Congratulations to Mihails, Sidcot's top performer this year who scored an impressive 43 out of 45 points in his International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, which is among the top 3 percent of IB students worldwide and equates to more than 3 A*s at A level. He leaves Sidcot having accepted an offer to study History, Politics and Economics at University College London. We recently caught up with Mihails to find out more about his Sidcot experience, and his hopes for the future:
Why did you choose IB?
There were several reasons why the IB programme appealed to me. Being from Latvia, the international aspect was key. The diploma is widely recognised which offered up the most opportunities for my future. Sharing the classroom with a small group of students from all over the world also provided the opportunity to learn from each others lived experiences and discuss our subjects from lots of different viewpoints. I made some amazing friendships and connections with people from around the world that will last a lifetime. I'm also still unsure what I want to do in my career, so IB provided the opportunity to explore several pathways and develop a breadth of knowledge, rather than specialising.
What did you study?
I studied History, English, Economics, Chemistry, Maths, and German.
What are you hoping to do with your career?
To be honest, I'm not sure yet! I chose to study History, Politics, & Economics at university to keep my options open. Right now I'm enjoying living in the moment and learning new things! I quite like the idea of going into Journalism, or staying in Academia in the future, but right now I'm just looking forward to learning more and seeing where my university journey takes me!
Where are you going on to study?
I have accepted my offer to study at UCL. I chose UCL as it's a global university, highly-regarded, and in the beautiful city of London. My sister lives in London so it feels like home, and I simply love the city and the people! It's such a cosmopolitan place with lots of opportunities which is exactly what I was looking for. I'm really looking forward to it, but the closer it gets now, the more overwhelming it feels to be starting this new chapter of my life.
How did Sidcot and your teachers support you?
Sidcot and my teachers supported me in a lot of ways. The School is a really nurturing place, and teachers were always there to offer support both academically and emotionally. Personally, I'm accustomed to studying on my own, but my teachers still played an important role in fostering interest in new subjects and they would always find a way to help us connect to the curriculum. Often we would diverge from the study plan and discuss in a more open manner around the subject which really developed a deeper interest in the subjects we studied.
Would you recommend IB to other students?
Absolutely! The IB programme is promoted as a self-reliant course and it really is the perfect bridge to university in my opinion. It forces you to commit to your studies and I learnt a lot. Also, it was a wonderful opportunity to exchange lived experiences with the people I studied with, and open my mind to new ways of thinking.
How did you find boarding at Sidcot?
In my opinion, boarding is a difficult experience for everyone; you're living away from home which is a challenge! At Sidcot, this was made as easy as possible for me. Staff were incredibly helpful and patient, acknowledging the difficulties each boarder faced and providing emotional support. It is also such an international place with so many cultures coming together which made it a truly fascinating experience!
How did Sidcot help you to live adventurously?
Our PASS afternoons were the greatest opportunity to live adventurously. Last year, my friends and I went caving! It was such an interesting experience - I didn't even know this was an activity people do. My friends really wanted to try it out, and pushed me to try it too and I'm so glad I did. It was so much fun, an amazing experience and just one of many opportunities to live adventurously.
If you could sum up Sidcot in three words, what would they be?
Transformative, enriching, nurturing.
What was the highlight of your time at Sidcot?
I had so many great moments, it was a very happy time. If I had to choose one memory that stand out above the rest, it would have to be my Year 12 prom.
Would you recommend Sidcot?
Yes, and definitely to boarders! I can't think of a better place to have spent my school years and have created a home.
Speaking to his educational consultant, Baltic Council, Mihails summarised:
"Spending three years at Sidcot, despite the inescapable challenges, was profoundly transformative and enriching. Unquestionably, Sidcot facilitated immense personal academic growth. The vibrant and nurturing environment at the school, due to incredibly supportive teachers, cutting-edge learning and facilities, and access to a wealth of academic resources, enabled me to achieve 43 out of 45 points in the IB program, something that I neither strived for nor thought possible as I began the IB journey. The most beautiful feature of Sidcot, however, are the people that one meets there. The boarding houses are inhabited by students from over 32 different countries, which, due to exposing one to many cultures, promotes a genuine sense of open mindedness and empathy. The symbiotic nature of boarding life at Sidcot, by creating a need for mutual help and interdependence, caused me to forge strong connections with other people from all over the world that eventually transformed into meaningful and, as I’d like to believe, lasting friendships.”