Student Success Stories
Where can The NCS take you after A-Levels finish?
Every NCS student has a specific aim in mind. From a dream university to a successful career in the sector you’re passionate about; The NCS supports and guides every student through the process of refining and reaching those goals.
Darnell took a leap of faith and joined our first cohort in 2014
The NCS helped him build a foundation for a successful career in finance
Darnell was the second student to enrol at The NCS on a summery August morning in 2014. He was taking a ‘leap of faith’ in joining a new and unproven sixth form built on a promise and vision. He then applied all the lessons and skills he gained with us and made another leap into the world of finance where he now has a thriving career in the City of London’s investment banking sector. Ten years on, he reflects on how The NCS vision was realised and shares his advice with the students following in his footsteps.
When The NCS opened its doors to students ten years ago, Darnell was literally one of the first to walk through them. As the second ever student to enrol, he joined having just received his GCSE results from Lister Community School. As you’ll see in our video catch up, we filmed him at that exact moment to discover what he expected. With no track record to back the promises we made to our students, he decided to take a leap of faith, hoping we’d prepare him for a career in finance.
Two years later, after collecting his A-Level results he took another leap into the then unconventional path of joining a school leaver programme instead of going to university. This 12-month program provided hands-on experience, leading to a permanent role in investment operations in London.
The NCS played a crucial role in solidifying Darnell’s journey into adulthood. He emphasises the importance of students learning from The NCS, not just academically but holistically, “The journey doesn’t just start and end with NCS. Use it as a stepping stone to achieve what you set out to achieve.”
Tafsia always knew she wanted to go into STEM.
She’s now graduated from MIT in America.
At The NCS Tafsia quickly learned that if you put in the work, there’s nothing to limit your ambition. At MIT in America – the world’s greatest university – she learned how to change the world via science, technology and maths.
Tafsia joined us from Sarah Bonnell and achieved A* / A* / A* / A* / A at A-Level. She went on to study Material Science and Engineering at MIT in America, graduating in 2020. She has since worked on research at Beyond Meat in LA and now is working at a technology company in London as well as providing personal tutoring within STEM. She recently returned to The NCS to teach a coding course with fellow NCS/MIT graduate Isuf.
The NCS provided Tafsia with all the support she needed to achieve her goal of attending an Ivy League university. Her message of positivity and not being afraid to compete to get the best for yourself reverberates around the walls of our buildings, leaving many students now looking to emulate her successes. “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.”
[Learn more about The NCS Engineering School]
[Learn more about our Elite University Preparation Programme]
[Learn more about Tafsia’s story]
The NCS Engineering School helped Shayaan find his speciality.
He’s now working on important construction projects.
Shayaan achieved A* A* A* in his A-Levels. He’s now studying at Imperial College London and is focussing on Civil Engineering.
All of the extra-curricular activities The NCS Engineering School provided Shayaan with gave him a unique insight into all the different fields of engineering that he could enter into. But it was meeting those currently leading the field of civil engineering via NCS arranged lectures and workshops that helped him realise that’s where his true passion lies. “The NCS has changed my life, it’s changed all of my friends’ lives. At NCS you’re pushed to the highest level within your own capability. When you go to university, they’re not used to schools of this calibre. So you’re landing whilst running, you get a head start from other students.”
Samiya learned how to be in a professional environment at The NCS.
She’s now training with one of the biggest law firms in the world.
Having joined us from Sarah Bonnell with strong GCSE grades, Samiya became our first ever head girl and went on to secure exceptional A-Level grades. She chose to join our first cohort of students in 2014, specifically for the professional skills tutoring that we provide. She loves how we tailor enrichment to each individual’s strengths and desired destinations.
During her time at The NCS Samiya enjoyed workshops at a wide variety of corporate law firms, eventually securing a space on our all expenses paid international work experience with White & Case LLP. After impressing senior associates and partners during the trip, Samiya subsequently secured a training contract with the firm in London. Having completed her solicitor legal practice course (LPC), she’s now joined White & Case on a training contract. “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.”
[Learn more about The NCS Law School]
[Learn more about our Emerging Talent Programme]
At The NCS Lukenny learned the value of focus, hard work and resilience.
He’s carried that into university & work in the NHS during the pandemic.
Lukenny earned A* A* A* at A-Levels and is now studying Medicine at Imperial College London. During the pandemic he’s also been working in the NHS which, despite being challenging, has shown him the rewarding nature of his chosen field.
Staff at The NCS took Lukenny under their wings and taught him how to gain the best from the opportunities presented to him and how to focus and work hard to achieve his goals. More than the academics and enrichment provided as part of The NCS Med School, it’s this quality of the teachers and the relationships he forged that he speaks most fondly of. “Whilst I had a lot of tribulations at The NCS, it was also one of those things where I would never ever take it back. I learned so much at The NCS. So much more than just books. So much about life. So much of knowing to stick through the tough times. That atmosphere taught me to never give in to the challenges. I would definitely recommend it to any students that want to go far.”
