OSP News
Sharing stories from former pupils and staff
Natalie Conboy, a former St Peter's Head Girl, was generous enough to share with us some of her memories of attending St Peter's and her educational and extra-curricular journey since leaving us. We're delighted to hear that she will be off to study at the University of Oxford in September 2024, having spent a year in Paris, studying French at the famous Sorbonne.
When did you attend St Peter’s Preparatory School? And what was your journey after leaving the School?
I joined St Peter’s in April 2014, aged 9, and left in August 2018. After that I joined The Maynard school in Year 9 until I’d completed my A-levels. I must say that joining in Year 9 worked really well for me as there were quite a few people joining with me that year, and the extra two years at St Peter’s definitely allowed me to remain a child for longer and grow in confidence a lot. I left The Maynard last summer and went on a gap year to Paris to study French at the Sorbonne, and I’m now going to the University of Oxford to read French and Beginner’s German in October.
What did you enjoy most about your time at St Peter’s?
I enjoyed the immense opportunity provided by St Peter’s the most, from extracurriculars such as horse riding on a Friday afternoon, to music and sport and camping on Dartmoor. I would say the biggest thing St Peter’s gave me apart from academic excellence was a deep love of music. My thanks to Mr Hoban for advising me to take up singing aged 10, as I have now completed my ABRSM Singing Diploma and am in my last year in the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain.
What was your favourite experience at St Peter’s?
Year 8 was my favourite year. I remember feeling as if I had so much independence and freedom at that age, and having space to grow and develop my own interests. The last half of the Summer term was full of excursions and fun instead of more study after finishing our last exams and I believe it also made us all closer as friends and more confident as individuals. Speech day was always one of my favourite days of the year, especially the last one despite me being so nervous for my Head Girl speech! But I was so proud of it, and being able to speak in front of a crowd at 13 years of age is really quite an achievement! And it was amazing coming back the next year to see my brother’s last one too. Other than those I would say that our Chamber Choir trips to Eton to sing Evensong, or our Clifton college recording session, were some really amazing experiences. There’s just too many to choose from!
What was your funniest moment at St Peter’s?
A specific core memory I have is from the ski trip in 2018. There were only three of us there from Year 8 and we stayed up relatively late just playing cards with the teachers. I can’t remember what was so funny at the time but I do know I almost split my sides laughing, and it remains to this day one of my fondest memories. And there are so many other good ones that I can’t remember! But being a big nerd, I always enjoyed every class, and I’d love to thank Mr Cunliffe, Mme Evans, Dr Evans and Mr P especially for being so formative.
What have you done since leaving St Peter's and what are your career ambitions?
Since leaving St Peter’s I think the biggest things I’ve done are join the National Children’s Choir, and spend the last year in Paris! I’ve been continuing my French studies at the Cours de la Civilisation Française at the Sorbonne University, which has been such an amazing experience meeting people from so many different cultures and backgrounds, and falling so in love with the city. I’ve made so many friends and I can’t wait to go back in my year abroad for Uni!
I’m not sure what I’d like to do for a career, which is something I’ve struggled with as most of my friends have always wanted to be doctors or lawyers etc, but I’m hoping Oxford will give me the opportunity to find an interesting niche in the next four years before I do a Masters degree.
How do you think St Peter’s set you up for success?
St Peter’s has definitely set me up for success, for secondary school and also I think for life. The smaller classes just gave me so much more confidence to speak up and the courage to get stuff wrong, and coupled with the teachers being so attentive it made for an amazing academic experience. Coming from a school where there were 32 people in my class and then suddenly joining a class of 14, and then of just 8 in the last year, probably did wonders for my focus and learning, and of course my results. It just really allows you to develop so much more love for the subject if you feel like you’re being individually catered to. Another thing that was so formative for me was staying on those two extra years for Year 7 and 8. Being in such a supportive environment, a big fish in a small pond rather than being lost in the sea of a bigger school, gave me so much confidence that I was definitely lacking as a 12-13 year old. Being given leadership positions such as heads of sport and being Head Girl, at such a young age as well, really made me confident and I definitely carried that through to my senior school years at Maynard.
What have been your career highlights so far/what has been your greatest achievement so far?
In terms of my greatest achievements since leaving, getting into Oxford easily steals the show. It’s the proudest I’ve ever felt of myself. I hadn’t gotten in in 2023 and I genuinely didn’t think I was going to get in for the second time, but I opened the acceptance email on a tram in Paris in January and genuinely had to stop myself from jumping for joy! I’m so excited to start the next chapter of my life in October. I’m also immensely proud of myself for spending my first year away from home in a foreign country; again I wouldn’t have been able to do this without an inherent confidence that has it foundations in St Peter’s. I’d encourage everyone to take up foreign languages!
Where do you see your career progressing and what excites you about the future?
University fills up most of my foreseeable future, but I’m so excited for all the opportunities that it will bring in the fields of language, literature and culture. As for a career I don’t have much of an idea, but journalism, academia, or something to do with international cultures all seem like interesting paths to me at the moment. For me the lack of a plan is exciting: we shall see where it leads me!
What advice would you give to our current St Peter’s pupils about making the most of their time with us and beyond?
I think I spoke in my Head Girl speech about the school motto [as it was back then] ‘On this rock I build’. St Peter’s has been my rock throughout my time there and since; the foundation it gave me has set me up for life. The advice I would give to current pupils is enjoy every second, and appreciate just how special this school is. Grasp every opportunity and have the confidence to get things wrong. I will always look back at St Peter’s with the fondest memories, and I hope you will do the same!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’ve always found it very hard to narrow down my interests! I love hockey, and I’m excited to get back on the pitch in Uni after a year out. I love singing, having just got back from a tour of Germany in my last year of the National Children’s Choir. I also love walking, hiking and anything to do with nature; I am deeply passionate about the environment and am a member of the Green Party. And finally I’m interested in the language, history and culture of any and all countries, which is what I hope to forge a career out of!
