0:00:05 > 0:00:07Yay!
0:00:07 > 0:00:09It's a little known fact
0:00:09 > 0:00:12that the very best A Level results in the United Kingdom
0:00:12 > 0:00:15are created here at Cardiff Sixth Form College.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Eight A star ratings.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Maths - A star.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Further Maths - A star.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23- And Physics - A star.- Whoo!
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Well done, excellent.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26You're going off to Oxford.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Yeah.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31In fact, for six years in a row,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34this fee-paying private school has topped the results tables,
0:00:34 > 0:00:40with an astonishing 99% of their students gaining A star to B grades.
0:00:40 > 0:00:46Every single student in this college has at least had one A.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I think that's brilliant.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Set up just ten years ago
0:00:50 > 0:00:53and run out of an office block on Newport Road,
0:00:53 > 0:00:57it's a family affair, headed up by 33-year-old Yasmin
0:00:57 > 0:01:01and supported by her husband Nadeem and his cousin Manny Farzal.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04PUPILS CHATTER
0:01:04 > 0:01:07We've been granted exclusive access to the students...
0:01:07 > 0:01:09BELLS RING
0:01:09 > 0:01:10- ..teachers...- Argh!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12..and the founders of the school
0:01:12 > 0:01:15as we attempt to uncover the secret behind their success.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18We are the best school in the world.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Understandably, everybody wants to know - how do we do it?
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Why could we do it?
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Why can't they do it?
0:01:24 > 0:01:26HE WHISTLES But as students threaten revolt...
0:01:26 > 0:01:31We don't understand! What new skills are we learning this time?
0:01:31 > 0:01:35..how will the college maintain its precarious position at the top?
0:01:35 > 0:01:38If it happens, we need to be prepared to pick up the pieces,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40cos no-one else will do it.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41All right? Fine.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55So putting my scarf on every morning
0:01:55 > 0:01:58is usually the last thing I do before I leave my room.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Second-year student Sakeena is from Botswana.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07This one is...because it's Botswana's independence.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10And I'm very, very patriotic.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14The first thing I did when I moved into my room
0:02:14 > 0:02:18was to kind of need a reminder of home,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21so I hung these up and these are traditional Botswana artefacts.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25If you realise your identity, then you never really feel homesick,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29cos you can surround yourself with things that remind you of home.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Then you can take home with you wherever you go.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35As one of her country's top scholars,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39the Botswanan government awarded Sakeena a prestigious scholarship
0:02:39 > 0:02:41that allowed her to study anywhere in the world.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46She chose Cardiff Sixth Form College.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48To be honest, I put it into the Google search engine.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I typed in "best sixth form college in the world"
0:02:51 > 0:02:52and this is what came up.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57HE YAWNS
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Fellow scholarship students Sam and Hannah are from Wales.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03They drive to college each day
0:03:03 > 0:03:05from their homes 20 miles away in Newbridge.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Getting up at half five is still a bit of a struggle.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I don't think I'd ever get used to this.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16This year, school starts earlier, at 8am instead of 9.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20For some of the students, it's an unwelcome change to the timetable.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23I don't understand, really, how...
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I think it's cos we've got more teaching time.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28- Right.- We've got extra lessons, haven't we?
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- Further Maths students have got an extra two hours.- Yeah.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36- Biology's an extra hour. - So is Physics, so is Chemistry.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41I had a conditional offer of eight A stars to come
0:03:41 > 0:03:44and opening my results on results days
0:03:44 > 0:03:47was THE most tense moment of my life.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49I had eight, I had the eight A stars.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52I also had an A and a B...
0:03:53 > 0:03:55..um, which are OK, I suppose.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01It's an early start for co-founders Nadeem and Yasmin Sarwar too.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Lots of trips coming up, isn't there?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07There's Latvia, then it's Hong Kong.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Going to be a busy term.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13'We started the college with nothing,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16'we started the college with no facilities.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18'I wanted to tutor a few students,'
0:04:18 > 0:04:21so I thought, "What's the best way? Just make some leaflets,
0:04:21 > 0:04:22"go around the neighbourhood,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25"put the leaflets through the doors and see what happens,"
0:04:25 > 0:04:26and that's what I did, really.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30There was just a dream to do the best we can with the students.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32It was a dream to make a difference,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35to make an impact in somebody's life.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38That naivety I suppose helped, because it didn't hold me back.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Yasmin and Nadeem have grown their enterprise
0:04:43 > 0:04:46from a home tutoring service into an A level college
0:04:46 > 0:04:48with over 300 students,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51charging fees of £34,000 a year
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and attracting the world's brightest and best young minds.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01THEY GREET EACH OTHER
0:05:03 > 0:05:07And teaching them are some of Wales's most brilliant teachers.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09OK, so we started the Calvin cycle.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Just to give you an overview of what we're going to be doing today...
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Nothing until you get to this point, and then we see a cream precipitate.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Same with this one, but you've got trig as well.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24So we've learned that we get water,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27we get water that's split up into oxygen.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30OK, you will get asked these in exams.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33And with ours, that one should have worked even better
0:05:33 > 0:05:35if water was better.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38These are the inverse trig functions.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40You've got that equals sin X, so to get X on its own,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42you're doing sin minus 1 of 0.5.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50BELLS RESONATE
0:05:50 > 0:05:53The longer school days make room for an expanding curriculum,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55including lessons in mindfulness,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58where the students are taught to meditate
0:05:58 > 0:06:00- and relax. - ..comfortable, close your eyes.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Just focus your torchlight of attention on your breathing.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11But not all of the students are going with the flow.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14I think right now, where everyone is,
0:06:14 > 0:06:20I think we're not worried, really, about mindfulness.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23We can just find out what's happening in our minds,
0:06:23 > 0:06:24but with kindness and curiosity.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I think later on in life,
0:06:26 > 0:06:31I think maybe people might understand how it was helpful,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34but I don't think it's important to us at this stage in our life.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Those hit hardest by the early starts are the local students,
0:06:39 > 0:06:43who unlike the boarders, must travel in from home.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45What time did you two get in this morning?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- We had to be in for eight. - You were in for eight as well?- Yeah.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I have to get up at five.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52You just have to make sure you get to sleep earlier,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56but that means in the evenings, you'll have less time to do stuff.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:07:01 > 0:07:03- Everyone's OK?- Yeah.- Cool.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08Head girl Hannah and her team of deputies ask Yasmin and Mr Farzal
0:07:08 > 0:07:12for a meeting to air their concerns about the new timetable.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15I've heard from teachers that they are having trouble
0:07:15 > 0:07:17keeping the class's attention.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I think breakfast has become a serious problem.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23You get people who have to rush between class and they come back
0:07:23 > 0:07:25with a piece of bread or a sandwich or something like that
0:07:25 > 0:07:28to eat during lessons and things to keep awake.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31The reason why there's an eight o'clock start
0:07:31 > 0:07:34was because of the teaching contact time that we do.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37If we could start it at nine o'clock, we would have.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40We understand that we pile on the work, yeah?
