Remarkable students awarded scholarships

Principal, Julian Appleyard, with Catherine Ayres, Emily Hedley, Maryam Khatoon, Rhiann Canavan, Aneeqa Arif and Assistant Principal for Learning, Thomas Fay

Five new students at Rochdale Sixth Form College have been awarded scholarships after racking up an impressive 25 A* grades and 25 A grades between them at GCSE level this summer.

The students were rewarded for all their hard work with a cheque for £75 at a special lunch with College Principal Julian Appleyard and will receive a further £75 in January. The money is intended to help support their academic studies.

Among the scholarship students is Catherine Ayres, who studied at Oulder Hill Community School and Language College and is now taking English Literature, French, Politics and Music. She said: “I was really pleased with my GCSE results and to be awarded the scholarship is the icing on the cake. I’ve already settled in well at the College and am really enjoying my courses so far.”

The other scholarships were awarded to Maryam Khatoon, who previously studied at Kingsway Park High School, Aneeqa Arif from Rochdale Girls’ School and Rhiann Canavan and Emily Hedley, who both attended Whitworth High School.

Tony Day, Vice Principal at Rochdale Sixth Form College, said: “We strive to help every one of our students reach their full potential and this includes the academically very gifted students, such as these, who have been awarded with the scholarships. We have particularly high expectations of these students and will enjoy stretching them to achieve the very best they can.”

Mr Day added: “These, along with our other gifted students, will also enjoy the support of the Honours Programme, which is open to high flyers who are interested in looking to study at the most selective universities such as Oxford or Cambridge, or want to go onto apply for competitive courses such as Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science. It is a great opportunity to receive specialist coaching and advice, and stands testament to our commitment to excellence.”

Students enrolled on the Honours Programme will also be given the opportunity to complete an Extended Project Qualification; receive one-on-one ‘stretch and challenge’ work with subject teachers; enjoy organised visits, conferences and residentials, plus invitations to talks from guest academic speakers.