Alumni

At Newman Sixth, our alumni are incredibly important to us and year on year we have more students wanting to join and give back to our wonderful community. Here are some testimonials from some of its members:

Alex Upperton

I’m Alex and I joined Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Year 7 having left a non-feeder primary school.

After completing 11 GCSEs, I started Newman Sixth. I felt this was a natural progression for me given the familiarity I had with the school as a whole, the subjects Newman Sixth offered and, importantly, Newman Sixth’s outstanding academic track record.

I studied Maths, Chemistry and Biology at A-Level, in addition to the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and A-Level Polish, achieving A*A*A*A*A respectively. This allowed me to start the Biomedical Science BSc degree at University College London, which was an extremely exciting, challenging and rewarding experience. I graduated with a 1^st Class Honours Degree in 2023 and am now looking forward to beginning a Master’s degree in the field of Biomolecular Science at the University of Cambridge.

Following this, I haven’t decided exactly on the career trajectory that I will pursue. I hope to use my robust scientific background, personality and other skills and interests (I have a huge passion for flying) to excel, both for myself and for others. My academic achievements and personal development would not have been the same without the support that I received throughout my time at Newman Sixth. Anyone who pursues Post-16 study at Newman Sixth should expect the highest quality pastoral care, the opportunity to make new friends, a varied extra-curricular programme and an exemplary academic grounding, one which will ensure excellent prospects.

Tremayne Barker

I had the pleasure of attending Newman from year 7 all the way through to sixth form, where I left in 2019. I studied Accounting, Economics, Law and Finance and thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

I always knew the best future for me was a practical one; Ever since I had my first work experience in year 11, I honestly felt ready for the world of work.

I managed to apply and be accepted into a school leaver training contract/Higher Apprenticeship with KPMG LLP, which is a Big Four audit and professional services firm. Since joining I have had a range of experiences that I could never have really imagined for my age. I am currently now Senior Associate and on track to pass the rest of my ACA exams within the next year and a half.

Such experiences have included being the lead auditor on clients such as Mercedes F1 team, Mercedes Cars, Gulfstream Jets and being the senior on some very large, listed multinationals.

At the same time, I have qualified under AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) and am halfway through the ACA level exams also, which will allow me to become a chartered accountant.

I think the key thing to keep in mind when at the stage of A-levels is to understand what kind of individual you are… University is not always the best possible pathway for every career and there really are a vast number of opportunities ready for young people to take a hold of…. It is your time now!

However, I can fundamentally say that CNS and Newman Sixth, along with the exceptional teachers were paramount in me becoming who I am today so a huge thank you!

Louis Campbell

When I moved to Luton I started at St Joseph’s then joined Newman and continued there through A Levels. Newman always felt like a home and provided me with many lifelong friends and great memories. So when looking at my favourite thing about Newman it has to be the people. I am more than thankful to Newman for surrounding me with such great friends - not only did I have a great time but my friends pushed me to want to succeed and perform as well as I could academically.

I studied Maths Physics and Psychology and the whole setup at Newman Sixth equipped me with means to explore interests and develop my path I wanted to take in life. This path led me to America. With help from the Sutton Trust Programme and many hours grinding application materials in random classes after school, I managed to get a $270,000 scholarship to Vanderbilt University - a top University in the US.

Now I’m deciding between multiple offers postgrad in the Sales and Marketing field and plan to work in America for the foreseeable future. Without Newman I would have never made it this far.

Courtney Cummins

After starting my education at Sacred Heart Primary School, I progressed to Cardinal Newman Catholic High School for year 7. One aspect I particularly appreciated was the formation of small tutor groups, where we were paired with fellow students from our primary schools. These form groups remained the same throughout our five years at Newman, and we became a close-knit group within our forms. This was particularly valuable to me, as it can be very daunting to transition from a small primary school to a larger high school environment.

Following my time at the High School, most of my close friends and I continued our education together at Cardinal Newman Sixth Form. I had initially chosen to pursue Maths, Accounting, and Law A-levels. However, upon completing my first year, I realised that this combination was not the most optimal path for me to achieve the desired grades. Recognizing the need for a change, I made the decision to alter my course selection upon returning for the second year. Subsequently, I enrolled in a Cambridge Technical qualification in Business Studies alongside my continued study of A-Level Law.

I am proud to have achieved a double Distinction* in my Cambridge Technical course and an A grade in Law, which were the grades I aspired to attain, in order to pursue a law degree at the University of Hertfordshire. Throughout this period Newman Sixth offered unwavering support, emphasizing the importance of embracing change and understanding that it is acceptable not to have all the answers right away. Their willingness to accommodate my change of direction reinforced the invaluable lesson that one's path may evolve, and they provided me with the necessary guidance and encouragement during this time.

I had also decided that after gaining practical experience through work experience at a solicitor's firm, I came to the realization that pursuing a law degree was not the most suitable path for me. This led me to explore alternative opportunities within the property sector, particularly in the realm of apprenticeships. Fortunately, through a mutual connection, I learned of a local firm seeking an apprentice, which marked the beginning of my journey as a degree apprentice working towards becoming a Chartered Surveyor with Kirkby Diamond.

Currently, I am in the fourth year of my five-year apprenticeship, and I am looking forward to completing the program by the end of 2024.

Vincent Masterson

I attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School before joining Cardinal Newman in Year 7. For me, school has always been a place where I was encouraged to be the best all-round version of myself. It was this culture that led to me wanting to attend the 6th form, where I studied Economics, Psychology, and Philosophy and Ethics at A-Level.

During my time there I enjoyed getting involved in a range of extracurricular activities including tutoring vulnerable students as they prepared for their GCSE Maths exams and representing the 6th form in a Regional Public Speaking Competition (which I won!).

After leaving the sixth form I attended City University of London and received a First in my International Political Economy degree. I now work in the Houses of Parliament as the Parliamentary Assistant to Graham Stuart MP. This role allows me to immerse myself in politics and I have learned a great deal about the work of both MPs and Ministers. My work requires me to be resilient, analytical and to form good relationships with many people - these are all skills I learned during my time at Newman 6th.

Robbie Home

I joined Newman in Year 12 having previously been at Lealands High School and I was immediately made to feel welcome, allowing me to settle in well to the sixth form. I enjoyed the high standard of teaching throughout the subjects and the smaller class sizes, as well as the extra events within the sixth form like Alternative Sports Day. At Newman, I studied A-Level Law, History, and Psychology. Since leaving, I am now on a solicitor apprenticeship program at Fladgate LLP and got into law through my studies at A-Level.