0:07:40 > 0:07:45And sometimes you might not be finishing work or your homework
0:07:45 > 0:07:50until midnight, but that is part of life.
0:07:50 > 0:07:56Right? When you go to university, you will get given mounds of work.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Especially the kind of universities that you're all aiming for.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Not something that we wanted to do.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Um, you know...
0:08:05 > 0:08:07it's hard enough as it is.
0:08:07 > 0:08:128am means that everybody has to come in at 8am, not just the students.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14You go to bed, it probably takes you an hour,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17two hours to wind down cos you're still on your phone,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19you're twittering away on Facebook or something.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22It's gone two o'clock before you've actually tried to go to sleep.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Yeah? Then if you're waking up at seven o'clock in the morning,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27of course you're going to be tired.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29'I'm the director of studies and staff at the college,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31'so I basically make sure'
0:08:31 > 0:08:34that the students are achieving the grades that they need to achieve.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37'They all know that they're expected to work very hard
0:08:37 > 0:08:40'and so as far as they're concerned, it's part of the parcel.'
0:08:40 > 0:08:44We're being as cooperative with the student body as we can.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47We'll look at it again and we'll try to see what we can do,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49but it may not be possible.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51'This is not a popularity contest.'
0:08:51 > 0:08:54What I'm looking for is I want to reach the outcomes
0:08:54 > 0:08:59and I don't mean just outcomes in terms of academic excellence.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03I also mean in terms of those characteristics of being resilient,
0:09:03 > 0:09:08being able to have a vision of making an impact in the future.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Any leader will tell you, anyone running any organisation,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14that when you make decisions, it's very, very difficult.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18OK.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22This is called Fleming's demonstration.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Power supply, positive and negative. It's just like a battery, it's DC.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28'Usually, you're in a situation
0:09:28 > 0:09:30'where you're trying to get work off people.'
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Here it's generally a question of how fast you can feed it to them.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38It's very refreshing after coming from the state system.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39Boom!
0:09:39 > 0:09:41The difference is usually the motivation.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44This is Fleming's left-hand rule.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46We've got a field, we've got a current and we've got a force.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48First finger - field.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49Second finger - current.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Thumb is the thrust. You'll probably remember this forever.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Good evening, everyone. Thank you very much for coming tonight.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11- Before the GCSE result comes out... - It's tough to get into this school.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15First of all, I want to congratulate all of you for receiving the offer
0:10:15 > 0:10:18to come and study at the college, so well done.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20It is very competitive.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25We do like academic merits, so congratulations, well done.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Each of these students holds an offer from the college
0:10:28 > 0:10:32for a full scholarship worth £30,000.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35But places will only be awarded to those
0:10:35 > 0:10:38that gain eight or nine A stars in their GCSEs.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40We are a different institution.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43We are very unique in how we approach things
0:10:43 > 0:10:47and you will find it very different to what you're used to,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51but with that comes a lot of excitement, challenges ahead.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55The idea of coming to the college is in order for you to ensure
0:10:55 > 0:10:56that you get the best possible grades
0:10:56 > 0:10:58to get to the best possible universities.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00So there's going to be a lot of hard work.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03If you think this is unachievable,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05then let me put you out of your misery.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09It is not - if you're coming to this school, then your aim should be
0:11:09 > 0:11:13in obtaining the best possible results and that is A star.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18'We wanted to create the best of the best under one building.'
0:11:18 > 0:11:20The best of the best from all around the world,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24so whether they are from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Russia, Azerbaijan,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28and the reason why we have started off with the Welsh scholarships
0:11:28 > 0:11:31is because we want the best of Welsh students to be learning
0:11:31 > 0:11:34with the best from all around the world
0:11:34 > 0:11:36and also it's great networking for the kids.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38You could be sitting next to someone
0:11:38 > 0:11:40who's going to be a future president of Botswana.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42How great is that!
0:11:43 > 0:11:45INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:11:45 > 0:11:47I like to think that I'm both an academic person
0:11:47 > 0:11:50and a creative person, but...
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Seren is one of the students hoping to study at the college.
0:11:54 > 0:11:55At the school I'm at,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58because I'm quite focused and I like to read a lot,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01I was a bit of an oddity, whereas coming here,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04you sort of get the sense that you belong to it somehow.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06In the schools I'm in,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08I don't really get on with that many people
0:12:08 > 0:12:10because I'm so focused and driven
0:12:10 > 0:12:13and a lot of people just go to parties every weekend
0:12:13 > 0:12:15and I'm not like that at all,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18so I know, meeting some of the students from here as well,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22they're just so dedicated to their work and I feel like I fit in here.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Somehow I feel like... I don't know.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I don't think I'll get the grades to get in
0:12:26 > 0:12:28and I haven't applied anywhere else.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30I'm so nervous, I can't even cope.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33When I was in Year 7 or something,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36I got 85% on a maths test and I cried.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39It explains why none of the other kids liked me.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Apart from those on local scholarships,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49the college students come from all over the world.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Yep, fabulous.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01And it's accommodation manager Paul Fletcher's job
0:13:01 > 0:13:03to meet the new students at the airport
0:13:03 > 0:13:06before the academic year begins.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08It's not quite like you see on films,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12where they come running out the terminal and you meet them,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14cos there's just so many people
0:13:14 > 0:13:18that you have to basically stand here patiently with a card
0:13:18 > 0:13:21and just look for students who might look like they're lost
0:13:21 > 0:13:22and they may be yours.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27I left Cardiff at 2:30 this morning.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31I expect to be back in Cardiff about 11 o'clock tonight.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33So long day, yeah.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Hiya, mate, how are you, OK? I'm Paul.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I'm in charge of the transport for the college
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and I arrange all the pick-ups.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- Evan, yeah?- Yes.- That's correct?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Fabulous.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52'I'm the first face of the college they see,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54'so I always have to be nice and friendly.'
0:13:54 > 0:13:56OK?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Even after 16 hours, you still have to smile and make them welcome.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03MOBILE RINGS
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Hello?
0:14:08 > 0:14:11OK, I'll come over and see you now and tick him off my list.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13We've just had an arrival from Terminal 5,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15a couple of students, so...
