News17th August 2017
Ark students across the network have been opening their results this morning, excited to find out what their next big step will be. All of our sixth forms have positive stories to share, with students gaining entry to Russell Group universities and setting out on the path to the careers of their choice.
Amarachi, Year 13 student at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy got two As and a B in her A levels, and is off to study English Literature at Warwick University.
Amarachi has high hopes of becoming a journalist. She says “It feels so grand after the long wait – I couldn’t have asked for more. I’ve been awarded the Marshall Wace bursary to help with maintenance costs at university. This will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a broadcast journalist.
“I write and publish my own blog. I write about the top Premier League football teams. It’s something I’m really interested in and it helps me practise my writing, time-management and communication skills. I’ve also been involved in a local radio programme. We record a new show every week and discuss topical issues in the news or the local community. Last year I was fortunate enough to be involved in the National Theatre’s New View programme. I had the opportunity to write my own play and got to do a reading of it at the school’s literary festival.”
Since he arrived at Ark Academy aged 11, Jai has been the standout academic student in his year. Both his GCSE results (ten A*s and two As) and his AS results (four As) were the best in the school. Jai is happiest when problems are at their most difficult, regularly asking his teachers to push him beyond the scope of the A-level course.
Jai was celebrating four A* in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics. He is off to the University of Cambridge to study Maths.
Jai said, “I’m so so excited about going to Cambridge. Ever since Year 7 when I went on a trip to St John’s College, I’ve wanted to go there. And now, seven years later, I got into that college.”
Hana is a student at Ark Burlington Danes Academy in West London. She studied Biology, Chemistry and Maths and achieved three As.
“I worked really hard and this is what I wanted to get in the end – so I’m really happy with what I got. I feel like I deserved it! The whole two years I dedicated to revision and talking to teachers. Miss Murugan, my Chemistry teacher, really helped me. She is just an amazing teacher, she was so engaged. Because she loved chemistry, we loved it too. I love those kinds of teachers. Also Mrs Annan, who teaches Biology, supported me as well (pictured below).
“I want to go and do Pharmacy at UCL. My parents were so happy, when I told them my offer. I’m looking forward to university, I want to go through the university experience and see what it’s like. The future should be really good from here.”
Each year, the Reuben Scholarship Programme, Driver Youth Trust Bursary Programme and Marshall Wace Bursary Programme help talented Ark students headed for top universities, who might not otherwise be able to afford higher education, with expenses like accommodation and subsistence.
For more information on our bursary programme or how you might support Ark alumni, please contact Hannah Mcauley.