SAMUEL, former st olave's student 

Choosing a Sixth Form was extremely difficult for me, particularly because I was lucky enough to have several good options available. What's more, I was very happy at my old school: I had lots of strong friendships, great relationships with teachers, and a jam-packed extracurricular life.  If I had stayed on at St Olave's, I am confident that I would have had a fantastic time.

However, I chose to come to a new school, further away, where I knew absolutely no one.

As A Levels become ever narrower and their final exams higher stakes, there is a battle for the very soul of the UK – do we want to be a country that is isolated and inward-looking, or one that is built on compassion and mutual respect,  working with our friends across the world to tackle the most pressing issues of our time such as the climate crisis, conflict, poverty and disease?  I know which of those two I want, and I know that the IB stands for that kind of vision. 

If, like me, you're an aspiring scientist or mathematician, then it's critical that you are literate. When science is communicated well, it can transform lives. When science is communicated poorly, it is ignored, or worse still, abused. Scientists must be good communicators.

Similarly, if the humanities or arts are your passion, it's equally crucial that you are numerate, as whatever you go on to do in life is highly likely to require a sound grounding in maths.

Choosing the IB is a making a conscious decision about your education, and one from which you will reap the rewards for many years to come. 

I picked Bexley Grammar for the IB; there's no doubt about it. But I have been overwhelmed by how friendly and welcoming everyone is. My impression of the open evening last November was absolutely right: it really is like a family. From the students, through my subject teachers and the senior leadership, to even reception staff, everyone has a smile on their face and is willing to help out.

Coming into a new place was pretty daunting. I was the only person from my school, and I was worried about having to contend with pre-existing friendship groups, navigating the labyrinthine corridors, and needing to quickly win the trust of teachers. 

However, just weeks in, although I do miss my old school, I don't wish that I stayed there. I'm confident that I've made the right decision, and am already loving the step up in challenge from GCSE. I've met lots of amazing new people, and have (almost) got to grips with the layout of the school. Every one of my subject teachers is excellent, and I've been able to throw myself into the extracurricular life of the school.

I'm excited about the amazing two years ahead of me, and you can be too, if you choose to study the IB at Bexley Grammar.

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Nana, former Rochester Grammar school student  

Changing schools for me was a difficult decision because I had many options including IB and A level schools. I was already aware of the IB as it was offered at my previous school but I knew I wasn’t too keen on staying because I wanted an opportunity to meet new people in another completely different area and experience a change in setting although I knew it was going to be hard. I joined Bexley in September and didn’t expect to enjoy going to school so much. I was very surprised at how nice and welcoming everyone was, including my peers, teachers and younger pupils, which made it easier for both internals and externals to integrate.

From the start, you could see the trust between teachers and students, especially in Sixth Form. There is a lot of support from subject teachers and pastoral leads to cope with lessons, exams and CAS. Additionally, teachers provide a lot of information for students, including lectures and opportunities to gain insight and experience in future educational choices. The amount of leadership roles in BGS is endless; it can really teach you a lot about responsibility and test your problem-solving skills.

 

BGS has several sixth form spaces for quiet individual studies or group work, which is essential to maintain the work balance of students. It also develops independence in allowing us to choose the workspace suitable for our workload. I would highly recommend studying the International Baccalaureate to anyone. The IB has allowed me to continue subjects that I would have had to give up in A levels, as well as bringing out skills that I didn't know I had, such as writing a 4000-word Extended Essay on pharmaceutical plants. This showed me how passionate I was about my subjects and helped me narrow down my options for what I wanted to do at university.

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Princela, former Prendergast school student 

Leaving somewhere I have known for years with people and teachers I have known for years, a place in which I had already established myself as a student, built incredible friendships, and somewhere that had taken me through some of the most formative years of my adolescence was not something I took lightly. However, being able to do something as academically diverse as the IB at a school like Bexley Grammar seemed like an incredible opportunity. It gave me the choice to study 6 incredible subjects from different branches of academia that have all helped me become a more versatile student.

Whilst joining in September as an external student was quite daunting, I was met on the first week with the Year 12 Welcome Barbeque. The almighty food and music combination created a great environment to form bonds. In terms of academics, it’s safe to say I was not disappointed. By the first month, I was enjoying all of my subjects. I had wondered whether the unfamiliar teaching styles would suit the style of learning I had already cultivated, but it was a smooth transition. The lessons have been interactive and interesting and have helped me grow further interest for each discipline and also helped me narrow in on what I’m drawn to doing in the future.

One of the school’s Power Days was specifically focused on helping us grasp a better understanding of the post-sixth form choices available to us. This ensured that we were introduced to a great range of choices for life post-BGS helping to promote the philosophy that the world is truly our oyster. BGS has helped me grow significantly as a student and reassured me that IB was an incredible choice for me.

