A Ripon Grammar School student with ambitions of flying Apache helicopters has earned a place at a leading military school.
Marcus Bartlem, 17, has won an army scholarship worth up to £18,000, which will help fund him through university and guarantee a place to train as an officer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.
He was chosen out of thousands of young men and women from all over the country to get one of the 100 annual scholarships available.
Sandhurst’s alumni includes Winston Churchill and both Prince William and Prince Harry. Foreign monarchs, such as King Hussein of Jordan and the Sultan of Brunei, were also trained there.
Marcus said:
“I was extremely happy but also relieved when I heard that I had obtained the scholarship, as it was a long and tough process.
“I am very grateful to have been selected.”
Studying history, economics and chemistry at A-level, he will now benefit from army funding of £3,000 through his final school year and £2,000 for each year he is at university, where he will also be eligible for further army bursaries.
The Year 13 student added that he was looking forward to the leadership opportunities, alongside the prospects of adventure training and travel which army life offers.
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The application process took place over nine months. Following medical assessments, virtual interviews and cognitive tests, Marcus, whose father served as an RAF fighter pilot, was invited to the final army officer selection board, which took place over two days.
Fascinated by flying
Marcus completed a series of demanding interviews, planning exercises, cognitive and written tasks, leadership challenges and fitness tests including an obstacle course.
But it was all worth it when he was informed, three weeks later, that he had been successful:
He said:
“I’ve always been interested in the military, most likely as a result of my dad’s involvement in the RAF. I hope to join the Army Air Corps as an Apache pilot as flying has fascinated me for a long time.”
Planning to study history at university, his sporting achievements helped in the selection process.
As well as representing his school and local club in rugby, he enjoys biking and walking expeditions and is completing his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
Rossett students win football scholarships in AmericaTwo Rossett School leavers will head to America in September after being accepted on to football scholarships.
Vicky Naylor and Cameron Rushworth have been playing football for local clubs for over a decade but will now take the leap and play for colleges in Indiana and Illinois.
Vicky, who currently plays in goal for Harrogate Town Ladies, is heading to Goshen College, Indiana, on a four-year scholarship. Cameron who is a defender, will be spending two years at Parkland College, Illinois.
Vicky began playing football for Knaresborough Celtic at just five years old. She then progressed to play for Harrogate Town development team and Nidd under-18s.
She said:
“The facilities and level of play in America is of a much higher standard than in the UK, which means I’ll have more opportunities to improve my skills. I’m excited to gain independence by living so far away and I’m excited to try out a bunch of different classes too.”
Cameron played for Beckwithshaw Saints from five to 15 years old before moving to Harrogate Railway for two years. He was part of the Railway team that won the league twice and the cup once. Recently he’s played for Pontefract under-19s.
He said:
“I’m excited to begin a new journey in my life, being able to experience the US. Football is a way I express myself and the scholarship will enable me to play at a high level and learn new skills.”
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Vicky and Cameron are following in the footsteps of Rossett students Rachel Daly, Chole Bellerby and Dan Nimmick who have achieved successful football careers in the US. Daly is an England international.
Rossett headteacher Helen Woodcock said:
Ripon choristers sing their way to scholarship success“These scholarships are well deserved for Vicky and Cam, and we all wish them the best of luck and lots of fun representing Rossett in the USA.”
Upper sixth formers Barnaby Sladden and James Kitchingman have sung their way to success.
The friends sang together for years in the Ripon Cathedral choir and are now heading to Cambridge and Worcester.
They have secured much sought-after choral scholarships.
The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, said:
“James and Barnaby were gifted members of Ripon Cathedral Choir when I arrived in Ripon in 2014.
“It is such a joy to see them using their musical talents and flourishing so brilliantly.”
Barnaby has been offered a tenor position in the Clare College Chapel Choir at the University of Cambridge.
He will also study maths at the university.
As well as singing with the world-famous choir, he will be involved in regular performances on radio and overseas tours.
Barnaby and James san together for 11 years in the Ripon Cathedral choir.
James won his place at Worcester Cathedral, where he will receive free accommodation in an eighteenth century flat above the cathedral’s Song School.
Barnaby, who is 17, is following in the footsteps of his parents, Dan and Ruth Sladden.
The couple met in the 1990s, when they were Cambridge choral scholars, Dan at King’s and Ruth at Clare College
James, 18, will spend his gap year singing at six services a week in the cathedral and helping to run the music department there,
Michael Barker, director of music at Ripon Grammar School, said:
“Choral scholarships are only given out to the select few students who have shown dedication over time and commitment to choral music.
“I wish them the very best of luck on the next stage of their journeys.”
As a choral scholar, as well as being paid £3,000 a year and enjoying rent-free accommodation, he is looking forward to free singing lessons and mentoring from acclaimed professional musicians.
The famous choir performs in major concert venues all over the UK and has toured in Japan, the USA, Israel and throughout Europe in recent years.
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Like Barnaby, James comes from a musical family.
His mother Cathy, sings and plays the piano, father Andrew, plays piano and organ and sister Helena, 15, is a keen electric guitar player.