WINCHESTER COLLEGE

Maria, BSc Architecture (Hons), MPhil Cantab, ARB

Maria, who started at Sedbergh in year 10, came from a Spanish city in the African continent where, on the two days a year that it rained, PE classes were cancelled. So, transitioning from there to hard-core running in the fells regardless of the weather, but often in hail/snow/rain, was a new experience! Maria is now working in London as an architect and, inspired by the running and sports that she pursued at Sedbergh, is training for the Thames Path, her first ultramarathon (100km).

“My years at Sedbergh School have been some of the best memories of my life, and the friendships I made through my time there are by far made up of some of the most influential people in my life, who are like family nowadays.”

After leaving Sedbergh Maria read architecture at UCL. While she describes her time at UCL as an extremely challenging time, she believes that the endurance she developed at Sedbergh, whether running up the fells or when facing academic courses in her second language, was vital to getting on top of her university course. After graduating and working in London for a year as a part 1 architect, Maria then completed an MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design at Cambridge University.

It was during her GCSEs (Year 11) that the idea of becoming an architect crystallised for Maria. An ‘outstanding’ teacher - one of the best she’s ever had - made Maths and Further Maths fun. At the same time, Maria was enjoying Art. The idea of combining them both became an exciting prospect. Maria says, “Order, beauty and people had always mattered to me, and Architecture started to be defined in those terms.”

Maria’s ambition as an architect is to continue to research how to reduce the impact our built environment, and particularly housing in the UK, has upon our health and, as a result, the strain that it imposes on the NHS.

Founded as a traditional boarding school in 1597, Aldenham today offers both Day, Boarding and Flexi-Boarding options for girls and boys on the same original site.

“Despite being from a totally different culture and background I settled quickly into Aldenham. The academic teaching has been sensational and has allowed me to achieve my educational goals. I achieved a brilliant set of GCSE results and I’m looking forward to deepening my academic knowledge in the sixth form studying A Levels.

My favorite thing about Aldenham is the diverse activities and extra curriculum program that it offers me. I am a keen sportsman and play football and hockey, I’m also a county athlete in triple jump and enjoy running parkrun every week. Alongside sporting prowess, I also competed in the House Maths Challenge. I was the captain of ‘The McGill’s Maths Wizards’ and we won the competition. Boarding has been an amazing experience and there is always so much to do, I eagerly look forward to returning to McGill’s after each holiday and the fun, friendship and fraternity makes me who I am!”

Shaun 12M (China)

“Shaun is an outstanding young man who has fully immersed himself into the life of a busy Boarding School. He quickly adapted to a different environment and has excelled in a variety of areas across the curriculum. Shuan is an excellent sportsman and plays in the top teams in his year group for both football and hockey. Academically Shaun achieved a strong set of GCSE results and is now currently studying Further Maths, Psychology and Economics. He has matured into an excellent leader and has helped mentor the new young overseas boarders. He was awarded his House Tie for excellence, and it has been a pleasure guiding him over the past two years. He is a truly outstanding young man!”