Our 2022 leavers are today celebrating a superb set of A-Level results, which will see them go on to study at a mix of league-topping universities. We have six boys heading to either Oxford or Cambridge, as well as boys off to other leading universities such as LSE, Edinburgh, Imperial College, York, St Andrews, Durham and Leeds. Unable to take conventional examinations during the disruption and challenges of the pandemic, our leavers have demonstrated superb resolve to achieve excellent results. Their achievements join those of our IB students, who received their own set of outstanding results earlier in the summer.
Having discovered their passions and strengths during their time at school, they have carefully chosen courses to follow their ambitions and are now off to study a diverse range of courses, including eight who will study Medicine and others which include Law, Engineering, Economics, Fine Art, Architecture, Philosophy, Game Design and Sports Journalism. Almost all our leavers starting their courses this year secured their place at their first choice university.
Some boys will go off to more unique destinations, with five boys securing places at universities in the USA. One will take up an organ scholarship at St David’s Cathedral in Wales, one will begin a degree apprenticeship with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and one has already begun playing rugby for Scotland U20s.
Head Master, James Hodgson said, “I am hugely proud of this year’s leavers. They truly are a group of fine young men who have distinguished themselves across all areas of school life and capped their achievements with a superb set of results. We wish them well as they head their various ways (and look forward to staying in touch as Old Bedfordians).”
School leaver Reuben Glenville was thrilled to achieve five A* grades in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and in his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This has secured his first choice to study Engineering at the University of Cambridge (Reuben is one of six boys who have secured a place at Oxbridge this year), which he hopes will lead him into a career in aeronautical engineering. Having started at Bedford School at the beginning of the Sixth Form, after previously being home-schooled, Reuben credits his parents and his teachers for his success. He explained, “The teachers here are incredible. They go over and above to provide extra workshops, run societies and provide critical thinking opportunities, and they were particularly helpful with my Cambridge application.”
Reuben Glenville achieved five A* grades and will read Engineering at the University of Cambridge.
You could not wipe the smile from James Deardon’s face, after finding out he had gained five A* grades in maths, physics, chemistry, biology and EPQ. This will enable him to follow his passion in renewable energy and will see him read Chemical Engineering at Edinburgh University. James has been a pupil at Bedford School since he was just seven years old and says that he would not have been able to achieve his dream without the ongoing guidance of his teachers who “have always pushed him to maximise his potential.”
James Deardon achieved five A* grades and will read Chemical Engineering at Edinburgh University.
Dylan Swain was both relieved and delighted to receive three A* and two A grades in classics, English literature, politics, Latin and EPQ respectively. Dylan is off to the University of St Andrews to read Classics and, having maximised his opportunities during his time at school, he is keeping a broad mind about his future plans. You might have seen Dylan as a regular cast member in school drama productions in our Quarry Theatre, as well as representing the school in rugby, basketball and athletics.
Dylan Swain’s three A* and two A grades will see him read Classics at the University of St Andrews.
Rugby Scholar Callum Smyth who joined us at the start of Sixth Form, was over the moon with his grades, especially the A in Design and Technology. Callum had a less than conventional route into Bedford School. After receiving average GCSE results at a state school, Callum planned to become a farmer. However, thanks to the keen eye of our Director of Sport, Barry Burgess, Callum was offered a rugby scholarship here and now with three A levels under his belt, he is off to represent Scotland U20s and play for Scottish premiership team Southern Knights – something he believes has not been possible were it not for that chance opportunity. Callum told us, “Bedford School has set me up for life. The calibre of people and quality of teaching taught me the values of life.”
Callum Smyth will go on to play professional and International rugby for Scotland U20s.
Anish Katechia’s three A* grades secured his offer from PricewaterhouseCoopers where he will begin a degree apprenticeship on their prestigious ‘Flying Start’ programme. This will see him work towards qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in under five years (usually it takes eight years) while studying two semesters a year at Manchester University and one semester working on the job at the PricewaterhouseCoopers offices. With only 60 spaces on this course, Anish was thrilled and cannot wait to start.
Anish Katechia has secured a degree apprenticeship at PWH to study accountancy.
Olaoluwa Apesin bagged four A grades and one A* and is one of eight medics from this year’s cohort and will begin a course reading medicine at Queen Mary University of London this September. Olaoluwa is not only following his passion to become a doctor, but he has also spent the last two years of school inspiring and helping other students to do the same. Olaoluwa told us, “This was my way of giving something back to the school who have been so instrumental in my own application. I have helped other boys with the UCAS process and shared my own experiences of the application through small workshops.”
Olaoluwa Apesin is one of eight medics from this cohort who will read Medicine at Queen Mary University of London.
Twins James and Alex Moffat will go their separate ways after securing a superb set of results between them. James who gained A*,A*,A, B will study Philosophy at Durham University. An expert in Computer Science and a proven ability in Cyber Security code cracking, James has chosen Philosophy to complement these skills. Alex was thrilled with A*, A, A and has chosen to take a gap year working in his old Prep School, Aldwickbury, as a teaching assistant and sports coach while he considers his university course for a 2023 entry with a year of work experience behind him.
Twins James and Alex Moffat will read Philosophy at Durham University and take a gap year respectively.