Olivia Reed, former International Baccalaureate student at Bridgwater and Taunton College scoops Lord Biffen Prize for 2016.

Olivia, aged 18, studied the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and commuted from Bristol on a daily basis to access the qualification, which shows dedication in itself.

The Award was set up in memory of the late Lord Biffen, former Conservative cabinet minister, by the Old Morganians and is financed by John Biffen’s fellow pupils and includes a selection of books to help the recipient's studies.

Those eligible for the prize needed to have achieved the highest scoring grade in either History, Politics or Economics while studying at the College and this year’s winner was Olivia Reed.

Olivia achieved a very impressive 38 points (maximum of 45 available) which included a grade 6 (equivalent to A grade at A level) in History. She completed a 4,000 word research essay into the reputation of Richard III, where she was awarded an excellent A grade and for her coursework on the causation of the French Revolution she also gained top marks. 

Martyn Aldridge, Course Leader for the IBDP said,

“As a member of the College’s Honours Academy Olivia took part in the lessons from Auschwitz project which involved her visiting Poland and delivering sessions to local school children about the Holocaust. She also attended school in Toulouse, France, while her father was there working for Airbus. Olivia now lives in Bristol from where she commuted every day on the train to come to College. She should be extremely proud of the results she has received and as a result is progressing to Exeter University to study History and French. I wish her lots of luck for the future.”

If you would like to know more about studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Bridgwater and Taunton College please contact our Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234.