West Norfolk vet student's determination to make the grade

A burning ambition to become a vet saw former Springwood High School student retake her A levels to ensure she had the grades needed for an intense five years at university starting this autumn.

Now Madeleine Boon is studying at Bristol Veterinary School and is taking the first steps on a future career path she has hoped for over many years.

She had made the reserve list offer at the prestigious university at the beginning of July, but a final place was not confirmed and remained grade-dependent, which meant waiting until mid-August. When she knew that the place was secure, it left her just three weeks before moving from King’s Lynn to Bristol.

Having left Springwood, a member of West Norfolk Academies Trust, in 2023 after her A levels which were not of the required grade, Madeleine was still supported by the school in her quest to gain the grades she needed to secure her place. She didn’t return to the school, but studied independently to prepare for the re-sits.

“Springwood offered me lots of help during this time, which I am extremely grateful for. I was always able to email my previous teachers to ask any questions I had about the subject,” she said.

“It was also the amount of encouragement that I was given that really helped me achieve the goal of going to vet school. They admired my determination to keep trying and improving in order to reach my goal and told me with this determination I will get there, eventually!”

Madeleine said the school’s deputy head and director of sixth form studies Jamie Warner-Lynn had helped with her application, and compiling the personal statement which she sent with her application.

“This was extremely helpful as writing the personal statement can be challenging,” she said.

She studied biology, chemistry and maths, considered the ‘classic’ subjects for heading into veterinary medicine. The requirements are chemistry, either biology, physics or maths and a third A level.

“I considered the idea of becoming a vet from about the age of 10, but investigated many other degrees and careers to see which would be the best fit for me, and most enjoyed. I undertook work experience in other fields, such as medicine, but came to the conclusion that veterinary medicine was indeed the perfect path to take.

“There were several TV programmes that introduced me to the profession and what the role of a vet involved. I always found these very enjoyable and interesting. I have also had pets for most of my life, so was able to experience vet practices in that way too. It wasn’t until I carried out my first work experience placement, at Terrington Vet Centre, that I was sure the profession was for me.”

Veterinary medicine does not run in the family, and Madeleine doesn’t come from a family background involving livestock or horses.

“It is absolutely not a necessary requirement, and many successful vets are also not from one of these backgrounds,” she said.

After her long stint of studying, Madeleine says she would like to remain in small animal practice and is interested particularly in the surgery side of the profession.

“I would also love to spend some time travelling to different countries and practice wildlife medicine on native species,” she said.​