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- Hi, Brian. All right? - Nice to meet you.- I'm Paul.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21We've got lots of students arrived already,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23so if you can just get to know them.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- OK.- I'll come and speak to you shortly. All right? See you soon.
0:14:26 > 0:14:2917-year-old Brian is from Hong Kong.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32He scored 11 A stars at GCSE.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- So you guys all new to the UK? - First time coming to the UK.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Yeah, it's pretty much exciting.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- You guys all know each other? - Um, for two hours.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Yeah, a couple of hours.- Oh, you guys got here a while ago, then?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51I'm doing triple Science, and Maths.
0:14:51 > 0:14:57- What about you guys?- Biology, Chemistry and Economics and Maths.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I'm going to start gathering everyone together now.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06They've got their luggage ready, so we're literally ready to go.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Now, you'll have to excuse my pronunciation, all right?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Hung...Sun Lai? Yeah, fab.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Just go round with the luggage, mate, please.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19OK, Jenna, Janna? Janna Lung?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22My gosh, three cases.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24You're not going home soon, are you?
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- OK, Fiona?- Yes.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- We've been looking everywhere for you, Fiona.- I'm really sorry.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- Hungry, were you?- Yeah! - OK, not to worry.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Let's go. If you could follow me...
0:15:40 > 0:15:42OK, if you'd like to get on the coach, please.
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Thank you.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53There's a lot of luggage.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55As you can see.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03That's it, job done.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05APPLAUSE
0:16:08 > 0:16:11No students missing, that's the most important.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14All going on to Cardiff, so that's it, time for a cuppa now, anyway.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Someone who understands what it's like to travel so far from home
0:16:43 > 0:16:45is Yasmin.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48She came to the UK from Malaysia to study
0:16:48 > 0:16:50when she was just 17 years old.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54I arrived some time in January, I think. It was cold
0:16:54 > 0:16:56and I was blowing into the air,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00cos that was really something different for me.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02It was very exciting.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04It was also very frightening and anxious
0:17:04 > 0:17:08and that's why I relate really well with the students,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10having been through that journey myself.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16I've learned a lot about the education side of things in the UK.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I've been able to compare it with my education back home.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I've been able to see the cultural differences.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28In Asia, it's a lot about academic and results,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32whereas the Western education allows you to be open,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35it allows you to be approachable, it allows you to question,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39it allows you to communicate and with this college,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42we've tried to embed things that could be done better
0:17:42 > 0:17:43within the British system
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and as well as things that could be better within the Asian system
0:17:47 > 0:17:49and combine those two elements together
0:17:49 > 0:17:52to try to achieve something different, something unique.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06PHONE RINGS
0:18:08 > 0:18:09Hello, Cardiff Sixth Form College.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Some of the students holding scholarship offers from the college
0:18:13 > 0:18:15are phoning in with their results.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Do you know what your offer letter said?
0:18:17 > 0:18:21You needed to have nine A stars, didn't you?
0:18:21 > 0:18:24OK, but you only received six A stars.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Right, so you didn't, I'm afraid,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33reach the offer on the terms.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- Congratulations, my dear! - Thank you.- Well done!
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Others have come to share their news in person.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- Best in the school, I hear.- Yeah!
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Ten A stars with distinction in maths.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47- Thank you.- Well done. I'm so pleased for you.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Well done, you worked very, very hard.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Looking forward to the challenges in A levels now.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54- Yeah!- Yes? - YASMIN CHUCKLES
0:18:56 > 0:18:58So you're all right?
0:18:58 > 0:18:59Yeah.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00OK.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Just want to make sure you're OK, really.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05- Yeah...- I want you to be pleased with it.- OK.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Seren has her results too.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12She's come with her mother to discuss them with Yasmin.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14I'm hoping that we can persuade her.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17I wouldn't say that. To be fair, they asked for nine A stars.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19I got seven.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21So, I mean, I...
0:19:21 > 0:19:26I've still done well, I've just not done well enough.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27We'll see. We'll see what she says.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30How much of your soul are you prepared to sell?
0:19:30 > 0:19:32SEREN SIGHS
0:19:32 > 0:19:35It's a bit of a weird metaphor to use for just going to a sixth form.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Well, that's good, then, cos if it doesn't feel like that,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- that's good to know as well. - But, like, 20%.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42- LAUGHING:- Really?
0:19:44 > 0:19:46You're so close.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Hi, Seren, how are you?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- Congratulations.- Thanks.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Well done. Hi! Sorry to keep you waiting.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01I had another... I had another parent as well, so apologies.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Um... Because of the huge number of people applying for scholarships,
0:20:05 > 0:20:09we have to be very careful in terms of how we make that decision,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11because we are held accountable
0:20:11 > 0:20:15in terms of how we deliver the scholarships and things like that.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17I don't know if you saw the bit about making the case
0:20:17 > 0:20:20in terms of the background of school that Seren came from.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22The, um...
0:20:22 > 0:20:24She's top in her year with those results.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28- Wow, OK. Did you study in the Welsh medium?- Yes.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30- Oh, OK.- Which is the other thing -
0:20:30 > 0:20:31her father and I don't speak Welsh at all,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34so she's not had any support from us educationally.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36It's all her own work.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39We're going to have a meeting and then we'll be able to finalise
0:20:39 > 0:20:43in terms of the scholarship provisions and so on.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46If Mel takes you upstairs for some lunch
0:20:46 > 0:20:48and then in an hour's time, we should know, OK?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Thank you very much.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59As tough for us as it is for you!
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I don't envy you at all.
0:21:02 > 0:21:03- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11So before we actually go on to the next thing,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15we are going to do two questions. A little bit harder than usual.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18OK, so you've got your normal implicit,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20but now we've got E involved as well.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21We set the bar high.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24I'm going to do this again!
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Every child is expected to do well.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Every child is expected to get an A or above.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Aim for the stars,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34cos at least you'll fall amongst the clouds.
0:21:34 > 0:21:35I think it's something like that.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37"Inverse" means...?
0:21:37 > 0:21:38- PUPIL ANSWERS - No, no.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- ANOTHER PUPIL ANSWERS - Very good.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42"Inverse" means reflection across the line Y equals X.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Hi, Nanny.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I got seven A stars and four As.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03But it's not really good enough to get the scholarship they offered me.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Just two A stars short of her scholarship offer,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Seren and her mother are waiting for a decision.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14She's the best student in the school.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18She wants to do...?
0:22:18 > 0:22:23She wants to do Maths, Chemistry, Biology, English Literature.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25In fairness, she didn't make the offer.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Yeah, she didn't make nine A stars.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29What was her offer, is it nine A stars?
