Star pupil leads way as he lands Oxbridge place
HEAD OF SCHOOL ONCE IN SPECIAL MEASURES PROUD OF SUCCESS
A TEENAGER has become the first pupil from his school to go to either Oxford or Cambridge universities in decades and is excited to get stuck into a chemistry degree he hopes could even involve cancer research.
Meanwhile, senior teaching staff at the school, Walbottle Academy – now part of the Northern Education Trust academy chain – hope Tim Bodani’s success will inspire others to academic success.
Tim, 18, from Chapel House in Newcastle, has started at St Peter’s College, Oxford after gaining three A*s and an A at A-level.
He told the Sunday Sun: “I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in. In particular, I’m looking forward to the fourth year of my course, which is a research project. One thing that stood out is that people are able to do research into cancer, that’s something I’d be really interested in.”
Tim – who has helped mentor other youngsters and is a keen athlete – added: “It was only after my GCSE results that I knew going here was really possible.
“I was always aiming high for university but it was then when I knew it could be achievable. Getting the grades I needed was a great feeling. I came into school for the results around 9, but on my walk down, I heard from the college too.”
He’s not sure what he wants to do when he graduates, but spoke of the appeal of a varied city job in consulting.
He paid tribute to his supportive mum and added: “With it being a STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] degree, lots of people go in to financial areas. Something that stands out to me at this point is perhaps strategy consulting. My mum has been fantastic, she’s so supportive.”
Martin Wood, the school’s principal, added: “We have to really acknowledge his hard work, perseverance and dedication. And it gives hope to other students – because he’s the first.
“We have five or six students who have seen Tim do it and now think ‘I can do that.’ As a principal, I’m delighted for Tim but also for this community. Children from this area can get to universities like Oxbridge.”
He said he was extremely proud, and said Tim was a “perfect example” showing that hard work paid off.
He added: “This is not only a great achievement for Tim, but also a positive message to our community of what children at Walbottle
Academy can do and we hope this inspires the future generations.”
Walbottle Academy became part of the NET chain in September 2020. It had previously been placed in special measures after an “inadequate” Ofsted inspection.
As part of a drive to improve standards, the school has a “bespoke tutor group system” and said that Tim was among a group of students – led by teacher Sam Willis – who were in the same group and aiming at applying to top universities.