Ten years ago Kiesha loved maths and economics
The NCS helped her transform that into a career in finance
Kiesha knew she had a passion for maths and economics when she was among the first students to join The NCS in 2014. Unsure where that could lead her, The NCS provided a transformative experience that led her on a path towards LSE and a successful career in the financial sector, where she now works in the heart of London’s Docklands. Ten years on we caught up with her to discover more about her journey after The NCS and learn just how important the skills she learned with us are now.
Now working as a debt structurer in the shadow of London’s famous Canary Wharf, Kiesha’s career journey began ten years ago when she became one of the first students to study at The NCS. At the time, she spoke of her love for maths and economics and considered a career in finance. The NCS arranged work experiences for her, including one at KPMG, which enhanced her knowledge of the corporate world.
Kiesha recalls how the teachers were always there to support her, “The teachers at NCS always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.” This belief and support were key to her development, instilling a discipline and drive for excellence that she carries with her today in her professional life.
Ten years on it’s clear to see just how much Kiesha gained from our newly opened sixth form. As you can see in the video, the Kiesha of 2014 was still in the process of gaining confidence, and when armed with our vision, she went on to university with the personal and academic growth that our holistic education aims to provide students with for future successes.
Isuf loves maths, science and space.
He combined those passions at MIT.
Isuf has benefitted from The NCS’ Elite University Preparation Programme, which provides support to all students whilst they make applications to the most competitive universities and school leaver programmes in the world.
Expressing an interest in applying to an Ivy League university, Isuf was one of a number of students to have tutoring from a specialist in the SAT entrance exam that The NCS works with. We also took him on our exploration trip to the USA which allows students to learn about and visit MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia.“The NCS brought in a tutor from the US who helped us revise for the general SAT, which is an exam that all students have to do to apply to the most competitive universities in the US. That was probably some of the best help I’ve ever gotten in terms of actually revising for an exam.”
Having recently graduated from MIT, Isuf now works as a coder within the AI sector and also provides personal tutoring to students, including returning to The NCS to teach a coding course for students over the summer.
[Learn more about our Elite University Preparation Programme]
[Learn more about The NCS Engineering School]
Oxbridge was always in Nancy’s sights.
Our application preparation gave her all she needed for success.
Nancy joined us from Seven Kings and achieved A* A* A at A-Level. She is now studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford. On top of her academics, the experiences and contacts she made as part of The NCS Finance School are now also helping her gain work placements at leading City banking firms.
Whilst Oxbridge was always her plan, getting there took a lot of work. Our NCS organised visits to the universities to Socratic discussion, our super curriculum provision, and extensive interview practice with our team of dedicated Oxbridge teachers and alumni resulted in Nancy acing the oxford entrance test and performing exceptionally well at her interview. The NCS Elite University Preparation has become renowned for preparing students to successfully gain offers to the Ivy League, Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities. “NCS made the application process a lot smoother and easier. I got a lot of feedback on my personal statement and a lot of interview practice. The interview process at Oxford is different to other universities and that practice made me really proud and confident when I went there to be interviewed by the tutors. It was a much less stressful process because I’d already practiced it.”
Haseeb loved the holistic nature of studying at The NCS.
He’s now using those skills to become a doctor at UCL.
Haseeb joined The NCS from Kingsford and achieved A / A / A at A-Level. During his time studying with us he benefitted from the wide ranging opportunities we provide as part of our MedSchool preparation. He speaks how our holistic overview to enrichment helps students learn about themselves and their career aims, which in turn helped him make the best choices for his further education.
Like many of our alumni, he returns to help our current students who are also looking to go into the medicine field. He provides insight into the sector and also supports student’s preparing to take their BMAT and UCAT entrance exams. “I think The NCS is a hub of like minded students who really want to reach their upper limits and really push themselves to become the leaders of tomorrow. The NCS most definitely has given me skills to cope with university, but also to become a leader and a person who cultivates change.”
Saadia wanted a sixth form that allowed you to build a future for yourself.
She found that and more at The NCS.
Saadia joined us from Plashet and achieved A* / A / A at A-Level. Knowing she wanted to follow a career in law, Saadia enjoyed the opportunities that our Emerging Talent Programme provided. She got to spend time in chambers and corporate law firms, eventually going on the week long work experience in Abu Dhabi.
All this exposure helped Saadia decide that she wanted to become a barrister, something she’s en route to accomplishing with her studies at LSE. “I think the main thing that I’ve taken from NCS is not to let your background limit you. And always dream big, no matter where you’ve come from, no matter that your life experiences are, you can always achieve something if you put your mind to it and nothing is ever too big.”
