at Secondary School I shadowed one of the students in the first year of the IB for a day to get a feel for what the course was like. This was very useful in determining my choice of course. I also researched the course heavily on the college website, which gave me information about the different subjects and what they contained, which helped me decide which ones to choose.
I would say in terms of academic achievements, the award for academic excellence I was awarded for the first year mock exams was the highlight. However, studying at Exeter College is not all about academic achievement, and I consider signing up for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and after-school clubs such as Model United Nations and Medical Ethics to also be personal achievements for broadening my social circle and pursuing other interests.
I really enjoyed the community aspect of the IB, where everyone is genuinely happy to help with any issues to do with work or otherwise. Taking a larger number of subjects than at A Level also enabled me to see patterns between different subjects, which made studying them all the more interesting.
I found the central location of Exeter College great for social outings and transport. The amount of extracurricular activities available was also highly interesting, with clubs for most interests. Naturally, meeting new people was also a nerve-wracking yet enjoyable experience, with people having extremely diverse interests and backgrounds.
The college environment is very supportive for learning and socialising, with areas dedicated to studying, chilling and both. This ensures that you can choose the environment to suit what you want at the time, rather than the other way around. The teachers also try to make sure that any problems you face have solutions found for them. Occasionally, studying a minority course has made me feel slightly unsure about topics which are available to other students, however this has been infrequent, and someone is usually on hand to help.
I would definitely recommend Exeter College to anyone wishing to get a good, rounded education in nearly any field they are interested in. The sheer wealth of courses and activities available will ensure that anyone would have a struggle being bored, and Exeter itself is a nice city to study near. In my experience, the teachers are genuinely passionate about their subjects and the quality of the work you produce, which connects to the ethos of high achievement which surrounds the college. If you are willing to put work into your chosen course(s), Exeter College will support you in your ambitions, which, in my opinion, is the best thing you can ask for really.”
Jess achieved a fantastic 42 points (out of 45) in his end of year exams and is progressing onto an Apprenticeship Degree.