TWO students who attended a Crowthorne school with a scholarship are celebrating A-level success.
Alexandra Tiantova and Thierry White are both Prince Albert Foundation scholars at Wellington College, and achieved straight As in their recent, covid-disrupted, exams.
Alexandra achieved A Level results A* A* A for Economics, Art History and Politics.
She outstripped the grades required to attend St Andrew’s University, where she will read International Relations.
She is also awaiting the outcome of her application to Cambridge University to read HSPS (Human, Social and Political Sciences).
When she was in Year 11, Alexandra was competing for her then state school, Collingwood College, in a debating competition when she was spotted by Wellington College’s Head of Sixth Form, who encouraged her to apply for the PAF programme.
She secured her place and arrived as a day student but moved to boarding in February of her Lower Sixth year.
The college said that foundation aims to widen access to independent education to families who would not normally consider, or be able to access it.
It also offers a breadth of extra-curricular opportunities, alongside additional pastoral support and access to further academic tuition.
Alex played trumpet and euphonium for the Wellington College Concert orchestra and participated in inter-school debating.
During her Upper Sixth year, she engaged with academic support, including one-to-one tuition and the Easter Revision course, enabling her to achieve her grades.
Alexandra said: “I have never seen a programme like it before. The support was unbelievable.
“When I needed somebody to help there was always someone I could turn to academically or personally. They supported me in every way possible.
“The Prince Albert Foundation programme has been my gateway to university and I would not have got these grades without their support.”
Now she is focused on her university adventure.
“The dream is to work hard at university and get good grades there. Then I hope to go on to a career in politics and create some sort of positive change in the world,” she said.
Thierry White, from South London, played hooker for London Irish Academy, and joined the PAF programme in the Lower Sixth Form.
He achieved A Level results of A* A* A for Biology, Economics and Maths and has secured a place at Bath University to read Accounting and Finance.
“The extra support you get on the PAF programme is something special,” he said.
“Wellington has given me the best opportunity to achieve well in my academics as well as a balanced life outside the classroom.”
The College offers between 10 and 12 scholarships per academic year and is on target to have a combined total of 40 PAF scholars by September 2025.
For more details, log on to: www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/admissions/bursaries/
