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ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
Merritt Moore
By Lola Willcock
Merritt Moore, a quantum physicist
at Oxford and a professional ballerina,
came to talk to pupils in January.
Being given the opportunity to hear
Merritt speak was truly inspirational.
I found it particularly resonant in the
lead up to exams as she was proof that
it is possible to do so much more than
we think we are capable of and that it
is in fact better to have more than one
passion. I learnt that putting everything
in terms of extra-curricular on hold for
exams is not always beneficial, and it
can in fact help to maintain stimulation.
Fundamentally, Merritt not only taught
us how to achieve what we want,
but also what to do to keep going in
times when we don’t feel like we are
achieving anything, which is the most
important time to persevere.
Somewhere up North
Oxbridge and EPQ
Chess Club
Last term started with a flourish on the
academic front: three pupils received offers
for Oxford University; and outstanding
results were announced in the Extended
Project Qualification.
Armela Lasku received an offer to
study Law at Corpus Christi College;
James Curtis, to study Geography at Keble
College; and Jamie Chen, to study Law
and German Law at Somerville College.
Congratulations to them and best of
luck to all Sixth Form pupils in the all-
important next few weeks as they work
towards meeting the offers required by the
universities of their choice.
In the Extended Project Qualification
(EPQ), over 80% of candidates achieved
grades A*-B, and an impressive 24%, A*.
The EPQ is highly regarded by universities
who see it as evidence of a pupil’s genuine
engagement with their academic work
and a clear indication that they are self-
motivated and capable of tackling a subject
with real intellectual rigour. St Edward’s is
unusual in that most A Level candidates take
the EPQ, making these stellar results across
the board particularly impressive.
As ever, the topics covered in the EPQ
were many and varied. Nickolos Hunt
considered:
To what extent can the Russian
annexation of the Crimea in 2014 be justified?
;
Max Thompson,
To what extent does
success in elite rowing depend upon a genetic
predisposition?
; Georgia Heath,
Changes in
how women are portrayed
; Benjamin Wan,
How should we tackle the problem of the
increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria?
; and Emily Smart created a set
design for a surrealist theatre production.
All those listed, plus Joe Courtier, James
Curtis, Huda Khalaf and Jamie Chen,
achieved A*.
Sixth Form Director, Emily Smart, writes:
This year’s Edinburgh Fringe production,
Someone, Somewhere
, is an original piece
written by acclaimed playwright Sam Potter
in collaboration with the Teddies Drama
Department, the Theatre Society and The
North Wall Arts Centre. It’s a very exciting
project and the cast and crew are all
looking forward to being back in Edinburgh.
Look out for us this summer at the
Space@Niddry Street in August where we
will be performing as North of the Wall.
Sam Potter, Emily Smart, Bash Croft and Matthew Wilkins at a read-through.
Shell Andrew Watson enjoys the Monday
afternoon Chess Club, open to all pupils.