Twelve students secure prestigious Oxbridge offers

A RECORD number of twelve students at the North’s top-performing state school are celebrating Oxbridge offers.

Seven candidates from Ripon Grammar School have won offers from the University of Cambridge and five from the University of Oxford after rising to the challenge of one of the most competitive application processes in the country.

The group, making up 8 per cent of the sixth form – rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted - will be studying a wide range of subjects, from classics to English literature, geography, languages, law, maths, medicine, natural sciences and philosophy.

Head of RGS Sixth Form, Terry Fell, congratulated both the students and staff who supported them following the highly demanding selection process involved.

Alongside this, he said, many other students planning their next steps after A-levels are awaiting to hear of offers from highly competitive universities and top-level apprenticeship placements across the country.

“We are so proud of our students' dedication and their high aspirations as they prepare for the next stage of their exciting futures beyond school.

“They are entering a world where competition is high, but they are resourceful, determined and well prepared for whatever is to come next,” he said.

One of the many students aiming high is head boy Monty Bleiker, who won an offer to study natural sciences at Cambridge, and hopes to go to into Space one day.

The 18-year-old, from Ripon, said he has ambitions to gain a PhD in quantum physics: “Then I want to work in a mix of industry and research and attempt to get involved with NASA or SpaceX and hopefully go into Space.”

As chair of the school’s Astronomy Society, he is currently leading a project involving the construction of an autonomous sub-orbital telemetry platform for a national competition.

He will be joined at Cambridge by Zara Ali, taking philosophy; William Keens, maths; Aria Writer and Evy Reed, law; Anson Fong, medicine and Lottie Nicol, geography.

Students who won Oxbridge offers are: Annabel Cochrane, taking English and German; Nancy Manners, English and French; Mia Clarkson, classics and English; Olympia Dunn, English; and Katelyn Lim, medicine.

Ripon Cathedral chorister and head girl Zara, 17, also hopes to win a choral scholarship to study at Cambridge’s Clare College.

“I am very excited about my offer but realise there is still much work to be done,” she said.

Mathematician and musician William, who plays piano and saxophone and is a member of the school’s big band, wind band and man choir, said he was ecstatic to receive his offer from Cambridge.

The 18-year-old, from Easingwold, said: “I had to read the letter multiple times before I believed what it said.”

Aspiring lawyer Aria, 17, from Ripon, won her offer from Peterhouse and is chair of the school’s bar mock society in addition to heading up an RGS Young Enterprise team.

“I was fairly certain after the interviews that I wouldn't get an offer, so I was incredibly surprised that I did,” she said.

Budding journalist Annabel, who is co-chair of the school’s debating society and is creating a new student magazine, received an offer from Merton College.

The 18-year-old, from Darlington, who also plays the saxophone and sings in school choirs, said: “I was over the moon when I got my offer - it really felt like the work I'd put in was worth it.”

Nancy Manners, 17, from outside Ripon, plans to study French and English at New College.

The musician and co-chair of the school’s debating society said: “I hope to do a law conversion after Oxford and eventually become a barrister. “

Another budding lawyer, Olympia Dunn, won an offer from Somerville College.

The 17-year-old chair of the school’s History Society also swims and sings in school choirs: “I had to read the email twice to make sure it was real,” she said of her offer.

Mia, 18, from Masham, who received an offer from Oriel College, said: “Receiving my offer has made my year, there is nothing better than seeing years of hard work pay off.”

Katelyn, 17, from Knaresborough said she was delighted with her offer to study medicine: “I was very happy as I know how competitive my course is and so wasn't sure if I would get an offer.”

She added: “I'm mostly feeling very grateful to my teachers who spent time to help me prepare for interviews.”