A teenager who says a whole world of learning opened up to her when she gained an assisted place at one of the best independent schools in the North is celebrating being offered a place at Cambridge University.
Charlie Kelly joined Bradford Grammar School (BGS) in the Sixth Form and was overjoyed to hear she could end up studying engineering at Cambridge, to pursue her dream of becoming an inventor.
The 17-year-old grew up in Allerton, Bradford with her two older sisters and mum, Sam, having lost her dad when she was only six years old.
Said Charlie: “The place at Bradford Grammar has completely changed my life. It’s opened up the world of learning to me and it’s made me enthusiastic about education again. It’s not just about the quality of education, it’s who you surround yourself with. If you’re in a school that cares about learning, you will succeed.”
Charlie said she knew Bradford Grammar was a good school but never thought it was an option for her to attend it.
Said Charlie: “I remember being so excited when I got in and I texted all my friends.
“One of my main worries when I joined BGS was would I make any friends, would they like me and would they be different to me because it’s a private school. But from the very first day there were others who had come into the Sixth Form new like me; there was one girl who was in every one of my classes and now we’re best friends.”
Charlie is studying maths, further maths, physics and chemistry A Levels and wants one day to mix her academic skills with her passion for art.
“I love art and science and I’d like an opportunity to mix the two. I like having a final product that you can look at. Ultimately, I’d like to invent things. You only get one life and I think I’d really enjoy it. I’d love to make my family proud and for them to say: ‘Charlie made that.’”
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, headmaster at BGS, said: “A good education can be a transformative experience, as Charlie has shown, which is why we want to help as many young people as possible through our growing assisted places programme. Charlie is a credit to our school and truly embodies the Bradford Grammar spirit. We’re delighted that she’s been offered a place at Cambridge and we know she’ll go on to great things.”
Charlie is the 19th student to be sponsored through school by Roger Bowers, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
Said Roger: “Over the years, it’s been gratifying to learn about the students and hear about their progress and be in a position to give them advice. I’m heartened by how bursary provision has grown at BGS. Rewarding hard-working and bright young people, such as Charlie, who wouldn’t be able to attend BGS without financial support, has long been a cornerstone of all that makes BGS great.
“As a benefactor, I believe 100 per cent that in making a gift, you can change a young person’s life.”
BGS spends on average £900,000 per year on assisted places, supporting 10 per cent of the student community. The school has ambitions to double this provision over the coming years through proactively fundraising from its former students.
“… Bradford Grammar has completely changed my life. It’s opened up the world of learning to me and it’s made me enthusiastic about education again. It’s not just about the quality of education, it’s who you surround yourself with. If you’re in a school that cares about learning, you will succeed.”
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