0:22:29 > 0:22:32That's on a full scholarship. She got seven, so...
0:22:34 > 0:22:36What did she get in Biology?
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- A star.- Chemistry - A star.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- English Lit?- A star.
0:22:41 > 0:22:42- Mathematics?- A star.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45What have we got in her file in terms of her extracurricular
0:22:45 > 0:22:47and things like that?
0:22:47 > 0:22:49She's obviously an active student.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52She's a member of the water polo team.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57Bronze award with DOE, Grade 6 in piano, Grade 3 in trombone.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Member of the orchestra.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Well, I think she should be maintained,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04just on the basis of the fact that she was top in her school.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08180 students.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Judging from everything in her file,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13she probably should have achieved the A stars
0:23:13 > 0:23:15in the other subjects as well.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33- Please, take a seat.- Thank you.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Sorry for the wait.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41It's just taken a while to collate all the information
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and to put things together.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45We're very impressed with your achievement
0:23:45 > 0:23:47as the top student in your school.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49We think you've got the spark
0:23:49 > 0:23:51and we think you've got the potential
0:23:51 > 0:23:53and we're very pleased to let you know
0:23:53 > 0:23:56that you do receive a scholarship to come to the college.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- OK!- So congratulations.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03- LAUGHTER - Sorry, what? Um...
0:24:03 > 0:24:06So you've got your scholarship, so congratulations.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09- Really?- Yes, yes. - Like, the full one?- Yes.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12We're very impressed with the fact
0:24:12 > 0:24:15that you've maintained your top position,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17so congratulations.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21- OK!- OK?- Thank you. - Well done, yes?- Thanks!
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Congratulations, well done,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24and I look forward to seeing you in September.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26OK, can I give you a hug?
0:24:26 > 0:24:27- Yeah, sure! - LAUGHTER
0:24:27 > 0:24:29I was thinking about giving you one...
0:24:29 > 0:24:31'As soon as my father explained to me
0:24:31 > 0:24:33'what the idea of a university was,'
0:24:33 > 0:24:35I sort of asked him what the best ones were and he said,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37"Either Oxford or Cambridge."
0:24:37 > 0:24:40I was like, "Right, I'll go there, then."
0:24:40 > 0:24:41Hi, Nanny, it's Seren.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46'I think that kind of ambition has always driven me'
0:24:46 > 0:24:49and I think it's largely that ambition
0:24:49 > 0:24:51of going to a prestigious university
0:24:51 > 0:24:54and trying to do as best as I could that made me decide
0:24:54 > 0:24:56that this would be a good place for me to go.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57Um, I got in.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05SHE GIGGLES
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Love you too!
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Bye!
0:25:28 > 0:25:31This is a Power Patrol...!
0:25:31 > 0:25:32This is a Power Patrol car?
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Oh, I see.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37The history of this house - it has a bit of history -
0:25:37 > 0:25:42it was actually built for the manager of, um...Elton John.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- No, Tom Jones! - Tom Jones, sorry, Tom Jones.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49It's been a busy time for Yasmin and Nadeem.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51As well as running the college,
0:25:51 > 0:25:52they're parents to toddler Adam.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55Adam, what is this?
0:25:55 > 0:25:57- What is this?- Dinosaur!
0:25:57 > 0:25:59You think it's a dinosaur?
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Are you sure?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- I think it's a monkey! - I think it's a monkey.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08We speak to him in Hindi, Urdu.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11We also speak... We try...
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Well, we're trying to teach him a bit of Chinese, Mandarin,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16and obviously English.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20We started doing flash cards when he was just a baby,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24then after that, on the laptop, he was recognising pictures
0:26:24 > 0:26:25and diagrams and things
0:26:25 > 0:26:29and he picked up the animals, he just loved animals.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31I try to squeeze it in when I come back.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Sometimes I come back very late, so that becomes a problem,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37but whenever I can,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39I try to squeeze it in.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- Nee-naw!- Nee-naw! It's not a policeman car!
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Nee-naw! - This is not a policeman car!
0:26:47 > 0:26:49This lifestyle is a far cry
0:26:49 > 0:26:53from Nadeem's experience of growing up in Newport.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57We moved around a few houses anyway.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Lived in a terraced house,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01to a slightly smaller terraced house,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04then my father bought a shop, then he lived on top of that,
0:27:04 > 0:27:08then it all went horribly wrong, then we moved to a council estate
0:27:08 > 0:27:11and I spent a large chunk of my life there.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14It really motivated me to work quite hard.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17HORN BEEPS
0:27:17 > 0:27:19The aspirations we have now -
0:27:19 > 0:27:21I'm just happy he gets a degree from Oxford or Cambridge,
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I don't care what degree.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25If he gets a degree from one of those places,
0:27:25 > 0:27:26I'll be pretty pleased.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Beef Stroganoff.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00- Yeah, what's that? Beef...? - Beef Stroganoff.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Yes, please. Can I have some of that and...?
0:28:04 > 0:28:06And I don't know what else.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10And some wedges, maybe?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14It's lunchtime and Paul has a special delivery to make.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18We're going to take a portion of food over for one of our students
0:28:18 > 0:28:21who's got chicken pox and she's been on quarantine.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22Not exactly sure what she eats,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25but I'm just going to get a selection of everything.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Ooh, it looks good enough to eat, don't it?
0:28:27 > 0:28:29HE CHUCKLES
0:28:29 > 0:28:30It happens, occasionally,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33we've got students where they're too ill to come to college,
0:28:33 > 0:28:34for whatever reason,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38and we supply free food in the college, as you can see.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Thank you very much. Cheers, thank you.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42And so,
0:28:42 > 0:28:44occasionally we actually deliver it ourselves.
0:28:50 > 0:28:51It's not on my job description,
0:28:51 > 0:28:54but we've got this parental care we supply to our students.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57As you can see now on the walk,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59it's not so bad today, it's a pleasant day,
0:28:59 > 0:29:00but if it's bucketing down with rain,
0:29:00 > 0:29:02and you're feeling a bit under the weather,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05you don't want to be walking all the way to the college.
0:29:05 > 0:29:06OK, we're all right.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15KNOCK ON DOOR
0:29:15 > 0:29:16"Clare Bear, feel better soon."
0:29:16 > 0:29:19How are you, Clare? How are you feeling?
0:29:19 > 0:29:20- I'm fine.- You sure?
0:29:20 > 0:29:23I've arranged for the doctor to pop in this evening,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26so any time between seven and eight, he may pay you a visit, OK?
