How Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate Support Aspiring Medics, Vets & Dentists
Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate (QE) are helping to create the medics of tomorrow
QE’s ‘medics provision’ starts in Year 10, although there are plenty of STEM awards, science responsibilities and competitions offered earlier. Every year, QE sees students embark on exciting medicine, veterinary and medicine courses, with six September starters this year, including Georgia M, who is about to study Medicine at the University of Oxford after receiving A*A*AA in her A Levels. ‘One of the main ways that school helped me was with the mock interviews,’ she says. ‘We had MMI interviews with teachers which really prepared me.’
Science and Medics Programme Teacher, Dr Mia Robinson, says: ‘Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry courses are extremely oversubscribed, so we need to ensure each student has the best application possible and the necessary skills and academic success required for their university place. That’s why we tailor our support.’
As part of the curriculum, students can choose to study both GCSEs and A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Psychology. In addition, QE offer an optional ‘super-curricular’ Medicine and Veterinary lesson which is timetabled into the week for Sixth Form students and is run by the science department. These sessions include guest speakers from medical, veterinary and dental careers and provide an invaluable opportunity to learn about university applications, university study, and careers from those that have gone through the process and are currently working in these fields. Guest speakers in 2023–24 included a current GP, a Consultant, a Medicine Lecturer, a Cancer Researcher, a Sports Medicine Business Owner, and a current alumni studying medicine at Newcastle University.
As part of a vast extra-curricular programme, QE hosts a weekly Psychology Club, an annual GP-led Suturing Workshop and an annual Medical Conference where students research and present ideas to an expert panel. QE also offers nationally recognised courses including the Level 2 Award in Basic Life Support and Anaphylaxis, Level 2 Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 Citizen Aid, Youth Mental Health Aware, and the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification. In addition, students can become Science Ambassadors to input on activities and offer peer support.
Students go on educational visits, university tours, and will visit the cancer research facility of alumnus, Dr Ethan Perkins. They undergo work experience including assisting at a research centre, getting hands-on experience with dementia patients, and completing Harrogate Hospital’s 60-hour work experience scheme. The QE Careers Team also assist with hospital placements at York and Leeds General Infirmary, with boarders offered transportation to and from placements.
Each year, QE performs brilliantly in competitions including the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, UK Biology Intermediate Challenge, University of Warwick National Scientific Challenge, Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad and the British Physics and Biology Olympiad Challenges. Last year, students achieved 1 Roentgenium, 54 Gold, 92 Silver, 9 Copper, 104 Bronze and 10 Commendation awards.
All pupils applying to Medicine, Veterinary or Dentistry courses are automatically enrolled onto QE’s Early Applicant Programme, which offers four application support workshops hosted by a current doctor and 1–2 meetings per week with a personal UCAS tutor, who is always from a science background. QE’s careers team provide in-depth information on the UCAT and BMAT exams required for medicine, where to find practise papers, how to use AI in exam preparation, and how to strategically apply to universities based on each candidate’s UCAT score. They host an MMI interview day, which contains seven mini-interviews on the various topics required by universities and fully mimics a typical university interview for these fields. They are also on-hand to carry out further mock interviews on request. This is in addition to the support available to all on topics including university choices, extra-curriculars, and the application process.
QE College currently ranks second nationally for A Level results, according to the Sunday Times Parent Power 2024. Entrance into QE College requires Level 7s in the subjects the student wishes to undertake. All students are supported in obtaining their required grades through one-on-one support, peer support, academic clinics, ‘power hour’ revision sessions, and workshops held by external professionals.
QE offers a small number of academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries to Year 12 starters. UK applicants are required to tour the campus, do an interview, present on a topic, undertake a CAT4 ability test, share recent school reports, and submit proof of predicted GCSE or equivalent grades. Academic scholars are usually required to be predicted Levels 8s and 9s at GCSE.
