STEM Leaflet (2026) - Flipbook - Page 12
STUDENT PROGRESSION
“I chose Varndean because it felt really friendly, like the teachers actually cared about ge琀�ng to know
you as a person. They know how to create a real sense of community and are able to o昀昀er personalised
help, which meant I never felt lost in the crowd. Despite only doing Double Science GCSE at school, I
chose to con琀椀nue doing STEM subjects because I enjoy problem solving and wanted to understand more
about the world around me. I’ve found that studying Chemistry at degree level and working in labs
require a huge amount of collabora琀椀on and crea琀椀vity, and those are reasons I s琀椀ll love it as a subject.”
Eliza McHugh, Chemistry, University of Oxford
Natasha studied Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Modern History and French at Varndean before studying
Medicine at University College London (UCL) in 2015. A昀琀er a gruelling six years, the last eighteen
months during a pandemic, she graduated in 2021 as a fully quali昀椀ed junior doctor and is now working
in a London hospital. She has been a frequent visitor back to Varndean, regularly assis琀椀ng the Chemistry
Department in giving talks to our aspiring medical students about what it is like to train as a doctor. She
is also a voice for those learners who are deaf or hard of hearing and is passionate about accessibility for
deaf people in educa琀椀on. Natasha Wilcock, Medicine, University College London
Labib studied Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Economics at Varndean, before going on to study a six year
degree in Medicine. He is now working as a junior doctor at the Royal Sussex County Hospital with the
aim is to pursue a career in surgery.
Labib Syed, Medicine, Bartholomews & the London School of Medicine & Den琀椀stry
“During my 琀椀me at Varndean Sixth Form College, I studied A Level Biology, Chemistry and Early Modern
History, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Being a part of Varndean has always felt like an extended
family to me and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to study there. The support from my
tutors was invaluable, and something I will always be extremely thankful for. My greatest ambi琀椀on has
always been to become a vet and it is without doubt that the support I have received, especially from the
Science Department, has been invaluable in my journey. I must say, being at ‘vet school’ now is surreal.”
Jessica Duke, Veterinary Medicine & Science, University of Surrey
“I’ve really enjoyed being able to understand how the world around us works, from the smallest of
microorganisms and subatomic par琀椀cles to en琀椀re species, planets, galaxies and the laws of our universe.
I gained so much knowledge during my two years at Varndean Sixth Form College, it’s unbelievable. I
think my life would have been signi昀椀cantly di昀昀erent had I not gone there.”
Danny Du昀케ll, Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London
“I chose Varndean because of the strong Science department and the support it o昀昀ered for aspiring
medics. I was always interested in the sciences so it was a natural progression for me to study medicine.
During my 琀椀me at Varndean I went on a trip to CERN in Geneva, as well as the United Na琀椀ons. I also
a琀琀ended Chemistry Conferences and won awards in various Chemistry compe琀椀琀椀ons by the RSC and the
University of Cambridge. Outside of college I also won ‘UK’s Young Scien琀椀st of the Year’ award, as well
as a seven year scholarship by The Army. A昀琀er studying medicine at university, I aspire to be a military
doctor in The Army.” Anya-Niamh Tidey, Medicine, St George’s College, University of London
“I chose to study all STEM subjects because I wanted a real challenge and be provided with a source
of aspira琀椀on and knowledge. I studied Chemistry, Physics, Maths and AS Biology and also achieved a
silver award in both the C3L6 and Chemistry Olympiad. Outside of college, I also gained an award for
a琀琀ending an HE programme at Sussex University. I then went on to study Physics with Astronomy at
university and hope to specialise in fusion in stars. Learning what I did at Varndean was a true honour,
something that I will cherish and never forget.”
Owen Beardwell, Physics with Astronomy, University of Southampton
