A HEREFORDSHIRE headteacher has called for schools to be “ambitious” to level the playing field for rural students.

Headteacher of Earl Mortimer College Alison Banner said rural schools can learn from urban schools who, despite serving disadvantaged communities, are sending multiple students to the top Russell Group universities.

Currently, students living in country towns or villages are significantly less likely to attend university than those from urban areas, according to a study by Rural England.

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But Ms Banner has enrolled 20 of her brightest students in the Brilliant Club, which helps gifted students access the best universities.

Hereford Times: Earl Mortimer College, in Leominster, enrols pupils ages 11 to 18Earl Mortimer College, in Leominster, enrols pupils ages 11 to 18

The year 10 students, aged between 13-14, have visited Jesus College, Oxford, where they sat in on lecturers, toured the campus and met student undergraduates.

As part of the programme, they also work with a PHD student for six weeks to produce a 2000-word university style dissertation.

Ms Banner said: “I think as a town and a county we must be very ambitious for our students. Why shouldn’t they go to the best universities.

 

Earl Mortimer student Lily Fisher

Earl Mortimer student Lily Fisher

 

“If you look at schools in disadvantaged urban areas, they are sending dozens and dozens of students to the best universities, yet that is not happened in our town and county. You must ask why, and what do we do about it.”

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It comes after former student John Lyon won a place to study philosophy, politics, and economics at St. John's College, Oxford.

 

Earl Mortimer student John Lyon

Earl Mortimer student John Lyon

 

Mrs Banner said: “Last year, we had a former student go to Cambridge to study medicine. This year another at Oxford. Their success has a had a major impact on our students because they can now see it is possible for someone from their town.

“This is why we introduced the Brilliant Club to the school because we wanted to give our students the best possible chance of accessing the very top universities.

“We want our young people to think that anything is possible, and if that dream is to go to one of the top universities, then we have to help them along on that path.”