Moon achieved the A-Level grades that she needed to study History of Art at The Courtauld Institute, London.

Moon, who is from Hong Kong, joined our International Programme in Year 11 and then stayed at King's Ely Sixth Form for her A-Levels - Fine Art, Classical Civilisation, and Psychology.

Moon also completed an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), titled: 'Curating a Museum Exhibition on 18th-19th Century European Painting'.

We caught up with Moon after she received her A-Level results to find out more about her King's experience and what her next steps are...

Moon, what career path do you plan on pursuing?

I work as an oil painter doing commissions and selling my work online - @mooncheungpaintings on Instagram. I am interested in the museum or gallery industry. I have also been growing my social media presence as a graphic designer and social media manager, working with brands and businesses - @the.enchanted_bloom on Instagram.

What is the quality and style of teaching like at King’s?

The teachers at King's were kind and helpful, which made for a very happy learning experience. It was a privilege to study subjects that I am passionate about, and I am very grateful for that.

Mr and Mrs Ward helped me grow enormously as an artist, encouraging me to challenge myself artistically - I am very happy with how my practice has evolved over the last two years. With their excellent eyes, my techniques were honed significantly throughout Sixth Form.

I also had an excellent learning experience in Psychology, with lots of interactive tasks, and I could feel the passion Mr Quinn has for teaching the fascinating facts of his subject. I particularly enjoyed the World of the Hero syllabus with Dr Knox, whose lessons were both entertaining and useful. The Greek Art syllabus, taught by Ms Tyrrell and Dr Oliver, also helped nurture my passion for Art History. Mr Atkinson's lessons on the Cultures of Ancient Rome and Greece fascinated me too, encouraging me to explore the world of Classical Art academically. I also must thank Mr Humphry who helped me prepare for an Art History interview for Cambridge. And finally, Ms Pienaar, who helped me enormously in bringing my EPQ exhibition concept to life, giving me hands-on curatorial experience.

I would also like to thank my KEI teachers during Year 11 - Mr Pringle for Biology, Ms Marshall for Psychology, Ms Gee for Business, and Mrs Franklin and Mrs Shaw for English support, both of whom helped me build a strong academic foundation to carry forward into Sixth Form.

What else did you participate in during your time at King’s?

I participated in the 'Cambridgeshire En Plein Air Artist of the Year Award Competition' at Histon Manor in 2025, where my work was Highly Commended. I was also very happy to exhibit my work at MODO Gallery in Cambridge and to sell my work professionally as a commercial artist. Ms Herring also gave me the opportunity to visit the Cheffins Auction House and the Frieze London and Frieze Masters Art Fairs in London - opportunities that I am beyond grateful for, as they gave me real insight into the art industry. During my free time after school, I painted a lot, fulfilled commissions, and worked on building up my portfolio to become a professional artist. 

During Sixth Form, I created The King's Palette magazine, the Art Department's magazine, which helps artists at King's connect and showcases students' work across the school, sponsored by Cheffins Fine Art. Editing and publishing this magazine, with the support of the Department, taught me many skills that I would not have learned otherwise. I also volunteered at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University at weekends, which gave me further insight into the cultural heritage industry that I love. 

As an International Scholar and a Christian, I felt honoured to take part in the school's weekly Cathedral services.

As for extra-curricular activities, I participated in Christmas Drama productions, which were challenging and a unique experience. I worked with Ms Pienaar as the Editor of KEStrel magazine during Year 12, where I learnt a lot of editorial knowledge. I also took regular classical singing lessons, leading to my participation in two of the school's Vocal Festivals. I also joined the Greek Club, which was a fun way to learn an ancient language, and joined Choir early in Year 12, where singing Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral was a particularly memorable experience. I was also part of the Hill House Prefect Team.

In Year 11, trips with the Model United Nations Club and volunteering at the Prep School gave me a variety of further experience. On the sports side, I had great fun learning Tennis for the first time during Games!

Do you feel that you have been well supported pastorally at King’s?

Yes, Hill House was a very nice place to live for three years under the care of Mrs Jackson. The food was also consistently good, which I was always happy about.

What will you miss most about King’s and what did you enjoy most during your time here?

I will miss the freedom to spend as much time as I wanted in the Art Department to explore different art practices, and also exploring beautiful places in Cambridgeshire!

In what ways do you think King’s is unique or special compared to other schools?

King's provides so many opportunities for students with all kinds of different skills and interests. 

Describe King’s in three words!

Nurturing, independent-learning, encouraging.