Pupil Stories

Tom Brew

My Experience

I was at Mount Kelly for 10 years and throughout that time, the correct morals and work ethic to thrive at university and in my further career were engrained.

The extra-curricular opportunities provided to us such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and LAMDA public speaking were also hugely rewarding.

I thoroughly feel that the upbringing I received at Mount Kelly has set me up for success in my University degree, sporting endeavours and my current career in financial services at Morgan Stanley.

“Whilst balancing my school studies with my swimming and triathlon career, Mount Kelly taught me so much about managing priorities.”

A Levels: History (B), Biology (C), Spanish (C)

University: University of Stirling – BA Business and Economics

Daniah Hagul

Training to swim competitively at a national or international level alongside the academic demands needed to achieve the highest grades requires great commitment. Former pupil, Daniah Hagul, successfully achieved this balance when she represented Libya in the 100 metre breaststroke at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016, whilst studying for her A Levels.

The training programme at Mount Kelly is designed to ensure our swimmers can realise their full potential in the pool and, equally importantly, to capitalise on the academic benefits that have been proved to accrue from their training programmes. The discipline and self-motivation of swimmers contributes to a positive work ethic for all our pupils and the School day is carefully structured to support the needs of everyone whether it be in the pool, in the orchestra, hiking on the moor, on the sports pitch or on the stage.

A Levels: Design Technology (A*), Further Maths (A), Maths (A), Photography (B)

University: Nottingham – Financial Mathematics

Link to video

Harry Donnelly

Former pupil, Harry Donnelly, is one of the few to complete the fearsome ‘MountKelly Seven’, which includes the 35, 45 and 55 mile Ten Tors expedition, the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, and the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon.

With only the fittest and most determined teenagers achieving this feat, Harry explains “I’ve never experienced anything like the feeling of walking across the Ten Tors finish line. It’s this incredible mix of exhilaration, adrenaline, exhaustion and incredible pride in the team.”

Head Master, Guy Ayling, is convinced that training and planning for such adventures has unexpected benefits inside and outside the classroom. “I believe that if you develop a pupil’s leadership and self-reliance, independence of thought and self-confidence, it will have a marked impact on his or her studies. It is extraordinary to complete all these challenges while also taking and gaining good grades at GCSE and A Level.”

A Levels: Geography (A), Biology (B), Applied Science (B)

University: Kent – Wildlife Conservation

Independence – A film made by members of the Mount Kelly Plum Society

The Plum Society accepted a challenge from the Bank of England to produce a short film on the theme of ‘Independence’. This nationwide initiative marked the 20th anniversary of the Bank’s independence from direct government control. In just ten days, four Year 9 pupils – Joe, George G, Jamie and George C – produced an excellent video reflecting on the nature of independence.

Oliver Taverner