Youngsters are aiming high

June 2, 2016 | Simon Jenkins

The University has welcomed the latest Year 13 school students to the Reach for Excellence graduation event. The evening was the culmination of the programme for our current cohort of students who will be leaving school this summer – and many of whom will take up places at university in September.

Funded by a charitable donation from the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, Reach for Excellence gives bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential.

The evening celebrated the young people’s achievements over the past two years on the programme here at Leeds and was opened this year by Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education. We were also delighted to welcome Liz and Terry Bramall to the event to meet our students and present their certificates and awards.

Individual awards were presented to students who had attended many events as part of the programme.

Our showcase award “The Liz & Terry Bramall Outstanding Contribution to Reach for Excellence Award” closed the formal proceedings and was presented to Blessed Mahovo, of St John Fisher Catholic High School for his outstanding achievements on the programme during the last two years.

Louise Banahene, Head of Educational Engagement said “Supporting students through sustained engagement, to develop knowledge, skills and confidence, is central to ensuring progression to Higher Education from the brightest and best regardless of background.

“Reach for Excellence is one of the key ways in which we work to achieve this. I was delighted to meet the participants and their parents and to share their graduation and their news of plans for the future.”