0:29:26 > 0:29:30- All right.- If you've got to stay here for any longer than a few days,
0:29:30 > 0:29:32we'll have to bring you some work over.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34- There's your food.- Thank you.- Enjoy.
0:29:34 > 0:29:35If you need anything in the night,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38don't be afraid to phone the wardens if you don't feel well.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Anyway, I hope you feel better soon. I'll speak to you tomorrow, OK?
0:29:41 > 0:29:43Bye-bye.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45These students work very hard and even little gaps,
0:29:45 > 0:29:47three or four days of illness,
0:29:47 > 0:29:51can really put them behind for the academic year,
0:29:51 > 0:29:55so even times like this, they still need, even if it's only revision,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58to get their heads in the books, read some books.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02It's not very often in your job
0:30:02 > 0:30:04you can care for people in such a way that we do.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07And also seeing good results at the end,
0:30:07 > 0:30:09when they get A star A Levels,
0:30:09 > 0:30:12it's quite rewarding for us as well as the students.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18HE WHISTLES
0:30:18 > 0:30:20OK, right.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22How are we doing?
0:30:22 > 0:30:24All right?
0:30:24 > 0:30:29Faced with ongoing dissent over the earlier start to the school day,
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Mr Farzal has reached a decision.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34Some of the students have come to me and asked
0:30:34 > 0:30:38if we can just further explain why the timetable
0:30:38 > 0:30:40is at 8am in the morning.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42- Now... - LAUGHTER
0:30:42 > 0:30:44I can't see you get out of this one.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Mate, watch me work my way out of this one, it's fine.
0:30:47 > 0:30:48Don't worry.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Essentially, right, this year...
0:30:52 > 0:30:53Essentially, this year,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56we've added a lot of extra things into your timetable.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58There's speaker sessions,
0:30:58 > 0:31:00there's this mindfulness,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02there's the compulsory societies, yeah?
0:31:04 > 0:31:05Yes.
0:31:07 > 0:31:08We had some good scores, yes.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13- PUPILS:- Ohhhhh!
0:31:15 > 0:31:17SCATTERED APPLAUSE
0:31:17 > 0:31:21I know people are bent on mindfulness, cos it is...
0:31:21 > 0:31:23you maybe don't see the fruit,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27you're not thinking you're going to see what the outcome is,
0:31:27 > 0:31:32but what we're trying to get at with doing this mindfulness
0:31:32 > 0:31:34is coping mechanisms.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38You guys will be able to better cope with those things, yeah?
0:31:38 > 0:31:41With exam stress and with all the added work.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44What new skills are we learning this time?
0:31:44 > 0:31:48There are skills that you will always learn, yeah? In life...
0:31:48 > 0:31:51yeah, you may think you know everything - you don't.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53PUPILS TITTER
0:31:53 > 0:31:54It's as simple as that.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58What that means is, some of you have 8am starts
0:31:58 > 0:32:01and that's it. 8am - get a good night's sleep.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03PUPILS JEER
0:32:03 > 0:32:06'The kind of students that we deal with, they're very strong-minded.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09'They often come to the college and they think'
0:32:09 > 0:32:12that they know exactly what they need to do already
0:32:12 > 0:32:15in terms of their studies and things like that.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Get a good night's sleep.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Yeah? That's all you've got to do.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21You have to lay the law down - you've got to say,
0:32:21 > 0:32:23at the end of the day, this is it.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27If you don't like it, then you can go to another institution
0:32:27 > 0:32:30and be the best there.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33Yeah? But if you stay here
0:32:33 > 0:32:35and you're not necessarily the best here,
0:32:35 > 0:32:37you'll still be better than anywhere else.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47OK, let's go through some of them.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51I won't go through all of them, but they're all very thought-provoking.
0:32:51 > 0:32:56First-year student Brian is settling in to his studies.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Why is it important, do you think,
0:32:58 > 0:33:02for a culture to retain or keep its identity?
0:33:02 > 0:33:06'There are some compulsory sessions, like critical thinking,
0:33:06 > 0:33:07'effective communication.'
0:33:07 > 0:33:10At first, I was kind of thinking, like,
0:33:10 > 0:33:11"Why do we have to do this?"
0:33:11 > 0:33:14I think it's always good to have diversity in the world.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18Like, we're all different, from different backgrounds,
0:33:18 > 0:33:20and that gives us our own personality
0:33:20 > 0:33:22and makes us unique,
0:33:22 > 0:33:24which is essential, because otherwise,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27everyone in the world would be exactly the same,
0:33:27 > 0:33:28- which would be quite boring.- Yes.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31'After I think about it, I kind of realise that it'll definitely play
0:33:31 > 0:33:35'a huge role in the future, because whatever profession or career
0:33:35 > 0:33:37'you want to choose, you'll need to communicate.'
0:33:37 > 0:33:41It's definitely important to train your mind.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43You're all from different parts of the world,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46so you should all have strong opinions about this.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59The college has come a long way
0:33:59 > 0:34:02since its humble beginnings in a church hall,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05where Yasmin and Nadeem tutored a handful of students.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08This brings back memories.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- INTERVIEWER:- How long is it since you've been back?
0:34:10 > 0:34:16Oh, a long time. Since we left, really.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23This used to be Yas's room, and common room.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24And IT room.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Yes. We used to have computers all along here.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32When we first came, this room looked so big. Now it looks so small.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41So we would have board and, um...
0:34:43 > 0:34:45..chairs here.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Sorry, I just...
0:34:48 > 0:34:50No, don't film me, I just...
0:34:53 > 0:34:56I just remembered how limited we were.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59There was no scope to do anything here,
0:34:59 > 0:35:02but we still managed and they still got good grades.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05We didn't know where it was going. We just wanted to do it.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07It was just so much more about passion,
0:35:07 > 0:35:11of wanting to do well with the kids and wanting the kids to do well.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14You know, the kids knew that they could rely on us.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18And I think that was a special time.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19As a teacher, I think, yeah.
0:35:21 > 0:35:22Yeah, yeah.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26Yeah, I don't think anything has changed.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28All the marks are in the same place.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Yeah, "9 + 10 = 21."
