High flyers head to Cambridge University with help of OCR bursaries.
Thirteen of the West Midlands’ most talented A Level students, described as “remarkable”, “outstanding”, “extremely gifted” and “exceptional”, have won bursaries from exam board OCR to support them with studies at the University of Cambridge.
The students, all of whom are about to begin studies at Cambridge, will receive £3,000 for each year of their undergraduate studies. This will allow them to make the most of their time at university rather than worrying about money. The students attended schools and colleges across the West Midlands, including in Birmingham, Coventry, Redditch, Uttoxeter, Bromsgrove, Cradley Heath, Stratford and Shrewsbury. They will be studying degrees in Medicine, History, Natural Sciences, Geography, English, Law, Engineering and Psychological and Behavioural Sciences.
The bursary winners were celebrated at an event at OCR’s Coventry offices on 19 September. Congratulating the students on their achievements, Saul Nassé, Chief Executive of OCR’s parent organisation, Cambridge Assessment, said: “We feel lucky to play our small part in helping these 13 outstanding students with their studies at Cambridge University. They won places at Cambridge, so they are all academic high flyers but they have other talents too.
“Many have supported other students in their schools and carried out voluntary work in their local communities. There are also gifted musicians, performing artists, sportspeople, debaters and science and maths competition winners amongst them.
“It has been great to meet them today, along with their families and the teachers who have inspired and supported them. I am sure they will all flourish at Cambridge University and I wish them all the best for their time in college and beyond.”
This year’s OCR bursary winners include:
Cenk Balu, 19, from Birmingham, who attended John Wilmott School in Sutton Coldfield, will be studying Engineering at King’s College.
Nora Bennani-Kemmoun, 18, from Birmingham, who attended Kings Norton Girls’ School and Sixth Form, will be studying Geography at Gonville and Caius College.
Irram Gheer, 21, from Birmingham, who attended Bordesley Green Girls’ School will be studying History at Lucy Cavendish.
Ayesha Rasool, 18, from Birmingham, who attended King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, will be studying Natural Sciences (Biological) at Gonville and Caius College.
Sunvir Sahota, 18, from Dudley, who attended King Edward VI Aston School, will be studying Engineering at St John’s.
Fred Thompson, 18, from Birmingham, who attended Kings Norton Girls’ School and Sixth Form, will be studying Natural Sciences at Fitzwilliam College.
