While university destinations are often celebrated, it is also important to recognise that success looks different from one person to another. In this issue, we want to highlight some diverse strengths, journeys and approaches to university from the Class of 2026. The success stories below have been chosen for how they represent the type of student we seek to develop at Epsom: capable, principled and confident individuals who strive to do their best and act with resilience.
Firm in her desire to study Psychology at university, Airis M. is a great example of how personal motivation and tenacity can lead to success. Despite finding Biology a challenging subject, Airis M. knew that it would be a useful A-Level to have studied before starting her undergraduate degree and chose to take the subject, demonstrating real resilience in the face of academic challenges. In her personal statement, Airis M.’s interest in and motivation for studying Psychology shone through brilliantly. Airis M. worked hard to secure the predicted grades required for her university of choice and has received offers from all five of her UCAS choices.
Next, we celebrate our young women in STEM: Aliya A. (Materials Science & Engineering), Lisa C. (Computer Science), Ameera S. (Pharmacy), Kelsie T. (Actuarial Science), Ashley L. (Medicine), Lisa M. (Applied Medical Science), Mailyn L. (Cybersecurity) and Mei T. (Maths, Statistics and Economics). While these students’ chosen fields span a wide range of disciplines, their thoughtful and individual approach to the application process was a common thread across all of their applications. Some students were clear and decisive from the outset, while others took time to explore different interests before settling on the path best aligned with their strengths and interests. Their success stories underline the importance of engaging deeply with a chosen subject and being honest with oneself about individual strengths and interests in order to find the best-fitting university course.
Finally, Ee Y. (Engineering) and Ee W. (Maths and Computer Science) represent two students whose applications stood out for how they saw their degrees serving a specific purpose in the real world. If students are academically strong and want to make a positive impact, it is often assumed that they should pursue a people-focused degree such as Medicine. However, the reality is that individuals can contribute positively to society in many different ways. Ee Y.’s motivation for pursuing Engineering is to one day develop technology that can help mitigate the global challenge of food insecurity, while Ee W. aspires to apply his learning in Maths and Computer Science to improving the quality of AI technology in healthcare.
Together, these stories remind us that there is no single blueprint for success. At Epsom, we seek to support students in identifying the best next step for them as individuals and, whether through sustained determination, thoughtful exploration or a clear sense of purpose, each of these students has approached their next steps with self-awareness and ambition. We look forward to seeing how our graduates continue to apply the same curiosity, resilience and integrity they have shown during their time at Epsom, and the different ways in which they will make meaningful contributions in the years ahead.
Ms Anna Macleod
Head of Higher Education