ONE very lucky – and very brainy – sixth form student has been offered a place at one of the world's most prestigious universities.
17-year-old Dan Bell has been offered the chance to study maths at Oxford University, and can't wait to study his favourite subject at the elite Queen's College.
The Workington Academy pupil is set to complete his A-Levels in the summer, and has received offers from universities in Manchester, Leeds and St Andrews.
But despite his brilliant list of offers, Dan remains humble and even surprised by Oxford's response.
"I wasn’t expecting an offer, so I was really surprised and delighted when I found out.
"I’m also waiting on an application to Imperial College in London before I make any decisions and, of course, I have to get the right grades as well.”
The impressive teen has big dreams, after gaining five top grade 9s in his GCSEs and even running a chess club at the academy, and is considering a career in lecturing and research.
He said: "Maths is fundamental to all the sciences and I’ve been fascinated by it since junior school.
"I’ve enjoyed it all the way through and had great support from all my teachers, particularly the subject teachers at the academy."
And his teachers are thrilled for their student, with head of sixth form, Andrea McAllister saying: “We are thrilled that Dan has secured this offer at Oxford.
"He has worked so hard during his time here with us, both on his studies and contributing to school life as a whole."
She added: “We are really proud of him and all of our students who are holding university offers.
"These include eight unconditionals and a wealth of offers for prestigious universities including Leeds, St Andrews, Newcastle, Lancaster, Manchester, Durham, Nottingham and Edinburgh.”
Over the last three years, an average of 98% of Workington’s sixth form students have gone on to university, apprenticeship training or into employment.
In September, Workington will join forces with The Whitehaven Academy to set up the West Coast Sixth Form, offering both traditional A-Level courses and a new range of vocational subjects for students from across West Cumbria.
Both academies are part of Cumbria Education Trust, which is responsible for nine academies and almost 4,000 pupils and students across the county.
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