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I miss teaching.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37I miss teaching.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41I just don't have the scope now because of all the management
0:35:41 > 0:35:44and moving the college to a different level,
0:35:44 > 0:35:48but I miss just doing the simple things, that's what I miss.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Exam season.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13With university places
0:36:13 > 0:36:16and future careers resting on the results of their A Levels,
0:36:16 > 0:36:20it's critical for final year students Milind, Geofrey
0:36:20 > 0:36:24and Megga to perform to their very best.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27I'm hoping to go to Oxford to study engineering.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32I'm hoping to get an A star or an A because my offer is one A star
0:36:32 > 0:36:34and two As.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37I usually tend to take two pens
0:36:37 > 0:36:40and two pencils in case something runs out in the middle of the exam.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Just to be on the safe side.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44I try to sharpen all my pencils
0:36:44 > 0:36:47and make sure my pen is working right before the exam.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50I suppose that's more of a lucky ritual than anything else.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55I feel like the school itself prepares you very well for AS,
0:36:55 > 0:36:57so I just did honestly what the teachers told me to,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00I listened to my teachers, I asked them a lot of questions and
0:37:00 > 0:37:03I ended up getting 100% in Biology, Physics and Chemistry in AS.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05So, yeah, it worked out.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09I feel like A2 is a lot more difficult
0:37:09 > 0:37:12in terms of getting the actual 100 per cents. I tried my best,
0:37:12 > 0:37:15hopefully things will work out, but my aim is to meet my offer
0:37:15 > 0:37:19for my university, Cambridge, which is an A star and two As.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25I have a very weird schedule compared to my peers.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27They study mostly in the evening
0:37:27 > 0:37:30and I prefer to study during the morning,
0:37:30 > 0:37:33so I will sleep very early, around seven or eight o'clock,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37and then I wake up around 2am, so I wake up in the morning
0:37:37 > 0:37:40and then I start my studying and revision until 8am,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43when I take a shower, then go to school.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46I think that is a better way for me.
0:38:01 > 0:38:07Two years of intensive study will be put to the test in these exams.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- How did you find that? - I'm not really sure.
0:38:22 > 0:38:23It started off OK,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26but the last part was really long for the time, I felt.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Hopefully it will be enough. I guess we've got a lot going for us.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34- As long as you meet your offer. - Yes. What's your offer again?
0:38:34 > 0:38:38- Two A stars?- A star, A, A.- Same. - Great.- Hopefully it will be fine.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Geofrey has finished his exams, too.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47I'm not the best of clothes connoisseurs,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51but I do feel the colours of the tie and the shirt go hand in hand,
0:38:51 > 0:38:56so I think it looks quite good. So I have decided to go with this colour.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58This colour looks good. It looks fine.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05There is one last thing to prepare for. The graduation ball.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Everyone is coming out in full force with the best clothes.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13And obviously with phones to take pictures and everything.
0:39:13 > 0:39:18The culmination of two years in Cardiff Sixth Form College.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21So I'm looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to it.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28I haven't seen my mum for almost two years now, I think.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32I just feel like my life is in a bit of suspended animation back at home
0:39:32 > 0:39:36because I feel like everything has stopped there, whilst I am here.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Because I can't even imagine it continuing without me.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42So I'm very eager to go back home.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47How is it? That's fine, is it?
0:40:04 > 0:40:08Ladies and gentlemen, it feels like it was only yesterday that you came
0:40:08 > 0:40:13into my life, and now our babies are ready to tackle the world!
0:40:16 > 0:40:19We are your first home in the UK.
0:40:19 > 0:40:24If you are ever in need, we are your first home
0:40:24 > 0:40:28and we will always be there for you. Please do remember that.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32And I don't mean just call us when you run out of money!
0:40:32 > 0:40:34God bless you, everyone,
0:40:34 > 0:40:38we've learnt a lot from each other and I thank you for that.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41Thank you very much, good luck, God bless you, thank you.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43APPLAUSE
0:40:57 > 0:40:59As well as managing the day-to-day demands
0:40:59 > 0:41:02of the college, Yasmin faces the challenge of ensuring
0:41:02 > 0:41:06a steady intake of the world's brightest young students.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12Moscow is just one stop on a punishing schedule,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15promoting the college at British education fairs around the globe.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18Hello. Hi, hello.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22As any school that recruits from overseas market, there is
0:41:22 > 0:41:23a need to keep in touch
0:41:23 > 0:41:29and engage with your local partners in every part of the world.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32So, yes, we do go out for marketing events
0:41:32 > 0:41:36so we can talk to parents as well as prospective students.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43- Do you know much about the school? - Not so much.- Not so much, OK.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45What subjects do you enjoy?
0:41:45 > 0:41:47English, um...
0:41:47 > 0:41:51maybe, er, Geography.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54You don't like Maths or Physics? You like Maths?
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Physics, no. Maths, so-so.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59'I'm very passionate in the college,
0:41:59 > 0:42:03'I'm very passionate in the education we offer to the students,'
0:42:03 > 0:42:06and when I do go out to marketing and parents see me,
0:42:06 > 0:42:08they do see me as the mother figure,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12'they do see me as somebody who they can trust their children with,'
0:42:12 > 0:42:15but they also see that it is the best school in the UK.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17So, yeah.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21It's also a chance for Yasmin to seek out the kind of students
0:42:21 > 0:42:25that will thrive on the college's maths and science-based curriculum.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28If she does Maths, Chemistry, Biology
0:42:28 > 0:42:30and, say the fourth one is Physics,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33she can go into medicine, health care,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36she can go into psychology, she can go into humanities.
0:42:36 > 0:42:41She can go into law, she can even go into economics or finance,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45so I don't think you should look at the subjects, I think
0:42:45 > 0:42:48you should look at the career progression.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51And then you work out where is the intersection,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54because there are lots of intersection of subjects she can do.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57'You don't need to know at the age of 12 you're going to be'
0:42:57 > 0:43:01a doctor or engineer, but there has got to be a yearning
0:43:01 > 0:43:05for learning, there's got to be questions they want answers for.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17This evening, Yasmin is visiting one of their Moscow agencies.
0:43:17 > 0:43:23- She's got some news she wants to deliver in person.- Hello!
0:43:23 > 0:43:27Good evening! How nice to meet you again. Hello, ma'am.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29Please take a seat.
0:43:29 > 0:43:3315-year-old Boris is hoping to attend
0:43:33 > 0:43:35Cardiff Sixth Form College next year.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39I'm sure you're eager to know the decision of your application
0:43:39 > 0:43:44- to Cardiff College.- I wanted it so much, and I hope I got it.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47So, I've got the decision letter.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49And, Boris,
0:43:49 > 0:43:51I would like to say
0:43:51 > 0:43:56congratulations, you have a place to come to Cardiff College.
0:43:56 > 0:43:57Thank you very much.
0:43:57 > 0:44:02Excellent, brilliant. This is your offer letter. Congratulations.
0:44:02 > 0:44:05Incredible. Fantastic.
0:44:09 > 0:44:13International students hope that Cardiff Sixth Form College
0:44:13 > 0:44:17will be their passport to the world's top universities.
