Ark St Alban Academy’s students celebrate after securing university scholarships
After a strong set of A level results in the summer, students at Ark St Alban’s Academy are celebrating again after collectively securing £114,000 in university scholarships and bursaries.
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. A total of £87,000 was awarded to eight St Alban’s students through these programmes.
Miski Hussein was one of just 4 Ark students from across the country to be awarded the Reuben Scholarship worth up to £10,000 per year of study. After achieving A*AAB at A level she is now studying Biochemistry at Warwick University.
Miski said, “I always wanted to go to university but I didn’t think the top universities were for me – it’s only recently that I started aiming big. The opportunities that St Alban’s have given me have got me to this point. My teachers made me realise that I could get to the top. Getting the bursary motivated me to work even harder. It’s such a large amount of money it will make a huge difference to my time at university. Without this scholarship I would have to work through university – so the scholarship will allow me to concentrate on my studies”.
Ryan Clewer was one of the students who secured the Marshall Wace Bursary. Ryan is now at Sheffield Hallam University studying Accounting and Finance and is the first person in his family to go to university.
Ryan said, “I’m over the moon! St Alban’s is a very supportive school – and they make you work hard! My teachers made me realise that I could go to university rather than leaving school and going straight to work and I’m really looking forward to my degree.”
In addition, Malik Sheryar-Karamat has just embarked on a sponsored undergraduate degree studying mechanical engineering at Birmingham City University after winning the Millennium Point Young Innovator Prize earlier this year worth £27,000.
Speaking about the award Malik said, “I am so thankful that I can carry on my passion for mechanical engineering at Birmingham City University. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity, which will give me the chance to broaden my knowledge and expand my education and hopefully lead to a career in a science-based subject.”
This was the first year for A level results at Ark St Alban’s Academy after the sixth form opened in September 2013. Results were strong with 92% of students achieving three A levels or equivalent at A* – E, with an overall pass rate of 98%. The vast majority of students secured their university places, many at Russell Group institutions, with others going on to engineering and accountancy apprenticeships.
