AN 11-year-old Grimsby girl has had her first day at private school with dreams of progressing to Oxford University and on to a career in design or mathematics.
The exciting education and career path for this youngster has been made possible with the help of a scholarship scheme for looked-after children, which is run by the Children’s Services Department at North East Lincolnshire Council.
The scheme is helping to fund the 11-year-old’s costs as she starts at Hymers College, the independent school in Hull, after passing her 11-plus earlier this year.
And the girl could not be happier both in her ambitions for the future and the opportunities she has taken from her young past.
Born in Grimsby, she was placed into fulltime care at the age of just five, with foster homes in the town before moving to Hull and a longer-term foster carer. Four primary schools later, the 11-year-old was offered the opportunity to take the Hymers’ entry exam.
As she reflects on her life so far, with an old head on very young shoulders, she has praised the support received to get her this far: “For me it has been good really. Most children don’t get to experience all the things that I have in care, and for me that has been really positive.”
Ahead of her new college start date, she had high hopes for the future: “When I first went to look round Hymers I was nervous but now I am just excited to start and looking forward to it, the equipment they have there is really good. I would love to go to Oxford and this is a big step along the way.”
The youngster added:
“The care system is in place to protect children and yes, occasionally things may not happen as they should, but they all try their very hardest to help us all. They have supported me and now I have this opportunity,” she added.
Reading this girl’s story, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Young People, Cllr Ian Lindley, said: “We can only wish this young girl the best luck in the world, although hearing her story I am not sure she needs luck as she will achieve her ambition on determination, attitude and intelligence.
“This makes the hard work of our teams worthwhile, to be able to offer the support a young person needs to step up, and to achieve. Our ability to be able to financially help her and others, is absolutely what we should be striving to do as we move forward,” he added.
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