The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped school leavers aspiring to bright futures

Across Yorkshire, this year’s ambitious school leavers are aiming high despite the normality of life in education coming to an abrupt end in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Across Yorkshire this years ambitious student leavers are aiming high despite the normality of school life coming to an abrupt end in March. Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesAcross Yorkshire this years ambitious student leavers are aiming high despite the normality of school life coming to an abrupt end in March. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Across Yorkshire this years ambitious student leavers are aiming high despite the normality of school life coming to an abrupt end in March. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Many sixth form students across the region have secured coveted offers and internships from a range of prestigious universities, art colleges, employers and voluntary organisations.

At Ripon Grammar school, in North Yorkshire, more students than ever have applied to university this year.

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An estimated 70 per cent of students plan to take up places at elite Russell Group universities, with a total of 167 leavers having applied, despite most universities planning their first terms online.

Pictured, upper sixth form leavers from North Yorkshire at Ripon Grammar school. Yorkshire's only state boarding school more students than ever have applied to university this year.Photo credit: otherPictured, upper sixth form leavers from North Yorkshire at Ripon Grammar school. Yorkshire's only state boarding school more students than ever have applied to university this year.Photo credit: other
Pictured, upper sixth form leavers from North Yorkshire at Ripon Grammar school. Yorkshire's only state boarding school more students than ever have applied to university this year.Photo credit: other

Head of sixth form Terry Fell, said the numbers were a remarkable achievement after the situation students found themselves in, with uncertainty over how grades would pan out and their university experience looking likely to be restricted for the first few months, was initially “quite bewildering.”

Mr Fell said: “These are amongst the most challenging applications students can put themselves through, and the most demanding of universities, and their success reflects a very bright year group indeed.”

Seven of the school’s students have received Oxbridge offers alongside nine offers to study medicine and one for veterinary medicine.

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Emma Belward, 18, from Ripon, will study medicine at Newcastle University after taking biology, chemistry and maths at A-level. She said: "I am looking forward to going to university soon, however I know things may be very different when I go.

Pictured, Jack Ibbotson who studied economics, history and geography at A-level. Photo credit: OtherPictured, Jack Ibbotson who studied economics, history and geography at A-level. Photo credit: Other
Pictured, Jack Ibbotson who studied economics, history and geography at A-level. Photo credit: Other

“Most universities are doing their first term online so it will be a strange start for most people. I am currently just trying to use this time productively and prepare for my next stage in life."

Phoebe Hall, 18, also from Ripon, studied chemistry, english literature, history and maths and plans to defer her offer to study history at Trinity College, Cambridge, after taking a gap year to ensure a more 'normal' student experience in 2021. She said: "A childhood being forced to look around castles, and more importantly some truly fantastic teachers, were what almost inevitably made me to apply to read history as an undergraduate."

Meanwhile Jack Ibbotson, 17, from Burton Leonard, who studied economics, history and geography at A-level, will be starting a deck officer maritime cadetship with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. He will study at Glasgow College, where he will take a degree in nautical sciences and marine operations.

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He said: “This is something I have always wanted to do, and it is a fantastic opportunity to travel the world for a living.”

Outwood Grange Academy, in Wakefield. 94 per cent of students are moving onto higher education, an increase of 15 per cent from last year, with more students opting for courses with a year in industry.Photo credit: otherOutwood Grange Academy, in Wakefield. 94 per cent of students are moving onto higher education, an increase of 15 per cent from last year, with more students opting for courses with a year in industry.Photo credit: other
Outwood Grange Academy, in Wakefield. 94 per cent of students are moving onto higher education, an increase of 15 per cent from last year, with more students opting for courses with a year in industry.Photo credit: other

Mr Fell added: “We can be sure that the dust will eventually settle, and the class of 2020 will step out into their bright futures.

“Whether their paths take them directly into their careers, into study at the very highest level, or whether they have chosen to take the time to reflect and make the right choices for them, our students embark upon those journeys very well-equipped for the challenges that await them.”

