Paul Murphy MP
Fitzalan High School teachers and students are today celebrating the success of year 13 pupil Mohamed Eghielieb, who is the first ever student from the school to secure an Oxbridge place.
Mohamed, who is from the Grangetown area of Cardiff, will be going to Pembroke College, Oxford to study Medicine this autumn. He was one of only 150 students to be offered a place out of over 1,400 applicants who applied this academic year.
After attending an interview in December, Mohamed received an offer of a place on the condition that he achieved A*AA in his A-level exams. Today he found out that he has secured his place by attaining 4 A*s at A-level in maths, chemistry, biology and Arabic, easily making his offer. He has also completed the Welsh Baccalaureate and an AS level in further maths with top grades. Alongside his academic achievements Mohamed has also undertaken several relevant work experience opportunities to strengthen his university applications, including a placement at the University Hospital of Wales.
The gifted Fitzalan student was supported in his application by Assistant Head, Jo Kemp. Mrs. Kemp contacted the Oxbridge Ambassador project last year to ask for guidance on how best to prepare her students for the application process. She then arranged interview practice with a local doctor, who had completed his studies at Oxford.
Last summer Mohamed also attended a free UNIQ summer school to help him gain a deeper insight into what life would be like studying medicine at Oxford. The UNIQ Summer School takes students from UK state schools who have strong academic backgrounds and allows them to attend a week-long summer school where they get a chance to study subjects in-depth and learn what living and studying at Oxford is like.
Speaking this morning Jo Kemp said:
“I am delighted for both Mohamed and his family as he absolutely deserves his place at one of the world’s leading universities. He has worked so hard and has never taken his success for granted. I am very proud to have played a small part in his achievement and am grateful for the support of the Ambassador project and the Oxbridge outreach teams in helping to ensure that Mohamed’s application was as strong as possible. The development of the Hub system will certainly prevent schools like ours from having to work in isolation which will undoubtedly help more pupils like Mohamed.”
Paul Murphy MP, the Welsh Government’s Oxbridge Ambassador also welcomed the news.
He said:
“I cannot congratulate Mohamed and Fitzalan High School enough on this fantastic achievement. This is a shining example of a dedicated teacher doing all they can to support an exceptional pupil in achieving their full potential. I hope that the Hub system which the Welsh Government are piloting will ensure that every Welsh student applying to Oxbridge receives the excellent support that Mohamed has. This year Oxford University has made the highest number of offers to Welsh applicants in four years and I hope that the ongoing reforms will see us build on that year upon year.”
Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis AM said:
“I’d like to join Mrs Kemp and our Oxbridge Ambassador, Paul Murphy MP in offering my warmest congratulations to Mohamed on these phenomenal exam results. Mohamed, his family and all of the teaching staff and his fellow pupils must be extremely proud that he is the first pupil from Fitzalan High to secure a place at Oxford University.
“I’d also like to once again thank Paul for his excellent work carrying out research on the issues surrounding entry to Oxbridge for Welsh students. I’m sure that his Ambassador project has increased awareness and encouraged Welsh students to apply to these world-renowned institutions. The More Able and Talented hubs will be introduced in the next academic year and building on the momentum of the research project, will help to support and prepare Welsh learners so that more will be able to follow in Mohamed’s footsteps”.
