How and why did you decide which subjects to study?

Although I didn’t study PE at GCSE I’ve always had a passion for Sport and was interested to learn more, particularly about Anatomy and Physiology. The course content for Psychology really interested me and I was excited to have a totally new subject to study. Maths was always my favourite subject at school, so it was an obvious  choice at A Level.

How did you find the move from school to College?

The move started before we left school! We had the chance to visit College and learn more about our subjects, so I felt very confident to start when the time came and settled in easily. Even though loads of friends from school came, I’ve had lots of opportunities to meet new people.

Tell us about the Aspire Programme

I did the Aspire Programme in my first year and through this, did an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This was quite daunting because it seemed to be such a big project to fit in around my other studies, but it’s broken down into stages to complete at different times, so you can just focus on small steps at a time, and my Aspire teacher was really helpful in supporting me through it.

The title I chose combined my interests in Sport and Psychology: How significant is the lack of physical activity in state-funded secondary schools as a contributing factor to the mental health crisis in young people?

What do you like most about being a student at Reigate College?

The independence. I like being able to schedule my own free time and fit my College work in around other things, such as my job and social life. I’ve learnt lots of new organisational skills and am much better at planning now.

What do you think makes Reigate College a good place to be a student?

There’s something for everyone with so many extra-curricular clubs and activities to choose from. There’s also a wide range of people, with different interests and different personalities, so it’s possible for everyone to fit in at College!

What’s your plan for when you leave College?

I have a conditional place to study Psychology at Newcastle University. I’m particularly interested in Developmental Psychology and would like to pursue a career path working with children and young people in the future.

Having become more independent and confident, I’m also planning to take some time to travel before I start my studies.

Livvy, 2026