Access to HE student awarded in House of Commons
Access to Higher Education (HE) student, Sophie Clark, was presented with the Highly Commended Access to HE Keith Fletcher Memorial Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement award event in a ceremony in the House of Commons.
Former Access student, Sophie Clark, had already shown her commitment to her studies after she achieved the Cambridge Access Validation Agency’s (CAVA) Outstanding Academic Achievement award this academic year. Her commitment and excellence were further acknowledged when she received a Highly Commended recognition from the Keith Fletcher Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
Students nominated in this category showcased their exceptional academic prowess through consistently delivering outstanding work during their Access courses. Determined to get back in education, Sophie joined our Access to HE course at Brackenhurst Campus, achieving Distinctions in all her assessments. Setting a high standard with presentations that her tutor stated ‘could rival those of seasoned lecturers’.
“It has been an absolute delight to teach Sophie this year and we too have learned an awful lot from her about determination and resilience. She pushed herself every single day to be the best she can be and she really has been a huge inspiration to all those who have had the pleasure of her company. She has done fantastically well, and we are very proud of her.”
— Emma Gaunt, Lecturer in Further Education
Sophie Clark and Further Education (FE) staff members, Emma Gaunt (Lecturer), and Julia Mumby (FE Curriculum and Quality Manager) were invited to the House of Commons to receive the award. After the completion of her course Sophie intends to take her studies further, saying: “I intend to study Biochemistry at my firm choice of University. The ultimate goal is to develop a career within medical research as this is something I am deeply passionate about.
“Doing an Access to HE course, provided me knowledge I needed to study more detailed and difficult topics. I have also had laboratory experience for both biology and chemistry which has given me the knowledge needed at university level as well as a taste for experimentation and writing laboratory reports.
“I was fortunate enough to receive offers from all my choices and made my firm choice and insurance choice on UCAS which was made possible thanks to the guidance of the wonderful tutors.”