LAE students received a record breaking number of offers to study Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science (MDV) subjects at university this year. They received a total of 71 offers and 33 individual students have accepted their offers. 

How did our students achieve this? In their first year with us the students aspiring to apply for MDV courses participated in weekly workshops as part of LAE’s well established ‘Pathways to MDV’ program. Throughout the year we had professionals working in different branches of MDV who were invited to speak to our students and share their insights, experience and knowledge. Towards the end of their first year with us preparations begin in earnest for pre-admissions tests. All students are given the opportunity to sit mock UCAT and BMAT tests.

In Year 13 the focus of the weekly Pathways sessions shifts to interview preparation.

In addition to the weekly MDV sessions, the school supports applicants by seeking out and advertising work experience/summer school placements in the weekly bulletin, forming partnerships with local hospitals, supporting community projects such as ‘Healthy Newham’, a local partnership backed by NHS collaborate.

As well as;

• Facilitating guest lectures from researchers
• Inviting universities to visit LAE to speak to prospective students as part of the school’s careers and futures provision
• Offering personal statement writing sessions
• Organizing mock panel interviews and multiple mini-interview (MMIs)

How do LAE’s partner school support us with MDV preparation? The links and support we have with our independent partner schools help us prepare in different ways and greatly enhance the level of advice/guidance the school is able to provide.

Over the past two years, LAE’s MDV provision has also benefited from a grant from the Robertson Foundation. The additional resource provided by Robertson has enabled the school to recruit and employ three full time ‘Academics in Residence’ (AIRs) – one each in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. The AIRs, each of whom holds postgraduate qualifications in their respective fields, are well placed to stretch and challenge students with their academic studies as well as to provide specialist MDV support.