By Saul Cooke-Black

A STUDENT from Wycliffe College in Stonehouse has been awarded a place to study at one of the world's best universities.

Amelia Henley, aged 17, has won a scholarship to study at Harvard University, starting in August, and is planning to study maths and chemistry.

Amelia is one of the top squash players in the country and also deputy head girl at Wycliffe College.

Head teacher Nick Gregory said: "Amelia initially joined Wycliffe because of its outstanding squash programme.

"There has been growing interest in UK students wanting to study at overseas universities in recent years.

"At Wycliffe we responded quickly and decisively to this by appointing a dedicated Overseas Universities Co-ordinator in 2013 and this has proved invaluable.

“The expertise we have in place in the shape of Mrs Laurence Goodwin has not only played a key part in helping Amelia to secure such a fantastic opportunity at Harvard but also last year meant that all six of our students who applied to American universities got the places they wanted."

The 17-year-old will be one of just a handful of former Wycliffe students, in its 133 year history, who have gone on to study at the prestigious American university.

She also received interest from Princeton, Yale and Penn State universities but chose Harvard because of its courses and its strong squash programme.

The teenager has been playing competitive squash since Year 7.

She joined Wycliffe at sixth form as a squash scholar through the college’s Squash Academy programme.

Amelia said: "I would never have secured a place at Harvard without Wycliffe.

"University level squash is not at the same standard in the UK as it is in America nor is there the support.

"I want to be a professional squash player but I know that it is hard to make a career out of it which is why university is so important."