Thursday 23 January 2014 Sixteen students from The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) could be Oxbridge-bound after their A-level examinations this summer, having received conditional offers from the country’s top two universities. An exceptional eight per cent of the current upper sixth at GSAL have received offers from Oxford or Cambridge universities, with the numbers evenly split between the two institutions. Heading to Oxford, subject to this summer’s exam results, will be Harry Martin to study Chinese at Wadham, Elliot Pawley for history at Exeter, Joe Ball for history and politics at Corpus Christi, Georgina Mordue for materials science at Trinity and Sam Harman for philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Christ Church. Both head boys have received offers from Oxford – Jack Harrison to read economics and management at Pembroke and Matthew Li to read PPE at Balliol. Isobel Rose has a choral scholarship at University College where she will be studying music. The eight students conditionally accepted by Cambridge University include Elinor Clapson for English at Newnham, Jacob Gibbs for land economy at Queens’ College, Christopher Schofield for mathematics at Trinity Hall and Vandan Parmar for natural sciences (physical) at Corpus Christi. Two students are holding offers from Sidney Sussex – Jennifer Shaw for modern and medieval languages and Trina Seal for natural sciences (biological). Two students have been offered places to study medicine – Yasmin Khan at St John’s College and Yash Singh at Jesus College. Bringing the total number of GSAL offers from Cambridge to nine is Andrew Sagar, who sat his A-levels last year and is taking a gap year. He will be reading law at Gonville & Caius College. This year Oxbridge attracted a record level of applications, with five students chasing each place. Christine Jagger, GSAL’s head of student development, said: “In the face of such stiff competition our students should be extremely proud that they have come through this tough selection process. While we work closely with senior students to guide them through those all-important decisions about the courses and institutions that will be right for them, it is their own hard work and determination that ultimately impresses the admissions tutors.” “We are delighted that their commitment has paid off and have every confidence that they will achieve the grades they need in the summer to secure their places.” General Senior School Sixth Form News
