THE Northern Echo has teamed up with a private school to offer a talented teenager the chance to study A-levels with a scholarship.

Yarm School’s Northern Echo Sixth Form Scholarship is open to anyone in the North-East whose parents have a joint income of less than £50,000 and achieves a minimum of six A grade GCSEs.

The student, who will start in September next year, will be able to study any subjects.

In addition to tuition fees, books, exam fees, lunches, uniform, travel, extra-curricular activities up to £250 and a ticket for the leavers’ dinner will be provided.

Head of sixth form Dr Alan Goodall said the scholarship was a wonderful opportunity to study at the school, in Yarm, near Stockton.

He said: “They can choose any four of our range of subjects, although we are particularly keen to hear from those wanting to do arts, humanities and foreign languages.”

An information evening for parents and their children to hear about what facilities are on offer in the sixth form will be held from 7pm on Tuesday, November 2.

Catherine Fenby, who studied for her GCSEs at St Michael’s School, in Billingham, near Stockton, joined Yarm School thanks to the Ogden Trust, which provides bursaries and scholarships across the country. She said: “I was worried I wouldn’t fit in, but it is not like that at all.

“I have only been here a few weeks, but it is going really well.

There are a lot of good opportunities.”

Matthew Dover, who came from the Unity City Academy, in Middlesbrough, said: “I was a bit apprehensive about coming to Yarm when my teacher first mentioned it, but I am really enjoying it.”

Bethany Kerr, who is also on a scholarship after studying at Thornaby Community School, said: “There are so many opportunities open to me. It is really exciting.”

Application forms, available on 01642-786023 or by emailing dmd@ yarmschool.org, must be submitted by January 24.