St Austell Duo Earn Life‑Changing Marlborough Places Through Cornish Funding Scheme
Penrice Academy is proud to announce that two Year 11 students, Reuben and Rose, have secured places at the prestigious Marlborough College.
This has been made possible through the College’s Cornish Funding Scheme: a fully means‑tested bursary that can cover up to 100% of fees, uniform, equipment and trips. This unique fund exists specifically to support talented young people from Cornwall, ensuring that exceptional educational opportunities are accessible to all.
This is an extraordinary achievement for Reuben and Rose. Entry to Marlborough is highly competitive, with offers made only to students who demonstrate exceptional academic potential, strength of character and readiness to thrive in a rigorous, ambitious environment.
Reuben, a keen sportsman, will study A-Levels of PE, Geography and Business Studies. Rose has a passion for the Arts and will study A-Levels of Fine Art, History of Art, French, and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Marlborough College’s feedback praised Penrice’s ambitious atmosphere and the drive shown by students to push themselves academically and personally.
These funded placed have been created from the College’s entire share of the proceeds from the sale of the Trevalga Estate in North Cornwall and is in memory of the benefactor, Gerald Curgenven.
Mrs Stevenson
Careers and Future Pathways Leader at Penrice
“This success is about widening access and breaking through glass ceilings for the young people of St Austell. The Cornish Funding Scheme ensures that opportunities at Marlborough are available to any Penrice student who has the drive to apply. Reuben and Rose have shown incredible determination. We are thrilled for them and so excited for what their futures hold!”
“We are incredibly proud of the relationship we’ve developed with Marlborough College over the past 18 months, and we’re genuinely excited to see what the future holds for our successful students. If anyone is interested in exploring this opportunity further, please feel free to come and talk to me - I’m always happy to help”.
The link with Marlborough College is continuing with the College visiting Penrice earlier this term to deliver an aspiration‑raising assembly for Year 10, sharing information about the Cornish Funding Scheme and meeting with students interested in applying and following in Reuben and Rose’s footsteps next year.
This achievement sits within a wider context of Penrice Academy’s Careers Programme going from strength to strength. In 2024, the school proudly launched a distinctive Future Medics Programme, designed to support aspiring doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals through a dedicated pathway of mentoring, university preparation and enrichment. The programme has already gained national attention, recently being highlighted by the Sutton Trust as an example of best practice in widening participation for highly competitive fields.
Alongside this, Penrice continues to maintain 100% across all eight Gatsby Benchmarks - the nationally recognised framework that defines what world‑class careers education looks like. These benchmarks include providing high‑quality careers guidance, meaningful employer encounters, experiences of workplaces, and personalised support that empowers every student to make informed, ambitious decisions about their future.
Together, these developments reflect the school’s unwavering commitment to raising aspirations and ensuring every young person has access to life‑changing opportunities beyond Penrice Academy.