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ST GEORGES VA SCHOOL  HARPENDEN

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

JUNE  27TH 2011

 

IRAQ WAR STUDY BRINGS PRIZE PLACE

 

UNIVERSITY AWARDS FREE PLACE TO PUPIL

 

FASCINATION WITH WORLD CONFLICT

NETS ‘000 £s FOR ALEX

 

Eighteen year old Alex Black, a boarder at Harpenden St George’s School has won the prestigious Coase Scholarship to study for his first degree at the University of Buckingham.

 

Fascinated by war and conflict studies Alex has spent months researching the 2003 Iraq War for his sixth form Extended Essay Project. This relatively new qualification allows high flyers to explore area of interest They have to write a dissertation during which they must be mentored by a teacher and show that they have used a wide range of resources.

 

The Coase Scholarship covers UK undergraduate fees for two years plus accommodation and living expenses at the private University of Buckingham which is unique is offering degrees in only two years. The award endowed by Professor Ronald Coarse is for Alex to study Politics, Economics and Law from this September.

 

Alex has kept the news of his prize quiet for weeks as his boarding friends and he have slogged it out for their A levels.

 

“I didn’t want to say much as we have all been working incredibly hard for our university places and the pressure on everyone is enormous. I was amazed when I got the letter and then to realise that I have an unconditional award which means quite frankly that I don’t have to get the same high grades as my friends. This means so much to me and Buckingham is a really exciting place to study. Mr Hoare and Mrs Priestland (Deputy Head of Sixth)  have encouraged me with my research and my application.”

 

 

Norman Hoare Headmaster commented

 

“Alex joined two years ago and he was new to boarding coming from a day school in Berkshire. Alex’s success is remarkable but success only comes with real hard work and being a boarder in our ‘Premier Inn’ accommodation - our new Sixth Form boarding annex - is a real bonus – it helps concentrate the mind and gives the right environment.

 

 I have been impressed with his modesty about this prestigious and valuable award which exceeds £34,000 over two years, and his concern for fellow students who unlike him have to get strings of A* and As. He didn’t want to tell them and has worked just as hard to get good results as everyone else has to.

 

I found Alex a challenging student to mentor as he wrote his dissertation. One-to-one discussions with him stretched my understanding of geopolitics and his arguments were persuasive.

 

His presentation to parents and governors as part of his final assessment was scholarly and done in 25 minutes without any notes – he was quoting from books and international figures -  I have no doubt that in years to come we shall see him either lecturing in International Relations or advising national governments on strategy.”

 

 

The photograph shows Alex studying a world map as he prepares for his final A level exam last week.