IB Diploma students at King Edward’s School have secured places on a diverse range of subjects at an equally diverse and impressive range of universities.
With an average IB Diploma score of 35.6 points, surpassing the global average of 30.24 points, our students have demonstrated solid academic performance.
One in five of the cohort achieved 40 points or above, which is higher than the UK national average of 16%, and several students achieved exceptional scores, including eight boys who attained either 44 or 43 points.
KES pupils will continue to uphold the long-standing tradition of attending top UK universities like Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group institutions, as well as choosing a wonderfully diverse range of subjects.
Dr Katy Ricks, Chief Master, said: “From Natural Sciences at Cambridge, Maths at UCL and Medicine at Imperial to Engineering at Oxford, Broadcast Journalism at Leeds and Criminology at Exeter, our pupils have selected courses and universities that match their passions, their intellectual curiosity and their future career plans. Other pupils will read Sports Management and Coaching with a professional year at Bath, Biomedical Engineering at Imperial and Automotive and Transport Design at Coventry, and this is to name but a few of the wonderfully diverse subjects that await the King Edward’s Class of 2023. It is wonderful to see such variety in our pupils’ Higher Education choices. We wish each one of them well as they embark on the next stage of their education.
“As well as preparing pupils academically for university, school is about preparation for life and we aim that our pupils leave us as well-rounded young men who are ready to make a contribution to the world around them. This is certainly true of this year’s leavers. They have contributed magnificently to all parts of school life during their time at King Edward’s, including during the hugely disruptive Covid years. We are exceptionally proud of the resilience they have shown.”
KES School Captain, Aurelio, who achieved 44 points, will read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. He said: “I am really happy with my results today. It’s reflective of all the hard work I’ve put in over the last seven years. I am so excited and nervous to be going to university. My teachers have supported me amazingly, especially with the university applications – I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Zain, who also achieved 44 points and will read Engineering at the University of Oxford, said: “I’m so excited to be going to Oxford to study Engineering – it hasn’t really sunk in. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teachers and the amazing environment at school.”
Edi will read Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London. He said: “I’m ecstatic! I worked hard and this means everything to me. Imperial is my dream university – it’s got everything I wanted so I’m really happy I got in. I wanted to study both Medicine and Engineering so this degree perfectly combined both for me. My teachers have been excellent and supported me along the way.”
Lucas, who ran the Law Society amongst other activities including representing the school at athletics, will be heading off to read Criminology at the University of Exeter. He said: “I got into my first choice in Criminology at Exeter. I’m really proud of what I have achieved and am really looking forward to starting. Studying the IB has been rigorous but very rewarding. My teachers have been so amazing throughout – particularly Miss Babb!”
Saxophonist and pianist Sean, who has been involved in both music and drama at KES, will read Maths at UCL. He said: “Maths has always been the most enjoyable thing for me – it’s logical and makes sense. I always thought it was what I would do at university. I’m looking forward to being in London – there’s so much happening there.”
Soutir is looking ahead to studying Medicine at Imperial, following his broad range of IB subjects: Biology, Chemistry and Maths at Higher Level and Literature and Performance, History and German at Standard Level. “Being able to do subjects other than Biology and Chemistry was great,” he said.
Krishan will be combining his passion for sport and communications with a Broadcast Journalism degree at the University of Leeds, with an end goal to be a sports journalist or commentator. During his time at KES, he has taken photographs and written match reports for rugby and has been involved in publicising drama productions through his time with Stage Crew. He said: “Being able to talk about what I enjoy and being a voice for people would be amazing.”
Amit will study Sports Management and Coaching with a professional year at the University of Bath. He said: “My main passions are sport and drama so I had a bit of a dilemma in what to choose, and they’re both very competitive industries to get into. I’ve opted to study sport but will continue to be involved in drama. I’d be very happy in either industry.”
Charles, who will study Theatre and English at the University of Bristol, has also been heavily involved in drama both inside and outside of school. He said: “KES has the best drama department around. My dream would be to get a job in the theatre industry, but I know it’s very competitive.”
The IB Diploma comprises six subjects, and all students take English, mathematics, at least one science, at least one language and at least one humanities subject. Students also complete an extended essay on any subject of their choice, follow a Theory of Knowledge course and undertake a range of co-curricular activity and community service. This year’s IB Diploma exams were the first public exams sat by our Sixths (Year 13s), because of the impact of Covid on their GCSEs.
