For Poppy Harry-Thomas, choosing the right sixth form was about finding somewhere that could offer the subjects she wanted and the flexibility and support to help her achieve her ambitions.
Poppy chose Gower College Swansea to study French and Spanish A Levels, subjects that were not available together at other local sixth-form options.
Her mum, Louisa Harry-Thomas, said the breadth of subjects available was a key reason for choosing the College, but it was the individual support Poppy received that really stood out.
“Even though it’s a big College, they seemed to manage to treat the children as individuals,” Louisa said, highlighting the College’s flexibility in responding to students’ individual needs.
That flexibility was evident from the beginning. When Poppy’s chosen combination of three A Levels initially created a timetable clash, the College worked with her to rearrange the timetable within a matter of weeks, allowing her to continue with the subjects she had chosen.
Poppy’s experience developed further when she became involved in Gower College Swansea’s GCS Honours programme, which provided additional academic support and helped her consider her future university options.
Although she was initially unsure where she wanted to study, encouragement from the College led Poppy to consider applying through the Oxbridge process. She has since received an offer from the University of Cambridge, subject to achieving the required grades.
Louisa said the support Poppy received helped give her the confidence to believe that Cambridge could be within her reach.
“She worried, was she good enough? And they gave her the confidence through a range of support and tutoring and visiting lecturers to believe that she could do it,” she said.
For Poppy, the personalised support offered throughout the application process was particularly valuable.
She praised the one-to-one personal statement guidance and interview preparation, as well as the opportunity to practise interviews with former Oxbridge students.
“I think the thing that stood out for me was particularly the one-to-one personal statement support and the interview prep,” Poppy said.
Alongside her academic studies, Poppy has also taken advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom. She was able to travel to China with the College, where she experienced the Chinese language and culture first-hand.
Her studies in French and Spanish have also given her more than just linguistic skills. Poppy said they have helped her develop an understanding of other cultures - something she believes will be particularly important if she pursues an international career.
She also highlighted the College’s mental health support, saying that students can access one-to-one support when needed.
Poppy credits her time at Gower College Swansea with helping her develop academically and personally. She said taking part in the Honours programme has strengthened her critical thinking skills and will hopefully stand her in good stead for the future.
With a Cambridge offer now in hand, Poppy’s journey demonstrates how the right combination of subject choice, personalised support and opportunities beyond the classroom can help students realise ambitions they may not have initially thought possible.
As her mum puts it: “We’re super happy.”