24 talented Xaverian College students have secured highly competitive places at prestigious universities to study Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science. Of these, 17 students gained places on Medicine Degrees, two have gone on to study Dentistry and five made it onto Veterinary Science Degrees.

Xaverian’s Medics, Dentists and Vets (MDV) Programme has now seen 94 students progress onto their first-choice university since launching in 2019.

Priyanka Nayar, Chemistry Teacher and MDV Coordinator, said: “Students have ventured all over the country in the last few weeks to start their new journeys as first year MDV students and we are truly delighted for them. 58% of our MDV students are the first in their families to apply for university, and their passion and dedication to their studies has really paid off. We know this continued success will inspire future students that, with hard work and high grades, they can also achieve their goals despite any barriers that they previously thought they had to higher education.”

Caroline Andrews, Biology Teacher, who is part of the MDV Team, added: “Only 11 universities offer Veterinary Science in the UK. It has a rigorous application process requiring participation in work experience, extracurricular enrichment and interview preparation, together with achieving academic excellence in A Levels. So, it is no surprise that securing a place to study is extremely challenging. To say we are proud of our five students, who have now begun their undergraduate studies and journey towards being Veterinary Surgeons, would be an understatement. Each one is a credit to the College, and to have five successful applicants is an exceptional number for any post-16 provider.”

Frances Hutton, former Priestnall School pupil, who achieved grades A*A*A* in Biology, Chemistry and English Literature A Levels, has progressed to The University of Liverpool to study Veterinary Science. She said: “I am thrilled with gaining my offers for Veterinary Science. I have felt continually supported by Xaverian and the MDV Programme to pursue this challenging but exciting career path. I felt well-prepared for the daunting application process due to the support from everyone within the MDV Team.”

Fatima Nadeem, who has just started a Degree in Medicine at the University of Southampton, commented: “My dream of pursuing a career in medicine wouldn’t have become real if it wasn’t for the MDV Programme. The wide range of support, from finding work experience, to doing mock interviews strengthened not just my application for university but also my personal skills. I am very excited about starting university and continuing my journey to become a doctor. Being the first in the family to study medicine is a big challenge, and with the help of the MDV Team, one I feel able to overcome. Medicine is the only course I am passionate about and I am so proud of what I achieved in my two years at Xaverian, and I know my parents, friends and teachers are too!”

Kerry Joshua, who studied Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics A Levels, added: “Being a part of the MDV Programme provided me with the resources and support needed to pursue a career in medicine. There were so many opportunities to further develop, such as university visits, practical workshops, interview preparations and so much more.”

Izodosa Osarenmwinda, who completed her GCSEs at St Peter’s RC High School, before progressing to Xaverian to study A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Geography, said: “I’m entering a new chapter of my life as a medical student at the University of Birmingham, and the journey so far has been very rewarding. Participating in the MDV Programme helped me discover what I truly wanted from a medical school and how to apply strategically.”

The College’s MDV Programme is available to support and guide high-achieving students who aspire to apply for MDV courses at university. This includes:

• Opportunities to gain work experience and volunteering
• Access to lectures, events and webinars exploring current issues in these professions to enrich their understanding and give them the confidence to have an informed discussion at interview
• Bespoke mock interview sessions to prepare students and offer practice sessions for the admissions process
• Mentoring by current MDV university students to gain insights into the professions and the application process
• Guidance on building an excellent work experience and extra-curricular enrichment portfolio to bolster their applications
• Strong encouragement to prioritise their A Level studies to ensure they achieve their full potential