Foundationers after Lancing

Education is powerful, it can change lives and can physically take a young person from one place to a very different place altogether. We know how a strong educational foundation can generate confidence, a motivation to succeed and enable aspirations.

Leaving Lancing back in July 2022 was an incredibly mixed experience for me. On the one hand, it was difficult having to leave what had been my second home for the past five years. I knew I’d miss living with my friends and the school community. However, I also had a feeling of contentment. I knew that I had been prepared for the next chapters of my life and I was so beyond excited to see what the future would hold for me. Both the support of the staff at Lancing and the programmes offered to us (such as the Leaving Lancing programme) had given me the reassurance that I was ready to go to university and be more independent. Then came A Level results day in August 2022, where I got into medical school, which had been my dream for as long as I could remember; I can’t possibly describe how relieved and overjoyed I was.

My first impression of Keele University was that I found it oddly similar to Lancing, given how much of a ‘campus’ university it is, where every building is in the same sitefunnily enough the sizes of both sites are quite similar, too! My accommodation is pretty much a boarding house, with 29 people and no ‘flats’. I thought this to be a fantastic means of meeting new people, and I was so excited to get to know everyone. The first time I walked into the medical school, I was in complete awe. Seeing that many people with the same passions as me was very inspiring and I couldn’t wait to get started with the course.

I’ve been enjoying university so much; having the independence, making incredible friends and studying such a wonderful course has been such a privilege. I’m so thankful to be here.

Part of the joy for staff involved with the Foundationers is to see what is being achieved by our young Foundationers when they leave Lancing. Here are two of our OL Foundationers who left Lancing last summer and are already making their mark in the world.

Lancing was a great experience for me. I have only happy memories of my time there and they will always stay with me. The welcome I received on arrival from everyone was incredible. I made so many friends who I know are going to become life-long companions. The skills we were taught in the Sixth Form have been invaluable to me. I can honestly say that the ‘Leaving Lancing’ programme acted as a catalyst; I have adapted very easily to life at university and the responsibilities that it brings with it.

The teachers and tutors at Lancing gave me so much advice when it came to making my university choices; carefully analysing and helping me choose the right course at the right university, one that suited me perfectly. I was also very lucky to have my house mistress help me apply for a Black Heart Foundation Scholarship which is helping me with the costs of university. Currently, I am studying International Politics, with a year abroad – I love the course content and feel privileged to be studying something that is so close to my heart. The City University of London has made me feel very welcome too; their advice on opportunities available in my subject area and the overall support have been excellent.

Of course, life at university is different; no-one chases you for evening school anymore! The freedom that university offers is huge, however they have still provided a lot of support to help me settle in and have encouraged me to believe in my aspiration of achieving a first-class degree. I realised early on that I need to be even more proactive at university to compete and succeed in my field and I am determined to do this. I am looking forward to the future and feel excited about the opportunities and challenges that will come along