HGS students, Natalia Slomczykowski and Emma Ball
HGS students, Natalia Slomczykowski and Emma Ball

Harrogate Grammar School celebrates Oxbridge success

21 March 2017

The University of Oxford could be home to three students currently studying at Harrogate Grammar School.

This talented group of Sixth Formers have all received offers from the university to study there in September 2017 depending on results.

Emma Ball, who hopes to read History at Merton College said “I am thrilled as going to Oxford has always been a dream of mine and I would like to thank the staff in the Sixth Form, particularly the History department, for all of the help I’ve received.”

Headteacher, Richard Sheriff, said “Harrogate Grammar School is a non-selective state school and the Sixth Form is open to all with 35 courses on offer. We pride ourselves in offering students support and guidance to enable each individual to achieve their potential.

For some students this will mean applying for a place at Oxford or Cambridge because these universities provide the right learning environment for them. For these students we owe it to them, as a state comprehensive, to do all we can to make their aspiration a reality and allow them to compete with the students from the independent and selective sectors.

Great teaching and expert guidance that they receive here means they really can compete for places at the UK’s prestigious universities and know that we have a track record of successful applications. Oxbridge is only one route are most academic students take, increasingly we are seeing students opting to study at a range of other Russell Group universities including or applying for the highly competitive world of medicine.

Our ambition is to make sure every Sixth Form student, who wants to, gains access to the university and course that suits them and their aspirations, whether that be in Mastricht or Manchester.”
Harrogate Grammar School recently hosted an Oxbridge Conference for schools in the Red Kite Alliance helping students prepare for their interview. This, combined with visits to a range of colleges, debating opportunities and application advice has hopefully given students a competitive advantage in their applications.

Head of Sixth Form, Neil Renton, said, “We are incredibly proud of our students and their achievements. This is testament to the hard work and determination of students, their families and teachers over many years.

Emma Ball received an offer to study History at Merton College, India Whitmarsh-Lewis received an offer to study Classics II at Merton College, and Natalia Slomczykowski received an offer to study Law.

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