A student who secured an assisted place to attend one of the best independent schools in the North will be heading to Cambridge University after securing A* grades across the board in her A Levels.
Charlie Kelly said joining Bradford Grammar School (BGS) in the Sixth Form, had helped her realise her dreams of being an inventor after achieving top A* grades in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry to enable her to study engineering at the prestigious university.
Said Charlie: “I expected to get high grades, but I didn’t know if I’d get the A*s in physics and further maths to get into Cambridge. It’s been quite emotional getting the results. It’s going to take a while for it to sink in.”
The 18-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.
She said: “The place at Bradford Grammar completely changed my life. It opened up the world of learning to me. 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.
She recalled: “One of my main worries 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 wants one day to mix her academic skills with her passion for art.
She said: “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: “We’re delighted to see Charlie has achieved outstanding A Level results after all her hard work. She is a credit to our school, and we know she will go on to do great things.
“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 was sponsored through school by Roger Bowers, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
Said Roger: “To me, it has been a great stimulus to my life seeing the bursary opportunities these young people are given. I enjoyed this opportunity many years ago and from my experience then I know it’s a huge start for them in life. Every year I have a chat with each of them – just gentle advice and encouragement. They are great kids and then somebody like Charlie comes along and that really is a bonus. It makes it all worthwhile.”
BGS spends on average £900,000 per year on assisted places, supporting 10 per cent of the student community.
The school has announced a new fund, the 1662 Campaign for Assisted Places, with the aim of doubling the number of places over the coming years through proactively fundraising from its former students.
“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.”
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