Success Stories

"My decision to retake an A level was initially quite daunting, having not ever considered taking a ‘Gap Year’ before. I left Year 13 having missed out on my top choice of university, leaving me feeling incredibly demoralised and deflated especially after the chaos of home schooling and COVID. I came to MPW not knowing what to expect. When I first visited, I felt instantly that my situation was understood, however the kind of understanding that doesn’t have an ounce of pity about it. When I decided to attend, this allowed me to quickly make use of the support given to me by staff, especially my Personal Tutor and the Oxbridge Preparation Programme to really lay out what I wanted to achieve with my time there. I met people in similar situations to me and people from completely different walks of life. All of these factors lend themselves very well to an incredibly competitive but rewarding educational experience. I was constantly pushed in my classes and the UCAS application process working in small groups with incredibly bright and hard-working classmates. But at no point did feel like comparisons were being drawn but instead that our experiences were completely personal and we were working together for everyone to hit the targets we had set for ourselves. Taking me to now! Writing this on results day, with a place at my dream University with friends doing exactly the same! MPW is a challenging and competitive educational environment and represents to me a ‘second chance’. A place where I was able to go and reset and switch my mentality, presenting the chance to achieve things that seemed implausible in the place I was in when I first joined. I felt throughout the year I was always given the transparency and consideration I was given on day one and I am forever thankful to MPW for facilitating a complete turnaround in my academic journey."

"My favourite part of studying at MPW has been an academic environment that is so supportive and intimate. My Biology teacher always entertained our many questions about things that weren't necessarily on our syllabus and since we were such a small class we got the chance to ask those hypothetical questions. I feel that I have gained so much knowledge on the subject from an expert in the field and being able to explore different trains of thought made the content much more enjoyable. The regular support from my Personal Tutor was also outstanding; I have found in other schools that it would be easy to slip through the cracks and no one would notice if you weren't meeting your goals, but something like that could never happen here. The entire college community has always got your back! "

"MPW focuses on and cares about every single student, and the students do feel that. It is also a perfect environment to achieve your grades. My Personal Tutor was one of the main reasons that I was able to get into my university of choice. We had a meeting every week and he always made sure that I was feeling okay primarily and then everything else came right after. He kept on top of everything and made sure that I got it all done, especially for my Personal Statement. There was always positive encouragement coming from him too. The weekly tests make for a great learning system – that is what I personally think. The system clearly indicates what level you are working at and ensures that you are doing repetition on all topics in your subject. My teachers were great at getting me to the next level to achieve top grades in subjects I was stronger at. I was never a huge fan of Chemistry, having previously achieved a D, but with the support of my fantastic teacher I got an A*. He made my lessons very enjoyable and worked very hard for us to complete a one-year course in time. I am very thankful for the teaching that got me into my top choice university."

"My two years at MPW Cambridge not only allowed me to delve into areas of my passion, such as business, and gain invaluable knowledge thanks to teachers and a well-designed and structured curriculum, but also I met a huge number of new people with whom I continue to be friends after graduation. MPW is a school that brings together people with different backgrounds, goals, interests and passions, who are ready to work hard to achieve their goals which all builds a motivational and supportive environment around you. Thanks to the friendly atmosphere at the lessons, everyone had the opportunity to express their thoughts and point of view, which made it possible for us to have though-provoking and interesting discussions and consider the questions raised from different angles and points of views. I am sure that this time will forever remain one of the most unforgettable periods of my life! Not only I received knowledge that will be hugely useful in the future when studying at university and in my later life, but I also developed and changed as a person. I will remain forever thankful for the friendly and supportive atmosphere at the college and the amazing people I met during these exciting years."

"I came to MPW in August of 2021 with the request of taking the one-year sociology A level course whilst studying at another college in Cambridge and taking an Art diploma course. Not only was I very late to get in touch with MPW, but it was also a very difficult request in terms of timetabling. From the moment I met the staff that summer, to the moment I left, I formed real bonds with the teachers. My sociology teacher really made me love the subject. I felt very passionately about sociology not long after starting and towards exam season, my teacher and I would do memory mindmaps on the white boards together as he knew I was a visual learning and tailored his teaching to meet my needs. Not only were the teachers so amazing, but the receptionists were also real supporters of mine and I genuinely loved coming into school and chatting with them most days. The canteen is run by a couple who make a conscious effort to get to know the students, ask how they were doing and be there as an extra supporter. MPW is not like many schools, it completely tailors the timetable to fit the student's requirements and I really thank them for all the effort gone into making my timetable. MPW is also a smaller school, which means you get to meet your tutors weekly one to one but you can also visit them or contact them at any moment and know they will be there to help. My Personal Tutor always helped me to see the positive and assured me it would all work out. He also helped me re-do my revision plans 10,000 times just so that I felt I was on top of my work. When I started at MPW, I had never studied any Sociology before and set my target to just get a pass at A level. I never thought I would actually come out with an A*, so when MPW say they get the grades, they honestly do. My last thing to say, is that even the teachers that you do not have a subject with are there to help make your experience of school better. The art teacher was incredible at helping me with my applications to uni, portfolio requirement and mock interviews, despite not even teaching me. I am forever grateful for that. The head of MPW, is not like many head teachers, he really believes in understanding from the pupils perspective and I felt I could always reach out to him and tell him openly and honestly about thing that may of been on my mind. I do feel sad to leave MPW even though I was only there for a year. I will never forget it because it helped me get to my dream university."

