Colleges chief hails Oxbridge success for Shrewsbury state sector students
Oxbridge success for students in Shrewsbury show the benefits of college education, a principal said today.
Shrewsbury Colleges Group has 16 students who have been offered places at either Oxford or Cambridge.
It marks a real achievement for the group, formed in 2016 by the merger of Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.
The students, who hail from all across the county, are currently studying A Levels at the college's English Bridge and Welsh Bridge campuses and will take their exams this summer before heading off for their further studies.
Principal and CEO of Shrewsbury Colleges Group, James Staniforth said: "There is a perception that the independent sector is more likely to have students who win places at Oxford or Cambridge University.
"The success of our students is evidence that talented students attending a successful college in the state sector can achieve whatever they want to."
The successful students have had offers to read a broad range of subjects, including philosophy, biomedical sciences, experimental psychology, computer science, engineering, law, natural sciences and mathematics.
Sophie Iddles, 18, of Shrewsbury, is currently studying music, history and geography and has been offered a place at Robinson College, Cambridge to read music.
Range of opportunities
She said: "I was introduced to the idea of applying to Oxbridge at Priory School through a trip to Oxford, and knew then that I wanted to apply, deciding on Cambridge at the beginning of sixth form.
"I honestly was not expecting an offer, but thought that I might as well try, and still cannot believe it, but am thankful for the excellent music teaching I have received, both at sixth form and my instrumental teachers.
"I am particularly excited about the range of opportunities available and to be taught by lecturers who are world specialists in their field. I feel very privileged to be offered a place at such a prestigious university, and am now really hoping I make the grades in order to achieve this."
Mr Staniforth paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of the students and to the teaching staff who have helped the pupils achieve their goals.
He added: "We are absolutely delighted for all sixteen students. They are individually and collectively hard-working, intellectually curious, creative and passionate about their subjects. All of them regularly go the extra mile in their studies."
