We completed our first full year of delivering what would become our signature blend of a holistic education. Our first cohort started with us the previous September in our newly refurbished Grade II listed building and immediately benefitted from the knowledge and passion of our expert teaching staff. We launched our Super Curriculum, designed to allow our students to become deep thinkers, critical enquirers and intellectual risk takers. The NCS Emerging Talent Programme gave all students the chance to learn soft-skills and prepare for life at university and beyond. Whilst those with interest in areas such as banking, medicine, law and finance experienced work placements, shadowing and workshops at NHS hospitals and at leading international firms in the heart of the City of London.

Our Humanities department and our dedicated Oxbridge team supported Zereena to become our first student to get an offer to study English at the University of Oxford.

Zereena

“My teachers have definitely helped the most in pushing me to achieve my dreams. I didn’t think that I’d get an offer from Oxford University, I didn’t think I’d achieve the grades I did. I didn’t think I had it in me. The motivation, encouragement and support from the teachers really pushed me to be what I thought I couldn’t be. I feel like I’ve really become the person I want to be in the future.”
– Zereena

As our second cohort began their studies, our first completed theirs and sat their final A2 exams. Our provision of support and opportunities grew for all. There were trips for politics students to the European Parliament in Belgium and our geographers had an explorative field trip in Dorset. Politics students explored Washington and New York, visiting the White House, Pentagon and United Nations to learn about American Government & Diplomacy. Our annual science research visit to Japan which sees an exchange of scientific and cultural ideals with eminent Japanests scientists & students at Kyoto University was launched. Our work with Oxbridge expands, with a shadowing scheme, lectures and places at their summer schools. Academics from both universities deliver academic lectures and facilitate information, advice and guidance workshops on applying to the best universities to students at The NCS.

Undergraduate and post graduate mentors from LSE began working with students to support their UCAS applications and deliver extension material that exposed students to ideas and concepts beyond the A level curriculum. Our work experience opportunities increased and now went beyond the borders of the UK, with an all-expenses paid law placement in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. One of the students on this placement used this connection with law firm White & Case LLP to earn a prized training contract with them after university. Many of our students used similar networking opportunities to support their choices and prospects to this day.

Samiya

“It’s really rare to find teachers and individuals who are so invested in you. They make sure that they follow up with you [to see] how you’re doing.  I am truly, truly grateful for my experiences at The NCS.”
– Samiya (Trainee Solicitor, White & Case LLP)

A landmark year for many reasons! Tafsia Shikdar becomes the first student from a Newham Sixth Form to earn a place on a full scholarship worth £250,0000 to MIT, the world’s leading university for science and technology. Inspired by Tafsia’s story it was an achievement that opened the gates for other students to apply.  Her success turned the eyes of the world on our “red-bricked building on Barking Road” as Buzzfeed said in their coverage of our results day. 

Other news outlets from London to New York widely reported on the announcement that 95% of our students earned an offer to study at a Russell Group University – the first NCS cohort to do so. Alongside both of these accomplishments came a string of Oxbridge offers. At The NCS all of these accomplishments are not unusual. A holistic educational experience for students turns ideas that were once unattainable into ones that are rightfully deserved. 

Tafsia

“The NCS gave me everything I wanted in a college experience. It helped me through my A Levels so much. The teachers are amazing. I miss it! But yes, I would absolutely 100% recommend it.”
– Tafsia (MIT Graduate)

Three years in and Newham Collegiate is now being recognised as one of the best choices for students who are seeking to continue studies and have careers in medicine related fields, engineering, finance and law. Our guaranteed work experiences in both NHS hospitals shadowing consultants and dental practices began the recognition that NCS is the leading the Sixth Form in the country for students who aspire to study medicine/dentistry.  Our specialism in Science and Mathematics also plays a huge part in supporting students achieve their goals. With our passionate and expert teachers providing a rigorous and challenging curriculum and access to world class academic lectures and workshops in everything from soft skills to career specific knowledge, our students were provided with an inimitable array of opportunities.

Our debating school saw Year 12 student Selina Begum becomes headline news. She uses her experience from The NCS debating society and our socratic style learning that forms part of our Oxbridge Preparation, to be awarded “Best Individual Speaker” at an Eton debating competition – the first student from a state school to receive this honour.

Lukenny

“The NCS definitely nurtured me into something that I’m still growing into today, which is someone that likes to work hard, study hard. Someone that knows that to get to where you want to get to in life, it’s not easy work.”
– Lukenny (Medicine, Imperial College London)

The NCS Elite University Programme continues to prepare our students to take up places at Oxbridge and Russell Group universities, as has become the norm for our students. With all we’ve learned from supporting our alumna Tafsia Shikdar and her experiences of studying at MIT, we now add a formal programme to support Ivy League applications. Consisting in part of a week long masterclass on the American university entrance exams (SATs) for which we fly in an expert tutor from New York and a trip to explore Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale and Columbia in person, the programme has now yielded spectacular results.

Our collaboration with UCL continues to develop with the launch of Project X, a year long opportunity for students to experience undergraduate learning in engineering whilst developing wearable technology.  This becomes the forerunner to our future launch of our specialist NCS Engineering School.

Nancy

“The NCS expect hard work and dedication from you, but you really get back what you put into it and more.”
– Nancy (Mathematics, University of Oxford)

A year that will mainly be remembered for the turbulence caused by the global pandemic. For our current Year 13 students nearing the end of their studies when the first lockdown began the biggest upset was caused by the national cancellation of examinations. A Level courses were still completed as potential lockdowns were planned for with staff and students given training on Microsoft Teams. On day one of our site closure the timetable of live lessons simply switched to an online only scenario. A feat only achievable due to The NCS’ 1-2-1 deployment of Apple iPads..

Not a single day’s learning was lost for NCS students. The hard work and perseverance by students and staff alike was rewarded in a superb set of A Level results and university progression in August; including five offers to continue studies at the Ivy League, continued successes in Oxbridge and Russell Group (95%) offers and over 100 medicine/dentistry offers for 55 students. A set of achievements that again turned the world’s eyes onto us and our students with media coverage across the globe. 

Dayna

“I didn’t feel I received as much academic support at my previous grammar school. At NCS there was so much support from the teachers for the students, I felt the support at NCS was unmatched.”
– Dayna (Behavioural Psychology, University of Cambridge)

Our campus reopens. Like all schools, regular testing for Covid-19 takes place and a new normal is established seeing teachers simultaneously leading lessons for both the students in their classrooms and those asked to self-isolate at home. This is only possible due to the implementation and deployment of our 1-to-1 student iPads. One way systems, socially distanced seating plans and hand sanitisation points may be amongst the changes to life, but our staff and students alike rise above the challenges that Covid19 presents. 

Not a single day of learning is lost for our graduating cohort. Opportunities continue; some in-person, some have (for this year) moved online. We keep our ambitions high, supporting the students in their studies any way possible. In response, the most resilient of year groups earn themselves the best ever set of A level results and offers to Oxbridge, Russell Group (with 95% of students again earning an offer) and Princeton (one of the Ivy League – our ninth offer). 

Ayesha

“I definitely don’t think that I’ve lost out in coming to this school. Despite what’s been going on in the world, despite coronavirus, despite the difficulties of A Levels in general; being here has meant I’ve been able to cope with it quite well with the support of my teachers and my peers.”
– Ayesha (Princeton University)