A student who scored perfect A* grades in his A levels at Barrow Sixth Form College has been shortlisted for a national education award.
Elliott Stockdale, who is now doing a degree in economics at Cambridge University, is a finalist in the British Education Awards 2020.
The awards, which will be held in Manchester this week (January 30th), promote excellence in education and recognise the value of education as the foundation to a good quality of life and for the future success of the country.
Elliott, who joined sixth form from Walney School, was nominated for his academic achievement and for supporting others to achieve. He was a college ambassador at the campus on Rating Lane, ran free revision classes for more than 50 students in the college library and ran a small enterprise selling revision notes.
The high flyer, who swept the board with A*s in accounting, maths, further maths and business, praised the sixth form saying the staff and unique learning environment had been key to his achievement.
“I would like to thank all the staff both at Barrow Sixth Form College and Walney School for all the support they have given to me. They truly are a huge part of helping me get to where I am today,” he said.
“The role of Barrow Sixth Form College in helping prepare myself and others for the rigours and intensity of university study can be under-appreciated at times. The teaching is second-to-none and the greater independence you gain, having left school, to organise yourself to achieve your own potential, is key to making Barrow Sixth Form a great place to study.”
“It is an environment in which interest is nurtured and hard work is expected but not at the expense of the social aspect of college life. The staff are not only knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subjects, but they are also good people, who will get to know and understand the student on a personal level, as well as pushing them to achieve their best academically.”
He said he hoped others from the area would be inspired to apply to Oxbridge universities and urged them to ‘back themselves’ at each stage of the process.
“I feel very proud and honoured to represent not only myself, my friends and my family, but Barrow Sixth Form College, Walney School and the local area,” he said.
“The area is not synonymous with educational achievement and I hope to show the nation what we can achieve here in Barrow-in-Furness and Cumbria, both through nomination to this awards ceremony and in providing a pathway for local, ambitious students to Oxbridge and other universities.
“Only with self-belief and the structure, hard work and dedication to warrant that belief, can you attain what you want.”
Deputy Head of Sixth Form Helen Gibson, who put Elliott forward for the award, said he was a fantastic role model who had also combined his study with playing for Furness Raiders rugby league team.
“There can’t be many 18 year olds who achieved 4 A*s plus at A Level, who is now an undergraduate of Cambridge University but who is also now representing England in the Lions Youth Development Squad.
“Elliott also spent a long time with other students helping them to achieve their best too, spare college hours were spent daily in the library holding A Level revision sessions which lots of students benefitted from.
“He is motivated to always achieve his best but is still humble about his achievements. He is truly someone who other 16 year olds can relate to and look up to.”