EKC Canterbury College has reached a huge milestone after one of its Sixth Form students became the first to secure a place at the prestigious Cambridge University.
Mercy Tickner joined EKC Canterbury Sixth Form two years ago after being homeschooled through her GCSEs.
Her determination and ambition meant, despite the huge change going from homeschool back to education, she managed to get top grades in all her subjects.
Mercy studied A Levels in Politics, Sociology and Religious Studies and was proud on this year’s results day to discover she has got an A* in every subject.
Now, she is the first student from EKC Canterbury Sixth Form, which forms part of East Kent Colleges Group, to head to an Oxbridge University.
“It feels amazing to be the first applicant to Cambridge from this College,” Mercy said.
“It’s just so motivating and I hope other people can see that anything is possible.”
With Mercy’s journey being slightly different as she was homeschooled through her GCSEs, her tutors are extremely proud of how she has excelled at Sixth Form.
Principal of EKC Canterbury College, Emily Johnson, said: “Everyone here at EKC Canterbury College and the Sixth Form is incredibly proud of Mercy and all that she has accomplished after being our first student to go on to study at the prestigious Cambridge University.
“Her results tell a story of determination, commitment and perseverance, and it has been a privilege to see her rewarded with excellent results and a place to study at Cambridge University.
“It is a testament to the hard work she has put in, and I hope that her achievements inspire others.
“I look forward to seeing all that Mercy goes on to achieve.”
Mercy added: “I decided to come to this Sixth Form because I didn’t want someone telling me when I can or can’t leave or what I have to wear or needing to come to Sixth Form in a blazer.
“I think it’s a lot more free here and you feel a lot more like an adult.
“I was very used to taking control of my own education so being able to do that here has been great.”
But Mercy’s hard work and dedication didn’t stop at her studies. While she was studying at EKC Canterbury Sixth Form, she also started a charity club.
She said: “My journey at this Sixth Form has given me a lot of opportunities. I started a charity club, and I started a model United Nations.
“Being able to bring people together for stuff I’m personally passionate about, and that they might have had the experience to do, has been really exciting.”
Mercy is now set to study Human Social Political Sciences at Cambridge University and has thanked her tutors and the Head of Sixth Form for supporting her with her university application.
“The Head of Sixth Form has been amazing because Cambridge isn’t that easy to apply to, and there’s been a lot of necessary things from the Sixth Form,” she explained.
“They need to send things, they need to send references, and they’ve been great at helping me through the process.”
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