"My two years at MPW have been part of the most fulfilling and interesting experience I‘ve had in my education. Despite the education being quite different from what I used to have in Macau, I still adapted to it quickly with the help of my teachers and friends. The small class sizes and community has really helped me to know people from other classes and easily get along with others. My Personal Tutor was very supportive throughout these two years of study, especially when it came to my university application. Despite the competitive nature of the course I was applying to, I was able to make my way through and successfully received offers from some of my choices. Weekly timed assignments helped me to keep track of my progress and allowed me to revise and improve my weakness in certain topics. Even though I could not take the A level exam due to COVID-19 this year, these timed assignments have showed my improvement along and my ability to meet the course requirements. I am thankful for all my teachers and Personal Tutor who assisted and encouraged me to work towards my goal."

" Studying at MPW was an incredible experience. Coming from a local Philippine school, I found it extremely daunting to live independently from my family and to adjust to a new school system all in one year. Studying History at A level specifically did not only include completely different content from what I had studied previously but also unfamiliar exam styles. At first, it seemed as if I would be unable to reach my targets. However, the individual support I received from MPW made the transition easier and more enjoyable. My Personal Tutor was helpful and guided me throughout my studies and the application process for university. My teachers were approachable and took interest in my progress and in making sure I do well. The small class sizes meant that I was able to give my opinion and ask questions, which also allowed for a great learning environment and a close-knit community. Regular Timed Assignments meant that by the time internal assessments came around, I was already well-versed in the exam technique and confident in my knowledge. I am grateful for the opportunities MPW has offered me and can definitely say that MPW is a place that equips its students with the skills and mindset to accomplish their academic goals."

"Two years of A levels in MPW Cambridge was a unique academic journey filled with unforgettable memories. As MPW offers small class tuition, I received comfortable, high-quality lessons. Teachers could individually explain any topics and help to answer any of my questions. I was fortunate to live in and absorb the academic atmosphere of historic Cambridge, which inspired me to study and put more effort into my education. With the help of friendly, supportive and professional staff in MPW, I enhanced my academic skills and got offers from the most prestigious universities. I want to thank my Personal Tutor, an incredible person who helped me throughout my journey with adaptation, mentality, motivation, the personal statement, and UCAS application. Despite the COVID disruptions in the last years, I always received support and encouragement from the MPW staff, even in online circumstances. Being the Head of Student Council 2020-2021, I was pleased to lead a distinctive international community with different student backgrounds. Our team's diversity, creativity, and dedication made this academic year full of social events, mental health assistance, and cultural affairs. After the great years in college, I became a student with excellent knowledge, soft skills and awareness of this world. Now, I am incredibly excited to start a new chapter of my life at university!"

"I first came to Cambridge with no friends and acquaintances, but the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of MPW immediately made me feel at home. Over the two years of my studies, I received tremendous support and care from both my teachers and my classmates. At MPW, I was not only able to study my favourite subject (Economics) in a systemic manner, but to also develop my critical thinking through everyday classwork and supervised weekly assessments. The Covid situation did not stop us from continuing our studies. MPW provided students with excellent support and help so that we could achieve our goals. I want to express my sincere gratitude to my Personal Tutor who guided me to my dream university. MPW has been a wonderful journey. I have made huge academic progress and lifelong friendships."

