OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 11
TOP ACHIEVER
Jacob Fried (2024M) was the top student among the College’s
first cohort of matrics to write Cambridge A Levels, with A*s
in History, English Language and Literature, and Economics
– a grade that’s equivalent to an NSC exam score of 96-100%
Why did you choose to write
the Cambridge exams rather
than traditional matric exams?
I was drawn to the greater depth
of study allowed by choosing just
three subjects, and the emphasis
on independent learning – a crucial
skill for life after school.
and physical resilience, and taught
me that you can see progress even
by committing to activities that
don’t come naturally. (See p50.)
Do you think more Bishops boys
will switch in the future? I think the
extent of the switch will depend on at
least three factors. First, the current
cohort performing well will reassure
potential A Level students (and their
parents) that the switch is worthwhile.
Second, the school will need to
maintain transparency about the
pros and cons of the switch to ensure
that people aren’t disincentivised by
a lack of clarity. Third, if the school
makes A Levels a strategic aim or
devotes more resources to a greater
subject range, this would increase
the curriculum’s appeal.
lessons taught me the value of highly
participatory learning. Everyone in
the class could speak freely – even
without raising their hand!
Who was your most influential
teacher? There are really too many
to name. If I had to choose one, it
would be Dr Murray, whose History
Which university will you be
attending? I’m thrilled to be starting
at St John’s College, Cambridge
in October to study law. I’m very
grateful to be supported by the
Mary Gray Studentship, which
is a full scholarship.
And until then? I was selected for the
Democratic Alliance’s Young Leaders
Programme, a fully funded political
leadership initiative. I’ll be mentored
by a senior politician and gain insight
into public service. I’m also working
on a community-based project
to improve maths outcomes in
underprivileged schools using highly
engaging learning. And, in between
seeking job-shadowing experiences,
I’m dedicating time to nonfiction
reading and learning new languages.
My hope is to someday be involved
in work that absorbs me and helps
society in a significant way. I’m not
yet sure what this work will be – and
I don’t think any 18-year-old truly
can be, given the speed at which the
world of work is changing in the face
of AI and other systemic innovations.
Your favourite subject? History.
Studying different time periods
– particularly through analysing
primary sources – allows you to gain
a wealth of vicarious experience far
beyond what most people encounter
firsthand in a lifetime. Also, some
historians are gripping narrators. And
History teaches you to argue towards
a conclusion using carefully deployed
evidence; it’s not just about knowing
facts, but about how you use them.
A highlight of your time at Bishops?
This might surprise those who know
me: Epic. It was often exhausting
but, in hindsight, it’s the experience
that shaped me most at Bishops.
The hiking developed my mental
In June, Jacob was recognised at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards
for ranking first in the world in English and History, and second in the world in
Economics, out of 237,000 people in 135 countries who wrote AS Levels in 2023.
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 9