 

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Malak, International student 

Deciding on a sixth form is hard. For me, it was particularly difficult as an international student. I had the opportunity to go to a sixth form in the UK, and I settled on Bexley Grammar, a choice I have not once regretted.

For me, one of the most important things in a grammar school is not only their academic performance, which is exceptional at Bexley Grammar, but also their school life. Upon finding Bexley Grammar, I discovered all the different activities that take place inside the school, specifically their house system, and how fun it makes going to school by promoting friendly competitions in all different types of areas, from STEM to chess, as well as traditional sports. This quickly allowed me to discover that at Bexley Grammar, there is something for everyone, as they encourage you to pursue your hobbies and try new things. 

One of my favourite things about BGS, which I have already taken advantage of, is that not only is there a wide range of extracurriculars for you to choose from, but if there is a particular club at school you want to join but it doesn't exist yet, you can create and run it, and the teachers are always increasingly supportive and willing to help with anything.

There is a lot of pressure placed upon you when deciding on a sixth form, and even more when comparing two different curriculums: IB and A-Levels. At first, it is easy to fall into the trap of misconceptions that are often related to the IB: that it is too hard and that you're better off picking A-Levels. However, after becoming an IB student at BGS, I think it’s clear that the IB offers many rewards that would otherwise not be gained with the choice of A-Levels. For one, it allows you to be much more well-rounded, which, in turn, allows you to have a wider range of knowledge and a greater breadth and depth of knowledge in the subjects you study. The IB encourages you to be challenged and push your boundaries until you reach your full potential.

Beyond academics, Bexley Grammar School offers a supportive and inclusive community where every student is valued and supported. As an outsider, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t fit in or that everyone already had friends and I wouldn't be able to make any. However, upon entering school on my first day, I was immediately met with the exact opposite. Everyone was extremely welcoming, and the teachers always tried their best to create opportunities in which the externals could befriend the internals during lessons. Now, I have an amazing group of friends, and I can confidently say that I have not regretted coming to Bexley Grammar School once. 

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Felicity, former Dartford grammar school student

Coming to Bexley Grammar School was a hard decision but a blessing in disguise.  As a new student at Bexley, I had to make the adjustment from a school where I knew the teachers and students to a new school where I didn't know anyone. This was really scary at first, but as time went on, the school community helped me feel like I belonged and that I was no longer an "external," but rather someone who was welcomed by this community, which made the move from my prior school less scary. Bexley Grammar was the only school out of all the ones I applied to that let me study the subjects I wanted to and supported my career plan. Not only did they allow me to take my subjects but they also advised me on which subjects they believed would be best suited for me and my future goals and ambitions.

Bexley has honestly helped me develop as a person and not just academically. I do not believe I would be who I am today and have the drive to excel if not for the support of both my peers and teachers at Bexley. Although IB isn’t like A-levels, it is more challenging and requires more work but it has encouraged me to work harder, be more determined but also make changes where necessary and has opened up more doors for me than A-levels ever could both now and also in the future. 

At Bexley there is a variety of leadership roles that encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and take responsibility. I am currently the Creative and Meetings Director of ACS (Afro-Caribbean society) and this alone has allowed us to create a community I don't believe I could experience somewhere else. Coming to Bexley Grammar was one of the best decisions I could've made. It has allowed me to develop as a person and achieve the highest academic potential possible for my age and not only will I leave Bexley with life-long friendships and connections but a life changing IB diploma!

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Lucy, former Blackfen student

Joining the school in September as an external student, I was very nervous due to the new surroundings and unfamiliarity of a different school and students. I wasn't sure how I was going to fit in, however, since my very first day, I have experienced a warm welcome from both students and staff. It made me feel a lot more comfortable knowing that there were so many people at the school willing to help me get settled in. Not only were students kind and helpful around school, year 12 welcome events such as the barbeque were organised to immerse new students in an environment to make friends. 

Although I had the simple decision of remaining at my previous school and completing my A-levels, I felt the IB was the right choice for me. This is because the open evening really shed light on the advantages of the courses. The IB also enabled me to keep many options open for my future careers, by continuing my studies of Maths, English, Science and a language. This meant I didn't have to make any immediate decisions which I may have regretted in a few years. I can confidently say that I have made the right decision for me and would recommend the IB to other students in the future.

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tosin, former st catherine's student

Initially, moving to BGS I had to deal with the expected anxiety: Will I make friends? Will I be able to be consistent in my school work? How do I know this is an environment for me?

Starting BGS I was able to realise that these fears are normal. My transition here was swift and natural thanks to the school’s welcoming environment. Within seconds I was already part of a greater community and within a matter of a few weeks was able to understand the ideas of independence and responsibility whilst still recognising the support system that ran through the school. Being at BGS has already taught me how to take ownership of my work and equally not be afraid to ask for help.