0:44:20 > 0:44:25And for many, Oxford's dreaming spires are the ultimate goal.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:44:35 > 0:44:39Scholarship students Hannah and Sam are aiming high too.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41They're visiting St Anne's,
0:44:41 > 0:44:45one of the 38 colleges that make up Oxford University.
0:44:45 > 0:44:52- This is the centre of the college, there's our motto.- Which means?
0:44:52 > 0:44:55If I remember rightly it's "purposefully and boldly".
0:44:55 > 0:44:57It's like the idea you've just got to focus
0:44:57 > 0:44:59and get out what you put in, at the end of the day.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01It's a happy coincidence that the student showing them
0:45:01 > 0:45:04around is also from Wales.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06People joke about my accent a lot.
0:45:06 > 0:45:10I do have to remind them that it's not actually that strong.
0:45:10 > 0:45:12Have you been encouraged by your school to apply?
0:45:12 > 0:45:17I think the reason you go to our college is you're aiming big.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19If you can go to Oxford or Cambridge,
0:45:19 > 0:45:22then there isn't really any other choice.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25I hope to study medicine at University
0:45:25 > 0:45:27and hopefully become an orthopaedic surgeon.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34'Oxford is amazing, the facilities, the colleges are gorgeous.
0:45:34 > 0:45:38'There is a real sense of wanting to do well about the place.
0:45:38 > 0:45:42'There is a real sense of pride in achieving a place there.'
0:45:42 > 0:45:45It's interesting, but I'm not sure it's supposed to be art.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49'It's quite daunting, really, looking at the place'
0:45:49 > 0:45:52and what they achieve, the students.
0:45:52 > 0:45:56It's really daunting to kind of imagine even applying,
0:45:56 > 0:45:59never mind actually studying.
0:46:01 > 0:46:05- So it's definitely first choice, Oxford?- Absolutely.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08- This is definitely my first choice. - Is it? Why?- I love it.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11- I love everything about it. - Everything? The city?
0:46:11 > 0:46:14The city, the colleges.
0:46:14 > 0:46:16- The punting.- Of course!
0:46:34 > 0:46:38We're going to look through your entire application with you today.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41If Sam wants to get to Oxford, top grades won't be enough.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Have you done any sort of preparation,
0:46:44 > 0:46:48any short courses or intensive courses,
0:46:48 > 0:46:50- like a summer programme?- No.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53To beat the competition he will need to make sure
0:46:53 > 0:46:56his university application stands out from the crowd.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00- This is an opportunity wasted. - OK.- It really is.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03So you rack that big brain of yours harder,
0:47:03 > 0:47:08and you find anything that you've done, even if it's a two-day thing.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12What have you done in terms of your preparation for medicine?
0:47:12 > 0:47:14- I came to school every day! - Good lad.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18We are essentially a stepping stone for them
0:47:18 > 0:47:20to achieve that final goal and that final
0:47:20 > 0:47:25aim of getting into a course for university that's going to
0:47:25 > 0:47:27help them get to the career they want,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30'become a doctor or become a dentist,'
0:47:30 > 0:47:32so the UCAS application is probably the most important document
0:47:32 > 0:47:36they complete whilst they are here, other than their examinations.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40It's not just Sam who must nail his application.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44The deadline for all students is fast approaching.
0:47:44 > 0:47:48The college has assembled a crack team of experts to help.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52Yasmin and Mr Farzal are joined by careers advisers Miss Taj
0:47:52 > 0:47:53and Mr Hammond.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57What do you mean by society's hamartia?
0:47:57 > 0:48:03Um, people that can't afford lawyers and legal services will lose out.
0:48:03 > 0:48:04OK.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06'I feel a great sense of responsibility.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09'These students have worked incredibly hard
0:48:09 > 0:48:11'and this is very important to them.'
0:48:11 > 0:48:17One mistake and it could alter their life path.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20Hamartia usually applies to a character,
0:48:20 > 0:48:23so it's a fatal flaw in a character
0:48:23 > 0:48:26which leads to their downfall, often in tragedy.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29So I think we have to change that particular word.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31So, yes, have a think about an alternative whilst I read
0:48:31 > 0:48:33through the rest of this.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37But as the deadline approaches,
0:48:37 > 0:48:41students are keen to make sure their application doesn't get overlooked.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44One of my friends, she sent it off,
0:48:44 > 0:48:48like, it must have been two weeks ago, she has two offers already.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50Already.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56It's notoriously difficult to get a place to read medicine.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00And each wannabe doctor must develop a strategy based on how
0:49:00 > 0:49:03they've scored in specialist exams.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07- Benton?- My UKCAT is 2,720.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11Students are encouraged to avoid risk by choosing a sensible
0:49:11 > 0:49:15range of backups in case they are rejected by the first choice.
0:49:15 > 0:49:20- You're bang on that borderline. It is risky.- I will take that risk.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22- Yes?- Just stick with it.
0:49:22 > 0:49:27But Yasmin is concerned with Benton's selection.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30You're applying to two BMAT universities?
0:49:30 > 0:49:33That's silly, you've got a good UKCAT scores,
0:49:33 > 0:49:35why are you applying to two BMAT?
0:49:35 > 0:49:38You know medicine could be straight rejection.
0:49:38 > 0:49:40But I want to take some risk.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43Be aware that we've given you all that information now,
0:49:43 > 0:49:46so if it happens, you need to be prepared to pick up the pieces
0:49:46 > 0:49:48cos no-one else will do it. OK?
0:49:48 > 0:49:53Cos you can get four rejections very easily. All right?
0:49:55 > 0:49:56'It's hard, it's very hard.'
0:49:56 > 0:50:01We need to make sure we're advising them appropriately with
0:50:01 > 0:50:03regards to which universities they should be applying to.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05Because they work so hard for this.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09'They work so hard, their parents' expectations are'
0:50:09 > 0:50:12so high on them, they've got a lot banking on this.
0:50:14 > 0:50:20- Students and staff alike burn the midnight oil.- Is humility a skill?
0:50:20 > 0:50:24- Should it be an- 8? Well, it should. - It should be an 8, shouldn't it?
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Shouldn't be a doctor otherwise, should you?
0:50:26 > 0:50:31- And over 100 applications later, the deadline is in sight.- Thank you.
0:50:31 > 0:50:36- Good luck.- Thank you.- You're welcome.- Thank you, Mrs Sarwar.
0:50:36 > 0:50:41OK, three left. Three left.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44I'm going to check. I'm sure it was sent off last night.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Benton is still considering his options.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50You are already applying to Cambridge and UCL,
0:50:50 > 0:50:54- so you already have so much risk, why take even more risk?- I know.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57But that's up to you, you decide, OK?
