We’re delighted to announce our bursary winners for 2021. Fifteen of the West Midlands’ most talented A Level students, who are about to start as undergraduates at the University of Cambridge, have won bursaries to support them during their studies.

These exceptional students, who are due to begin their degrees at Cambridge next week, will receive a bursary of £3,000 from OCR for each year of their undergraduate course. The bursaries help students to make the most of their time at university and reduce worry about money during these exceptionally challenging times. Now in its 18th year, the OCR bursary scheme supports students from the West Midlands going to Cambridge due to our historical links with the West Midlands Examinations Board. This year sees the largest number of bursaries we’ve ever given out to students across the region.

OCR Chief Executive, Jill Duffy, sent a special message to each of the students today. She said: “It’s a huge honour and privilege for us at OCR to support such a talented group of young people with our bursaries. As well as their outstanding academic achievements, these young people impressed us in so many other ways. They’ve grasped every opportunity they’ve been given, they’ve been role models for their schools and colleges, and they’ve shown amazing resilience.

“The last two years they have faced during the pandemic have been like no others. Times are tough for young people and we decided to offer more bursaries this year – fifteen in total – than ever before. I hope this support will go some way to helping each of the students to achieve their goals at university.”

Congratulations to all our amazing 2021 bursary winners:

Adnaan Ilyas who attended King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys in Birmingham

Arzoo Iqbal who attended Swanshurst School in Birmingham

Edward Loveridge who attended Hereford Sixth Form College

Hita Patel who attended Sidney Stringer Academy in Coventry

Holly Dutton who attended Coppice Performing Arts School in Wolverhampton

Imane Jaaouine who attended Stratford Girls’ Grammar School

Isaac Nicol who attended Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group in Staffordshire

Inderpreet Kaur Pejatta who attended Nishkam High School in Birmingham

Karolina Rawdanowicz who attended St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and Sixth Form in Birmingham

Magdalena Holloway who attended Hagley Catholic High School in Worcestershire

Mohammed Hassan and Sobaan Mohammed who attended King Edward VI Aston School in Birmingham

Nidhi Juneja who attended North Birmingham Academy

Tom Rowe who attended Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar School in Newport, Shropshire

Zara Richards who attended Bablake School in Coventry

Commenting on her bursary award, Imane Jaaouine said: “I am truly grateful to have been nominated for this OCR bursary, and I thank both my school and OCR for helping me believe in my abilities. Having access to this support means I can wholeheartedly make the most of my time studying at the University of Cambridge.”

Adnaan Ilyas said: “It will definitely enhance my time at university and allow me to make the most of this opportunity.”

Applications for OCR’s bursary scheme will re-open in spring 2022.

• Find out more about our bursary