COMP THAT’S 41 KIDS TO OXBRIDGE
Brampton Manor Academy may be based in one of London’s poorest boroughs but its academic record is rated ‘outstanding’
ethnic minority backgrounds half have free school meals.
Another student whose journey has been far from straightforward is Rama Rustom, who came to Britain as a refugee from Saudi Arabia in 2013 with Palestinian and Syrian parents. Rama has been offered a place to read English at St Hilda's College, Oxford.
“My first language is Arabic and lots of people outside of school said I couldn't do it, but my teachers always believed in me,” says Rama. “I'm just so pleased to have the opportunity to study something that I truly love in an amazing place like Oxford.
“For me, this offer sets my family on a new path. In my culture, women are traditionally told not to pursue education. I'm trying to prove that girls can do it too.”
The school buys every student their own textbooks to encourage independent study and there is an in-house team of five Oxbridge graduates solely dedicated to university access.
The school's study centre is open from 6am until 7.30pm to provide students with a dedicated place to work, and Dr Olukoshi says that when he arrives at work at 7.30am, many of the sixth formers are already at their desks. Dobin adds: and From left, Victor Idowu, Dorcas Shodeinde and Rama Rustom
“We need to shake off the idea that Oxford and Cambridge are just for an ‘elite' couple of students and encourage everyone to apply.”
THIS positive, can-do attitude eventually paid off for Dorcas. “I nearly didn't apply because I was scared of leaving London and figuring out where I'd live during half-term and after I graduated,” says Dorcas, who phoned her foster mum and real mum when she heard the news.
“I was determined that my future would be different. Brampton made me believe I was good enough to go to Oxford, and I can't believe I've now got an offer to study there.”
A report last month revealed that eight schools and colleges, most of which are fee-paying independent schools, had more students accepted to Oxbridge in the past three years than threequarters of all other schools put together. “This incredible achievement really helps challenge some of the myths about who Oxford and Cambridge is for, showing that we are open to everyone with the talent, passion and drive to study here,” says Dr Sam Lucy, director of admissions for the Cambridge colleges.
“We're delighted that we've been able to make offers to so many talented students this year. We wish them all the best in their studies.”
Meanwhile Dr Samina Khan, director of undergraduate admissions at Oxford, says: “The university would like to extend its deepest congratulations to everyone at Brampton Manor on this monumental achievement. Excellence has no set background, race or gender, and we are determined to build a more inclusive Oxford, somewhere all students with exceptional academic potential can thrive.”
The oversubscribed sixth form accepts 300 students a year after an interview process. Some travel for up to two hours each way to attend the selective sixth form, such as Lydia Khechine, who arrived in Britain alone when she was 12 after fleeing Algeria. She has been offered a place to study history and politics at Oxford and says the journey is worth it to attend Brampton Manor.
“A lot of people filter themselves out of the Oxbridge process because they don't think they belong,” says the 18-year-old who was unable to speak English when she first came to the country. “But the truth is people from unconventional backgrounds like mine do have the potential and it's about reassuring ourselves that we have a voice.”
DOBIN predicts at least 100 of the current cohort will apply to Oxbridge this September for places next year and expects at least 50 offers.
Jeffery Maya, 17, joined Brampton Manor from a local comprehensive with a mixture of A and B grades and is now working hard to make good on his offer at Pembroke College, Cambridge, to read natural sciences. “You don't see a lot of people around Newham going to college,” he says. “A lot of people get into illegal stuff.”
His motto? “Don't doubt yourself. The only way you won't get into Oxford or Cambridge is not applying in the first place.”
Victor Idowu, who has an offer to study medicine at Selwyn College, Cambridge, will be the first in his family to go to university.
“This is something that I have wanted my whole life,” says Victor, who is from a single-parent family and has free school meals. “It's made my family really proud. The application process was challenging but being surrounded by other students going through the same thing made it a lot less daunting.”