Mabyn Troup

left 2005

I took a gap year before applying to university. Even though I'd left, I was still able to come back and have a mock interview. We’d always been challenged a lot at St Paul’s, so the leap from A levels to university was slightly less daunting. I was always involved in music as well and it motivated me to set up an orchestra at Exeter College, Oxford, to recreate the same kind of group experience.

Melody Taheri

left 2002

I decided during my GCSEs that I wanted to study medicine at university. I did several practice interviews and all the staff I approached had helpful feedback. Working on society committees and the Colet play gave me confidence in managing teams and communicating with people. St Paul’s taught me to approach my studies rigorously but more importantly it gave me the tools for effective studying and the understanding that, even if I had a gap in my knowledge, I had the skills to find out what I needed. I’ve just graduated with merit from the Royal Free and University College Medical School at UCL.

Louise Hopper

left 2002

After leaving St Paul’s I took a gap year before going to Cambridge to study German and Russian at Jesus College.  I graduated in 2007 and I’ve finished an MA in Russian politics and nationalism at UCL. St Paul’s gave me lots of help and extra reading lists when I was applying for university. It also made me good at balancing academic work with extra-curricular activities – which came in particularly helpful when I rowed for the Cambridge blue boat and had to combine 12 training sessions a week with my studies. I found Cambridge an extension of the intellectual atmosphere at school but it’s still rare for me to meet anyone who challenges my brain the way that my friends at St Paul’s did!

Bella Marrin

left 2007

I sometimes wonder whether if there hadn't been a kettle and free tea in the art block I’d have started a foundation course at Camberwell College of Arts and tried to win my parents around to the idea that I might never do an academic degree – but I’d like to think I would. I'll never forget the drawing trip to Andrew’s Farm that the art staff arranged for a small group of us. If I ever find any sort of success in what I hope to do, I’ll owe much to the teachers, the school, the amazing resources and facilities I was offered from very early on and, of course, a small amount to the kettle.

Catherine Baker

left 2000

I chose my three favourite subjects for A level – history, Spanish and Latin – and when it came to university applications I looked at dozens of history courses before I picked the most appealing one at LSE. St Paul’s trusted me to take responsibility for my own intellectual development and I can trace what I do today right back to my time there – I’m still a historian using languages every day. I’ve just submitted my PhD thesis on music and identity in Croatia to UCL and I’m starting a post-doc at the University of Southampton.