Our 2023 leavers are today celebrating an excellent set of A-level results, with three quarters of all grades at A* to B, leading to a spectacular range of post-school university (and other) destinations and courses.
The sheer breadth of courses is a highlight this year, with places taken up for Sports Science, Creative Music Technology, Ethics, Value and Philosophy, Marine Biology, Media and Communications, Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources, Music, Multimedia and Electronics, Zoology, Real Estate and Optometry – somewhat mirroring the school’s inherent diversity. These courses were chosen alongside the more staple diets for Bedfordians who will also take up a variety of courses in Medicine (six boys will go on to medical school this year), Business, Economics, Engineering, Accounting, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Architecture and Physics.
Some of the top university destinations for Bedford School boys include Oxford, LSE, Edinburgh, Imperial College, York, St Andrews, Durham, UCL, KCL, Leeds and Loughborough.
Head Master, James Hodgson, said “I congratulate sincerely the boys for doing so brilliantly; they have not had an easy few years at Senior School, yet they have embraced all that we have to offer, inside and outside the classroom, to make the very most of their opportunities. They leave (and leave us) with great memories, good friends, strong values and the confidence to bring their very best to the world around them. I wish them all well”.
School leaver Luca Moretto was thrilled to secure his first-choice destination, which will see him read Ancient and Modern History at Oxford University (Lincoln College). Luca, who gained an A* and four As (in English, History, Latin, Maths and his Extended Project Qualification), was hugely relieved and extremely happy after seeing his results. Luca said, “The school played a big part in helping me prepare for the Oxford entrance exams – I have undertaken a lot of practice interviews and tests with Mr Ramsden, which have been a massive help.” Luca hopes his degree will take him into a career involving international relations.
Luca Moretto
James Wootton-Evans achieved an outstanding set of three A*s and an A (in Politics, Business, Geography and his Extended Project Qualification) securing a place at Exeter University to study International Relations. James was absolutely “over the moon” with his results, explaining “I never thought I’d get anywhere near three A*s and so I’m very happy indeed – the hard work paid off. My biggest challenge has been in writing essays and trying to write enough in the short amount of time given. Because I have dyslexia, it takes me longer to write but the school have been brilliant in giving me extra support and helping me find different techniques to use. My teachers have always been there for me, marking my essays and happy to help, no matter how small my query might be.” James is keeping his career options open, but has a keen interest in the Foreign Office, Government and Ministry of Defence.
James Wootton-Evans
Varun Nathan is one of six Bedford School boys who will study medicine and after waking up to three A*s in Biology, Chemistry and Computer Science, has secured a place at Birmingham University. Varun was hugely relieved to see his results after seeing news reports that fewer A and A* results have been awarded nationally. Varun explained that the whole process of getting into medical school was tough and that school helped a great deal. “Some of the teachers helped me with the one-to-one interviews, giving me the chance to practise over and over.” Varun is very much keeping his options open with regard to which field of medicine he might branch into, but has already shown an interest in anaesthetics and plastics.
Varun Nathan
Anthony Muffoletto will also study medicine this year after achieving an A* and two As (in Italian, Biology and Chemistry) which gained him a place to read Medicine and Surgery at Queen Mary University of London. Anthony, who is a talented rugby player playing in the 1st XV and on the Federal Centre of Milan’s young rugby talent programme, has balanced his love of the game with his studies well and told us, “It wasn’t easy, but the work has paid off.” Anthony’s biggest challenge was not only to achieve the A-Level grades he needed, but also to overcome the long and difficult process of selection for medical school. Anthony went on to say that “It was only due to the work and push by Bedford School staff that I ended up doing so well. My teachers were very focussed and deeply interested in their subjects which helped me get my head around the detail.” Anthony wants to explore all areas of the medical world to see which one is the best fit for him.
Anthony Muffoletto
Gideon Chan is “absolutely thrilled” with three A*s in Economics, Geography and History, which gained him a place at his first-choice university to study Geography at University College London (UCL). Gideon told us, “I tried to aim high from the start of the Lower Sixth but did not think about getting A*s. Therefore, rather than feeling unexpected, I just haven’t thought about grades too much. I’m more excited that I’m accepted into the university that I was aiming for.” Gideon, who remains extremely humble with respect to his high grades, has a lot of gratitude for the school explaining, “I cannot stress enough how much the school has helped me achieve my goals. My teachers had been so supportive, and passionate when I asked them questions, or when I asked for their guidance regarding revision.”
As a boarder in school, Gideon has benefited from all that boarding offers, including a huge amount of pastoral support; he particularly appreciated the support he received from the staff in his boarding house, explaining, “They have calmed me down a lot and remained supportive even when I was in doubt of myself sometimes.”
Gideon’s degree will hopefully pave a way for him to work in global organisations such as the United Nations or perhaps urban planning. Although Gideon will keep an open mind, though; he said, “You never know what opportunities might arise and I look forward to cherishing every opportunity to learn and enrich my experiences.”
Gideon Chan
Troy Arora is also off to UCL to read Physics after opening certificates showing four A*s in Physics, Maths, Chemistry and Further Maths this morning. More than anything, Troy wanted to secure his first-choice university place and before looking at his results, he logged onto UCAS to see if he had been accepted. After a few site crashes, he eventually saw that he had been accepted. Instead of looking online for his results, Troy was one of the few boys who decided to come into school to open the envelope of his results with his parents in the ‘traditional’ way – they too were over the moon and “extremely proud” of their son.
Troy joined Bedford School in Remove Form having previously studied at a grammar school, which he explained was “a lot different and wasn’t as supportive as Bedford and so I struggled a bit. Coming to Bedford was completely different as I received so much more help.” Troy will do an integrated masters and then hopes to go on to do a doctorate whilst also pursuing his passions of fitness and business.
Troy Arora
Calum Nanda gained two A*s in Maths and Physics and an A in Economics to secure a place at Cardiff University to study Optometry. Calum was very nervous in the lead up to his results but was so pleased and relieved to discover he had done so well. As soon as he opened his email he ran into his parents’ room to tell them, after which his dad jumped up and down with joy for about three minutes! Calum said that his teachers helped him find a study technique that worked from him, which really helped him knuckle down and revise hard in the lead up to the exams.
Calum Nanda
Another UCL acceptance was for Tai Tsang-Goodwin who achieved three A*s and an A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry and will study Theoretical Physics in September. Tai said of opening his results, “I felt immense relief because I was so nervous opening them but as soon as I saw the grades I thought how all the hard work had paid off. Working for these exams was probably the hardest I have ever worked in my life!”
Tai was a boarder during his time at school and explained how much being in the boarding house helped him to prepare for his exams. He told us, “My boarding Housemaster and Assistant Housemaster were always there to have a chat and listen. My biggest challenge was organising my time and so they sat me down and helped me manage my timetable to be able to fit everything in for the week.”
Tai is keeping an open mind about his future after university, explaining that “half the jobs that will be around don’t actually exist yet and so I will see what opportunities might arise.”
Tai Tsang-Goodwin
John Ogunyiluka is one of our International Baccalaureate students who got his results back in July and secured his first-choice course studying Architecture at UCL. John explained, “I am really pleased with my results, and it feels really fulfilling after all the work I put in. The teachers have been incredible at helping me with the subjects that I was not as strong in and really pushed me with the course work.”.
John Ogunyiluka