"I was initially attracted to MPW by the range of subjects on offer and the flexibility to study them in any combination. I thoroughly appreciated this level of flexibility as it allowed me to choose a combination of subjects that may not have been possible elsewhere. The small class sizes were another unique draw and something I knew was hugely beneficial to my learning having been to a small school previously. Indeed this proved to be the case at MPW as well, providing an excellent foundation for a strong professional relationship between students and teachers as well as close friendships with peers. My teachers demonstrated a rich depth of knowledge and a passion for their respected subjects that was infectious and infused me with confidence. They inspired me to develop a greater love and appreciation for each of my subjects, teaching not just to pass an exam but to develop my wider understanding too. Their approachable, friendly and open nature allowed for a fantastic studying environment that encouraged questioning and analysis to stretch my knowledge and excel. All staff members treated the students as adults, encouraging independence and initiative, which when combined with the overall structure of the college made for the perfect stepping stone between school and university. Equally, the Personal Tutor system provided a fantastic support network that ensured you were on track both academically and pastorally through weekly one-to-one meetings. My Personal Tutor was a friendly face who was always happy to help me even if it was outside of our dedicated meeting time. The weekly Timed Assignments, whilst perhaps intimidating at first, provided another excellent way of ensuring I was constantly practising and improving throughout my time at MPW. Outside of lessons, there were plenty of other opportunities provided, such as Student Council which allowed me to develop other life skills that are invaluable for the future, for example communication and planning. My thanks go out to my exceptional teachers and Personal Tutor for helping me develop over the last two years."

"I’ve greatly enjoyed my two years at MPW and feel I got a lot out of my time there. When lessons were online because of Covid, I felt it was very efficient and we were able to get a lot done due to the dedication of the teachers. My time in person at MPW was amazing as the classes were small enough to feel you can ask any questions and get the most out of the teaching without it feeling too empty. Having a Personal Tutor was something I really enjoyed as well as they are very dedicated to getting you where you want to be and are very supportive of whatever that may be. The Personal Tutor element was especially useful during UCAS applications as it can be a very confusing process, but I felt that all my questions were answered and the whole process was made a lot easier, from the personal statement writing to choosing which universities are best suited to you. My favourite element of my time at MPW was the weekly Timed Assignments. I felt these were incredibly effective at improving my exam technique and making me more comfortable sitting exams so the end of year exams felt much less stressful as I had more confidence in my abilities. My whole time at MPW, both online and in person, has been very enjoyable and I will miss it when I go to university."

"I first came to MPW after having already changed school a couple of times, attempting to find a better place for me. MPW proved to be exactly this. It wasn't just that my teachers were great, that the small class sizes afforded me an amazing level of flexibility, and that the weekly tests hardened my exam technique so I had nothing to fear when exams came around. But what really made MPW a great school was the level of individual attention that I received throughout the school, it was unlike any other place I had studied.

While some aspects of sixth form still proved challenging for me, I was glad to be heading to UCL after leaving. There, while I enjoyed the education thoroughly, I thought I might be able to profit from some real-world experience. So I spent about a year teaching English in Saint Petersburg before I thought that I might like to reapply to university and, once again, try and find a place in which I would fit perfectly. When it came to filling in UCAS forms and obtaining references, my former tutor at MPW was supremely helpful. And, after sufficient stressing and prepping, I was fortunate enough to be offered a place at Oxford where I hope to, as I have done before with MPW, find the ideal place for me. MPW is not the typical sixth form experience but it is without question one I can recommend."

"My two years at MPW have been part of the most fulfilling experience I’ve had in my education. Despite being far away from home and studies completely different from what I was used to, the small class sizes and communal feeling of the school really made the transition easy and enjoyable. I always felt like my voice was heard and appreciated in every class. My teachers knew me well, both as a student and a person, and this really helped them to guide me through my A Levels in a way that worked best with my personality. My Personal Tutor was an essential support system over the two years especially when it came time to apply to university.

Despite its daunting nature, I was able to get the most out of the application process with five acceptances from all my choices and I don’t know if that would’ve been the case otherwise. Regular timed assignments helped me track my progress and kept me accountable and reminded me of the end goal - to do my best in my final exams. With the COVID-19 situation, I was unable to sit these exams, but these timed assignments helped show my improvement and my ability to meet the course requirements. Overall, I believe that the system set up at MPW provides students with everything they need to achieve whatever goals they have for their educational journey."

"For me, MPW was life changing because it was due to the immense support of the teachers and of my personal tutor that I have been able to become the person that I am today. When I first came to MPW, I had no GCSEs and had been removed from a Level 1 course (hair and beauty) at my previous college. I had little belief in myself and felt that after failing my GCSEs and giving in I would never be given a second chance to put things right. MPW proved me wrong and showed me that as long as you are surrounded by people who believe in you and want you to do well, and other students who want to succeed as well, you will go far. As soon as I arrived at MPW, I felt as though my teachers were making it their personal duty to make sure that I succeeded, and that they were always set on keeping me on track in every aspect of my academic career. At first, I was not especially confident within the classroom but from the very beginning my English teacher sussed out that I had a passion for English and encouraged me to pursue and showcase it. This, paired with the support of those around me, boosted my confidence and caused me to think about my future post-GCSE. I am extremely grateful for MPW and would not be in the position I am in today if it was not for the staff and all their support. It has been a unique experience and has left me with a more positive attitude towards education as I have been shown what it is like to achieve. "