A Sixth Form Journey:

From West Buckland to Aviation in Australia

It was great to welcome Edward Sze (21–23C) back to West Buckland recently for a short visit.

Edward joined us for Sixth Form after studying in Hong Kong and was drawn to West Buckland for both its academic reputation and its beautiful setting – something he still talks about fondly now. While he was here, he took on a full A Level programme, studying Economics, Geography, Psychology and Chinese, alongside completing an EPQ on the Heathrow expansion project.

Like many students, some of Edward’s strongest memories come from outside the classroom too. He played cello in the string orchestra and marshalled during The Exmoor – all part of getting fully involved in school life.

During his visit, Edward had the chance to catch up with former teachers and reflect on what he’s been up to since leaving WBS. He was accompanied by his uncle and aunt, who enjoyed seeing the school and hearing more about his time here – making the visit a really special one for all of them.

Edward is now studying at the University of New South Wales in Australia, where he’s in his third year of a Bachelor of Commerce / Aviation Management degree. His goal is to become a pilot for Cathay Pacific, and he chose UNSW partly because of its strong reputation for aviation.

It’s been a busy trip back to Europe for Edward – and also a chance to reconnect with friends from his time here. After visiting West Buckland, he’s heading to Milan to catch up with another OWB, which is a lovely reminder of how friendships made at school often last well beyond it.

It was a real pleasure to see Edward again, and it was equally lovely to meet his uncle and aunt. We hope to welcome them all back again before too long.