A TALENTED academic is on the cusp of fulfilling a childhood dream to study at one of the country’s most prestigious universities.
Jack Parkinson, a student at Trinity Academy, in Thorne, has been offered a place at Cambridge University to read computer science.
Jack, 18, of Moorends, has dreamt of joining a top university since moving up to secondary school and is now set to join leading academics in his field.
“When I started at Trinity people said I could do it, but I thought I had no chance. I’ve always wanted to go to a leading academy university and really started to work towards it last year,” said Jack.
“I went to summer schools at Oxford and Cambridge and really enjoyed them. They gave me a taste of the way of life there and the people were really down to earth, which I was surprised by.”
Jack was especially taken with Cambridge University for its facilities and the city.
“After the summer school I decided I really wanted to go there and I’ve been focused on that ever since. I’m really looking forward to being around people who have similar interests to me,” he added.
Jack is currently studying four A levels in maths, further maths, physics and computer science. He has already gained an A* grade in the Extended Project Qualification.
He went through two interviews and a test to be offered the place at Fitzwilliam College and has to achieve two more A*s and an A grade this summer.
He says maths and science come naturally to him. “I just seem to think in the right way for those subjects. I can take a problem, break it down and solve it, but I don’t know where that comes from,” he said.
Jack, who has an exemplary record of school attendance, also acknowledged the support of his mum, a nurse, and his dad, who is a weighbridge operator at a landfill site, as well as staff at the academy, who helped with his UCAS application and sample test papers.
He added: “You need really good parental support, without that I wouldn’t have had any chance of getting in to Cambridge. It’s also important to have strong core subjects.
“I want other people to know that it is possible to go somewhere like Cambridge University. If I can do it, then anyone can.”
Paul Flint, head of sixth form at Trinity Academy, said: “We are delighted for Jack and will be offering every support we can to ensure he is able to take up his place at Camrbidge. He is a very talented scientist and mathematician, but he is also extremely committed and hard-working and it’s great that has been recognised with his university offer.