0:51:04 > 0:51:08- OK, I'm going to submit your application, then, yeah?- OK.
0:51:09 > 0:51:10OK, cool. Done.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13Benton's sticking with his decision,
0:51:13 > 0:51:17but now he wants Yasmin's sign-off on the rest of his application.
0:51:17 > 0:51:19It's a really good personal statement,
0:51:19 > 0:51:20you've got everything in there.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22If I were you I'd be worried about the choice of university
0:51:22 > 0:51:24more than your personal statement.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26- OK.- OK? Thank you, Benton. Yours is done, OK?
0:51:26 > 0:51:29CHATTER
0:51:32 > 0:51:36- OK, you are the last one.- OK. - Good.- Well done.- Oh, my gosh!
0:51:40 > 0:51:42- Oh, my God.- That's it!- Hug!
0:51:44 > 0:51:49- Well done! Well done. Good luck. - Well done.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53- MR FARZAL:- 'They are very good, young people,
0:51:53 > 0:51:56'who will go on to do fantastic things,'
0:51:56 > 0:51:58and if I can be part of that,
0:51:58 > 0:52:01if I can be somebody that they look back in their lives
0:52:01 > 0:52:05and they remember and say, well, "Mr Farzal," or, "That Farzal,"
0:52:05 > 0:52:09or whatever they call me behind my back, and say,
0:52:09 > 0:52:12"He actually really did care, and he really did help,"
0:52:12 > 0:52:15then I like to think I made a difference.
0:52:17 > 0:52:22- Thank you for spending hours and hours...- UCAS!- Thank you!
0:52:22 > 0:52:25Thank you so much!
0:52:25 > 0:52:27I am like a mother to the students,
0:52:27 > 0:52:30and I would say they think the same as well!
0:52:32 > 0:52:36- Thank you very much.- Thank you, guys. We weren't expecting this.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40I really want to make a difference in their lives and I really
0:52:40 > 0:52:43want them to make a difference in other people's lives,
0:52:43 > 0:52:46so I think the only way to make a difference in somebody's life
0:52:46 > 0:52:51is by creating that trust and creating that sense of,
0:52:51 > 0:52:54'if you need me I am here for you because I care.'
0:52:54 > 0:53:00Thank you, thank you very much. I'm actually becoming quite emotional.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19There is an element of feeling like you're in Hogwarts or somehow
0:53:19 > 0:53:23when you walk in through the doors you step over this magical threshold
0:53:23 > 0:53:27into a place where everyone works extremely hard
0:53:27 > 0:53:30to be academic or be high-flying.
0:53:30 > 0:53:34But you get the sense that coming here isn't about getting
0:53:34 > 0:53:38a nice car or a nice house, or getting a high-end job,
0:53:38 > 0:53:43it's about trying to change the world, not to go on to being rich
0:53:43 > 0:53:48or having a nice car, but to making a difference to people's lives.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51I notice that towards the end of your argument you referenced
0:53:51 > 0:53:54the fact that as we intercepted the radio waves, they probably already
0:53:54 > 0:53:57know that we're here as we already have evidence that they know
0:53:57 > 0:54:00of our existence, then there's nothing to lose
0:54:00 > 0:54:03- from sending them a message. - BELL TINGS
0:54:03 > 0:54:07- Permission.- Denied. For all we know they could view us in the same way.
0:54:07 > 0:54:11Why are you assuming that their intentions are possibly hostile?
0:54:11 > 0:54:15These are the best minds from all around the world under one roof.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17We have them for two years.
0:54:17 > 0:54:22In two years we are trying to change the world, and that is a big task.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25The Brazilian rainforests are declining,
0:54:25 > 0:54:27the ice sheets are disappearing.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29We don't even know if the Earth is habitable to them.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32The only people who can make a change
0:54:32 > 0:54:36and make differences in the world moving forward is going to be them.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46SOMBRE SINGING
0:54:57 > 0:55:03While he was studying in Cardiff, Geofrey's grandmother passed away.
0:55:03 > 0:55:05The memorial service was delayed
0:55:05 > 0:55:10until his return home to Botswana so the family could grieve together.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14Now he's about to find out
0:55:14 > 0:55:18if his two years of study away from home have paid off.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20So, it is in the morning of Thursday
0:55:20 > 0:55:22so the letters are probably coming out,
0:55:22 > 0:55:25so in a moment I will know.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29I'm a bit anxious but I am excited as well to see my results.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32So fingers crossed.
0:55:32 > 0:55:39- Hi, Miss Sarwar!- Hi, Geofrey! Are you anxious?- Yes.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41I am, I am.
0:55:41 > 0:55:43I couldn't sleep last night.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47Aw, bless. Let me put you out of your misery.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51Maths, Geofrey, you have had A star,
0:55:51 > 0:55:55567 out of 600, so well done.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00- Are you serious? Is that Chemistry?- Maths, Maths.
0:56:00 > 0:56:03- Thank you so much.- Are you happy? - And for chemistry?
0:56:03 > 0:56:06For Chemistry you've had an A, fantastic,
0:56:06 > 0:56:08543 out of 600. Well done.
0:56:08 > 0:56:11Oh, my gosh. Are you serious?
0:56:11 > 0:56:13- I am serious! - SHE LAUGHS
0:56:13 > 0:56:16Biology, that's an A star.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23Wow! So I believe the University College London is fine, then?
0:56:23 > 0:56:25Yes, definitely, you're going to UCL.
0:56:25 > 0:56:30- Let your parents know, of course. Thank you.- Thank you so much.
0:56:30 > 0:56:34Thank you, Geofrey, congratulations, well done.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40I've been looking forward to this all summer.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44Oh, brilliant, what a relief!
0:56:44 > 0:56:48Fantastic. Three A stars.
0:56:48 > 0:56:52Brilliant, well done, well done, excellent, excellent.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58OK. Yeah, I'm happy.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02Congratulations, I'm very proud of you, well done.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04- Well done, excellent, excellent. - SHE GROANS
0:57:04 > 0:57:07You're crushing me to death!
0:57:09 > 0:57:12Four A stars. Well done. Excellent.
0:57:14 > 0:57:17- OK, that's good. Big smiles. - CAMERA CLICKS
0:58:09 > 0:58:14'I have so much more to give. I have so much more that I want to do.'
0:58:14 > 0:58:16My father always had this saying,
0:58:16 > 0:58:19don't be afraid of running or walking,
0:58:19 > 0:58:23be afraid of standing still - and I don't want to stand still.