Brighton College
Name: Rob
Secondary school: Brighton College
University destination + subject studied: UCL, English
- What is your first memory starting your school?
Being given a tour of the school by the school rugby captain and vice captain. I was only 14 at the time and, to me, they looked like giants, but they were incredibly kind and made me feel excited to be joining.
- What is your best memory from your school?
I have too many memories to choose from, all of which are highly treasured: from performing in plays and musicals, to rugby tours, Duke of Edinburgh hikes, cultural trips abroad, Combined Cadet Force camps, ski trips – life at Brighton was a never-ending succession of activities.
- What is one thing you would like to change about your school?
The sports fields where we trained twice a week were a 20-minute walk away (and taking the bus or catching a lift was forbidden!) so I would like to move them closer.
- Any fancy traditions?
Not especially – although the school was very big on commemorating historical events. There was always a big ceremony for Remembrance Day, and there would be a number of compulsory Sunday chapel services throughout the year. On the last day of term, the school leavers all sing ‘Jerusalem’ and process from the chapel – always an emotional day.
- How was the academic support?
Excellent. Each subject ran a variety of ‘clinics’ for different abilities outside of ordinary lesson time. I was terrible at French and remember having regular afterschool one-to-one sessions with my French teacher, who worked desperately hard to help me through my GCSE at great personal cost.
- Is your school a religious school?
Yes, we had chapel services most days, but these were more of a mixture of a school assembly and hymn singing – great fun once you get into it.
- What was your favourite co-curricular achievement while at your school?
Helping stage an independent production of The History Boys was a personal highlight, along with performing at the Brighton Theatre Royal, and the Corn Exchange.
- How much emphasis is placed on Oxbridge as a university destination?
For those who wanted to apply, there is a great deal of support available, but it’s not considered the be-all and end-all. Many students follow a different path, such as dance school, art college, or professional sport, and increasingly they are winning places at US universities.
- Do you keep in touch with the school, now you have left?
Yes, there is an excellent alumni network.
- Did you ever have a detention at your school?
Of course! Plenty in my first couple of years from Mr Rad, the formidable ex-army Chemistry teacher.
- What are the pastoral support options?
The boarding and house masters and mistresses are the most important form of pastoral support, along with your personal tutor. I also remember the school nurse, and a number of counsellors.
- Bonus: If school was an animal, what would it be and why?
I think it might be a fox? Sleek, urban, and an extremely canny operator – but it’s also highly versatile and lets nothing go to waste.