• Student Support
• Students Union
• Student Achievements
• The Library
• Find us - Travel

• Parents' Guide
• Student finance
• Term Dates
• Additional Information
• Parental Access to Moodle

From A-Levels to Africa

26/01/2012

Former Richard Taunton Sixth Form College student Harriet Powell had a taste of the media life while working on ITV’s Safari Vet School in Africa last summer.

The ITV1 series, presented by Steve Leonard, follows UK student vets as they fly out to Africa to work with big game animals. The students were required to treat animals such as rhinos, giraffes and big cats.

Harriet Powell, who first came to Richard Taunton Sixth Form College in 2009, was given the unique opportunity of working on the show as a runner. But for Harriet, the real draw of the job was the chance to work alongside some of the best veterinary students in the country.

“I have always wanted to study veterinary medicine and my mum, who works in television, told me about this opportunity. The show needed a runner who could speak French as one of the students was from a French vet school. I lived in France for five years and have an A* French A-level which I completed at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College in a year, so I was perfectly placed to join the team.”

Harriet finished her final A-level exam at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College and flew out to South Africa on the same day. Working as a runner, Harriet spent four weeks working with the production team. She was responsible for ensuring the filming ran as smoothly as possible – making sure that equipment was ready for the crew and that the team had enough water and sun cream among lots of other behind the scenes jobs.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for me to work with some incredibly inspirational figures. Steve Leonard, the presenter, is also a vet and Dr Will Fowlds, who was teaching all the students, founded the Amakhala game reserve with his parents. I was able to ask them so many questions and I learnt so much. It was also brilliant to be around other students who are as enthusiastic about veterinary medicine as I am!”

Harriet’s work on Vet Safari School is just one part of the work experience she has been building during her gap year.

“I spent four weeks in a veterinary practice and one week at an equestrian research centre. I’ve done a lambing training course, and I’ve spent time working with beef cattle and two weeks working in chicken farming. I was also lucky enough to go to America where I worked in the Houston Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Texas. I’ve even spent time in an abattoir – I need to get as much experience in as many different areas of animal care as possible.”

 As well as her A-level in French, Harriet achieved three A grades in Biology, Chemistry and Spanish at A-level and a B in Maths Mechanics at A-S Level during her time at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College.

“I chose Richard Taunton Sixth Form College because I heard really good things about its Science programme. I had a friend who was studying here already and she recommended it to me. I had a great time at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College. I went on the Tanzania trip, which was absolutely life changing for me. I also appreciated all the extra revision sessions that the teachers provided, so that I was totally prepared for my exams.”

Harriet has applied to four universities, including Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool and Nottingham.

“I’ve had one interview and have two more interviews coming up. Bristol is probably my first choice, but all of the universities I’ve applied to are equally prestigious.”

Safari Vet School is on at 8pm every Friday on ITV1.

Course Finder