Featured Student: Dom Dalton

During my time at BMS, which ended in 2006, I took RS at both GCSE and A-level, before deciding to further my interest in the subject and study Theology at Durham University. I felt that studying RS provided me with a vast array of skills that have proven extremely useful at university, such as an ability to reason clearly and logically, present and understand arguments and to express myself clearly and succinctly. In many ways, studying RS provides an early opportunity to hone the skills necessary for achieving a good quality degree, as it encourages students to take the time to think scholarly arguments through and to criticise, which is a key aspect of success in further education.

Whilst covering the curriculum material, the teachers within the RS department at BMS also allow a healthy amount of debate in during lessons, providing a seminar-style framework that I have always felt is most conducive to maximising intellectual develop and challenging individuals to think. The topics covered within the subject are diverse enough to maintain interest for the majority yet are explored with enough depth to really provoke an affinity for particular subject areas. As a result of my four years of studying Islam under the guidance of Mr Searle, I opted to carry out an empirical study of the inter-generational relationships within Bedford’s Muslim community for my undergraduate dissertation at Durham, for which I was awarded 82, a mark that secured my first-class honours degree. My time learning about Islam at BMS undoubtedly provided the grounding for my further study of this particular research topic.

Dom graduated from Josephine Butler College, University of Durham this summer, taking one of only five first class honours degrees awarded, in Theology, by his university this year. He is taking a well deserved break and begins work for Nestle as a member of their corporate graduate management development programme in September.