Liverpool student Alice Hardaker is celebrating after securing a place at the prestigious Trinity College in Oxford.
The 18 year-old, a pupil at St John Bosco in Croxteth, will study law at Oxford University after getting an A* in History and an A in both English Literature and Sociology to take the next step on the path to achieving her dream of becoming a solicitor.
She is the 19th student – and one of five this year – to be successful as part of the ‘Aspire Liverpool’ scheme, which is supported by Liverpool City Council.
It encourages Liverpool pupils to receive offers from and win places at Oxford and Cambridge, helping them to maximise their potential and make successful applications to top universities.
Working with schools, it identifies able and talented pupils from Liverpool to benefit from programmes of encouragement, support and intellectual preparation to make successful applications to Oxford and Cambridge and other top universities – in this country and abroad.
Other Liverpool success stories include 88 per cent of BAME students who took part in the Liverpool Community Languages programme getting A* – C grades. The students studied in after-school classes prior to Covid-19 and received online delivery during lockdown, showing real commitment to their studies.
This year, around 1,900 students studied for A-levels in Liverpool at 30 schools and colleges.
Alice Hardaker said:
“As somebody who previously believed that gaining a place at university was highly aspirational, I was ecstatic when I received the news that I had secured a place to read law at Oxford University today.
“Through the support of my school and Aspire Liverpool, I’ve not only grown in confidence academically, but also personally.
“You can achieve and you should achieve, regardless of your background or means.”
Councillor Barbara Murray, Cabinet member for education, said:
“Many congratulations to Alice on winning a place at one of the country’s top colleges.
“The Aspire Liverpool programme does amazing work encouraging students who would not normally think of an Oxbridge education to consider it.
“Alice is one of many Liverpool pupils who have done amazingly well today – despite the challenges posed by the pandemic – and are looking forward to taking the next step in their education and going on to develop successful careers.”
Nick Crofts, Director of Aspire Liverpool, said:
“I’m so proud of Alice and all the other students that we supported to apply to and gain places at top universities. “In the past, not enough Scousers have made the journey from Liverpool to Oxbridge. Now we are putting that right. Alice and the other 18 successful students we’ve worked with have done brilliantly – they are real champions.”
