Polina Kalentsits, Assistant Set Decorator in film and television

When did you attend Pangbourne College?

I attended Pangbourne college between 2007 - 2009. I was studying in Estonia when I applied for the British Council programme which sent students to British boarding schools for one year. I won a place on the programme and joined Pangbrourne for lower 6th form and thanks to a bursary from Pangbourne College I was able to stay for another year and complete my A Levels in Mathematics, Film Studies and  Fine Art, as well as Drama for AS Level.

What are your fondest memories of your time at Pangbourne College?

My fondest memories of Pangbourne College would probably be the Art school. It was a wonderfully creative environment run by Mr Holmes, Mr Whittaker, and Miss Green in which we had fantastic facilities and opportunities to try different techniques and materials, such as oil painting, acrylics and even printmaking.

Another fond memory would be  a school visit to the The Duchess  film set (starring Kiera Knightley), which was one of the seminal moments that defined my career. Even though we were only there for a day, I cannot understate the importance of that one visit to see the behind-the-scenes of a real film set which inspired my future degree and helped me realise that there are amazing creative professions that involve working with people as part of the team. 

I also have very fond memories of boarding at Pangbourne college. I was living in Illawarra house and  got to share a room with foreign exchange students Natalie and Carla. I loved the communal aspect of boarding and a feel of home away from home.

What did you do immediately after leaving Pangbourne College?

I went on to study Film and Television Studies and Fine Arts as a joint honours undergraduate degree at Aberystwyth University in Wales. After three years at Aberystwyth I went to London and completed my masters degree in Production Design in Film and Television at Kingston University.

How did your time at Pangbourne prepare you for life beyond school?

The obvious preparation would be the language skills. Having come from Estonia it was very important to gain language fluency in order to be able to study at university level but also to develop personal relationships. So in one aspect Pangbourne prepared me academically to enter Aberystwyth University, with an unconditional offer and no foundation degree. But also on a personal level Pangbourne taught me discipline and willingness to work hard to achieve the set goals and gave me confidence to deal with challenging situations and made me believe in myself.  I made friends for life in Pangbourne and I couldn't imagine my life without them.

How would you describe Pangbourne College?

Pangbourne is a very caring place where I  always felt looked after and listened to.  It’s a place to explore and develop interests and talents. Small classes are really beneficial to academic development due to  a lot of contact time with the tutors. I feel there is a fantastic balance of academic, sport and creative opportunities to pursue. There is a strong communal feel to Pangbourne and students definitely create lifelong friendships here.  

What would you say to somebody that might be considering Pangbourne for their child’s Senior education?

I would 100% say - go for it! I think it is a wonderful place. It is located in the most beautiful Berkshire countryside where students can focus on their education without further distractions. But, equally, it is a vibrant environment for students to flourish and explore opportunities. 

There are wonderful sports facilities and as I mentioned earlier, a fantastic art school and  a great sense of community that is strengthened through Sunday Chapel and Parades. 

The school builds stamina, strength and resilience, but also strongly promotes values of kindness, respect and looking after each other.

For international students, college provides a lot of support and a very warm welcome. During my two years in Pangbourne I felt very included and integrated into school’s everyday life. 

As a bursary recipient what did the opportunity to attend Pangbourne mean for you?

Receiving the bursary meant that my hard work and achievements were recognised, especially to someone who was in a new country, school and social environment. It empowered me to set higher goals and dream bigger than I anticipated when I was in Estonia.

Because of the bursary, I was able to stay in college beyond the originally planned year, which turned my year abroad into a richer education experience that allowed me to complete my A Levels and then go onto further education in the UK, ultimately leading to my dream job in the Film industry. It’s a  fantastic booming  industry and I am able to express myself creatively and contribute to promoting the arts in the UK, none of which would be possible without the bursary of Pangbourne College.

What would you say to somebody who might be considering making a donation to our Bursary Fund?

I would say that it means so much to so many talented students who would otherwise not be able to attend the College. The bursary gives access to top-class education and facilities, but also a community of students who are proud to be part of the college. It also gives students the opportunities to explore their talents and benefits all students through discourses in the classrooms and learning from each other. Students are given the foundations needed to go on to pursue further studies at university and at master level.

Finally, what three words would you use to describe Pangbourne College?

Caring, inspiring and character-building.