Oxford-Bound Joshua Lavelle Celebrates A-Level Success After Mastering University-Level Maths
Cardiff Sixth Form College student Joshua Lavelle is celebrating his A-Level results today after achieving a full suite of A*s in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry and securing his place to study Mathematics at St John’s College, Oxford.
Joshua, who joined Cardiff Sixth Form College on a scholarship has distinguished himself as one of the College’s most accomplished mathematicians, pursuing university-level mathematics years ahead of schedule.
Throughout his time at Cardiff Sixth Form College, Joshua immersed himself in advanced mathematics beyond the standard curriculum, attending specialist STEP classes designed to prepare students for the demanding entrance examinations traditionally used by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Under the guidance of STEP Maths Teacher, Huw Kilner, Joshua progressed rapidly through the material.
“I attended both the AS and A2 STEP classes in my first year and eventually we ran out of pure mathematics material to cover,” said Joshua. “From there we moved on to university-level mathematics, which has been incredibly useful preparation for Oxford.”
His studies advanced to topics rarely encountered before the later years of an undergraduate degree, including the Dirichlet’s Theorem in number theory.
“We were studying mathematics that is typically taught in the third or fourth year of university,” he explained. “Those classes had a huge impact on me and showed me just how deep and fascinating mathematics can be.”
Joshua’s passion for the subject also led him to become President of Cardiff Sixth Form College’s student-led Maths Society, where students explored mathematical ideas beyond the classroom and participated in a wide range of national and international competitions.
Under his leadership, more than 50 students took part in competitions including the UK Senior Maths Challenge, British Mathematical Olympiad, Rightangle Team Competition and the Berkeley Mathematics Tournament.
“It was fantastic seeing younger students become genuinely excited about mathematics,” said Joshua. “One of the things I enjoy most is communicating maths and sharing interesting ideas with others.”
Joshua also competed in the prestigious N squared Mathematics Modelling Competition, where teams had just 14 hours to produce a research paper addressing Birmingham’s housing challenges using statistical and mathematical modelling.
“We had to develop practical solutions and present them through a full academic paper,” he said. “It was a great experience because it showed how mathematics can be applied to real-world problems.”
His love of mathematics ultimately persuaded him to pursue the subject at university despite initially exploring careers in healthcare through dental work experience.
“I realised that mathematics was the subject I always wanted to spend more time on,” said Joshua. “I love solving problems, exploring ideas in depth and discovering new concepts. One of the best things about mathematics is that there is always something new to learn.”
Looking ahead, Joshua hopes to complete an integrated master’s degree and is considering a future in education, academia, engineering, computer science or finance.
“Teaching and lecturing are both careers that really appeal to me because I enjoy explaining ideas and helping other people understand mathematics,” he said.
Alongside his academic achievements, Joshua has excelled in a wide range of extracurricular activities. A talented musician, he has achieved Grade 8 in both piano and cello, while also serving as a House Captain at Cardiff Sixth Form College.
Outside the classroom, he completed his first marathon this year and enjoys fencing, gym training and rock climbing.
“I’ve noticed that a lot of mathematicians seem to enjoy rock climbing,” he joked. “I think it’s because it involves solving physical problems in much the same way that maths involves solving intellectual ones.”
As he prepares to begin life at Oxford this autumn, Joshua reflects on the opportunities that have shaped his journey.
“The maths community at Cardiff Sixth Form College has been incredible,” he said. “The advanced classes, competitions and support from teachers have given me opportunities I never imagined. I’m excited to continue studying mathematics at Oxford and see where it takes me.”
Said Principal Cardiff Sixth Form College, Tom Arrand: Joshua is an outstanding mathematician and Huw Kilner, our Head of Further Maths has had to write a completely new curriculum as nothing was available for this standard of mathematician. He has also been an inspirational leader and motivator of younger students, taking great delight in helping them explore the world of maths and what is has to offer. He has an exciting future ahead of him.”
