Assisted Place student Funmi Ogunde worked hard at BGS and was rewarded with the top grades she needed to head off to Oxford University to study French.

Funmi said she had focused on her dream of securing a place at the prestigious university to get through the last few years since her mum, Cheyvonne, died from a heart attack aged 47. The teenager drew on the support of her friends and BGS teachers while studying for her A Levels in chemistry, French and Spanish, for which she received an A* and two As respectively. Funmi, who had enjoyed playing netball and learning the piano and violin at BGS, said: “I lived independently since starting the Sixth Form and I just kept my head down and focused on what was important, which was getting the grades I needed to go to Oxford.

I would say to anyone in challenging circumstances to set yourself a goal. No matter what is happening in your life, keep striving for what’s important for you. It makes it a lot easier and gives you the motivation to keep going. I pushed myself to get into Oxford. It’s been hard and I did have some really bad weeks, but with the help of the school and through school counselling sessions, it was a lot easier. No matter what is happening, keep striving for what’s important.”