Rosie Stuart-Sheppard Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Alumni

My time at Sir Isaac has been unforgettable. The incredible team of kind and supportive staff and students and the unique school structure has enabled me to pursue dreams I once wouldn’t have thought possible for myself. From my first few weeks in year 12, I was encouraged to get stuck into activities and electives that interested me, and this really helped me in achieving goals for my future.

There has been an abundance of experiences at SIN which helped me explore my various scientific interests, from trips to the Quadrum Research Institute to learn about careers in microbiological research, to a day with Operating Department Practitioners at the NNUH, and of course, who could forget dissecting chicken wings with Mrs Jarrold in Med Soc. I have never been afraid to ask questions at Sir Isaac. Whether it's in lessons, in break times, or by email, the teachers are always happy to help. The structure of learning at SIN was incredibly useful to foster a rounded understanding of subject content which ensured my revision for A-levels was as painless and stress-free as possible. ‘Feed-forwards’ helped me gain familiarity with key concepts before the lesson, well-structured, interactive lessons enabled me to understand, and homework and regular topic tests ensured active recall which put content into my long-term memory. Going to medical school at my dream university is exciting beyond words, and whilst I’m itching to start, I know I will miss Sir Isaac hugely. I have no doubt, however, the lessons I learned about myself there will prove invaluable to my future as a doctor.