While for Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, North Yorkshire, the pupils built on its success in recent years, with seven (three per cent) of students receiving offers for Oxbridge, and 160 (70 per cent) students with offers for Russell Group universities.

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Meanwhile Outwood Grange Academies Trust, which operates 32 academies across northern England and the East Midlands, said it had been the toughest year any teacher or student will have faced.

Dean Jones, the principal at Firth Park Academy, part of the Academies Enterprise Trust. Photo credit: otherDean Jones, the principal at Firth Park Academy, part of the Academies Enterprise Trust. Photo credit: other
Dean Jones, the principal at Firth Park Academy, part of the Academies Enterprise Trust. Photo credit: other

Julie Slater, the chief executive of secondary at Outwood Grange Academies Trust, said: “Despite everything that the last few months has thrown at them, they have continued to keep going and plan their next steps, either within education or the wider world.

“We wish all of our leavers nothing but the best for their future, and will continue to be here for them if they need support during what is sure to be an unusual transition to higher education and beyond due to the ongoing pandemic."

At Outwood Grange Academy, in Wakefield, 94 per cent of students are moving onto higher education, an increase of 15 per cent from last year, with more students opting for courses with a year in industry.

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An estimated 44 per cent of students plan to take up places at elite Russell Group universities.

A spokesman for Outwood Grange Academy, said: “This year we have found more students have chosen courses with a year in industry. We are incredibly proud of all of our students, their success reaches far and wide, beyond their results or destinations.”

While Kafi Wharton-Baum 18, from South Kirby, Pontefract, will pursue her passion by studying primary teaching with QTS at Bishop Grosseteste University. She took, art and design, mathematics and physics and was inspired by her grandmother, a primary school teacher, who gained permission for and founded the first multi-racial nursery in South Africa during Apartheid.

Emma Belward will study medicine at Newcastle University after taking biology, chemistry and maths at A-level. Photo credit: otherEmma Belward will study medicine at Newcastle University after taking biology, chemistry and maths at A-level. Photo credit: other
Emma Belward will study medicine at Newcastle University after taking biology, chemistry and maths at A-level. Photo credit: other

She said: “I find supporting students to learn new things and explore their world rewarding and exciting”.

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And Ellie Nutter, 18, from Outwood, took english language, art and psychology is moving on to the University of Huddersfield to study Child Nursing after being inspired by the dedication of the NHS on the frontline of the pandemic.

She said: “Nurses have worked extremely hard on the frontline caring for and saving hundreds of thousands of people and this makes me extremely proud to say I’m going into a career as a child nurse, working in the NHS.”

Elsewhere for year 11 leavers at Firth Park Academy, an 11-16 year old secondary academy in Sheffield, the school saw its best year yet for its year 11 students.

An estimated 55 percent of its leavers will progress to sixth forms locally, a rise of 10 per cent on the previous four years. This year 95 per cent of the school’s students will progress on to post-16 education, up 10 per cent on last year.

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Dean Jones, the principal at Firth Park Academy, part of the Academies Enterprise Trust, said he hoped to be celebrating a record number of young people progressing on to their preferred path for the future.

He said: “Despite the current challenges they face, our students are determined to progress and reach their full potential. Every year they rise to the high standards we set, and remarkably this year more of them are hitting that high bar.

Three students, Abaseno Ekong, 16, Destiny Ehimwenma,15 and Tiffany Kibutu,16, have been offered full scholarships to Birkdale School, an independent school in the city, to study A levels.

They follow in the footsteps of one student from last year.

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While two of the school students are pursuing a future in engineering at The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

Sami Ahmed, 16, from Chapeltown, who studied business studies, geography, ICT and spanish alongside course subjects at GCSE, and Sohail Rashid, 16, from Firth Park who studied resistant materials, business studies, history and spanish along with core subjects at GCSE, intend to start engineering apprenticeships in September.

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