Budding medics at Taunton School are celebrating after receiving offers to universities to read medicine, with two students having offers from three different universities. All three of the successful candidates are International Baccalaureate (IB) students.
Eleanor Smith, who lives in Wellington and is Deputy Head Girl, received an impressive three university offers to read medicine from Queen Mary London, Plymouth and Edinburgh. Eleanor, 18, is taking Higher Level Biology, Chemistry and Latin and Standard Level Mathematics, Philosophy and English in the IB at Sixth Form. Eleanor is a boarder and joined Taunton School in Year 7 when she moved to the UK after attending an international school in Jordan. She said “To get three offers was a shock, I really wasn’t expecting it, but I’m so pleased that I got my first choice of Queen Mary London. I would like to join the forces when I get my medical degree, possibly being a Navy Doctor.” Eleanor has been involved in the Combined Cadet Force at Taunton School and Model United Nations.
Head Girl Josie Taylor, aged 18, also an IB student, received an offer to read Medicine at The University of Bristol. Josie, from Norton Sub Hamdon, joined Taunton School in Year 9 after leaving Hazlegrove Preparatory School. She is taking Higher Level Biology, Chemistry and Latin and Standard Level English, Mathematics and Psychology. She said “Bristol University was my first choice so I was really happy to get the offer. I’m quite interested in paediatrics, so I may do something in that field in the future but I’m keeping my options open.” Josie is also involved in the chapel choir at School and plays hockey, netball and tennis.
Katie Dunn who left Taunton School in the summer of 2017 and has achieved an incredible 39 points out of 45 in her IB, has been on a gap year. She took Higher Level Biology, Chemistry and French and Standard Level English, Psychology and Maths. After applying to universities to read Medicine she was rewarded with three university offers, from King’s College London, Exeter and Liverpool. Katie previously attended The European School of Varese in Italy before moving to Somerset.
Martin Bluemel, IB Coordinator at Taunton School said: “Doctors need to be good communicators and have social skills and the breadth of knowledge and commitment required on the IB is ideal for developing these qualities. Many past IB students who have gone on to do Medicine have commented that the IB prepared them well for their degree. Eleanor, Josie and Katie have an exciting future ahead of them and should be very proud to receive these offers.”
Taunton School is the most experienced provider of the International Baccalaureate in Somerset, having delivered the diploma for over 10 years.
