College helps Megan to achieve her Oxford goal

Megan Kelly, from Ingleby Barwick, had severe allergic reactions that threatened to scupper her plans to go to Oxford

- By ABIGAIL NICHOLSON

A TEENAGER thought her dreams of going to Oxford University were over after becoming ill while studying for her A-Levels.

Megan Kelly, from Ingleby Barwick, had severe allergic reactions that threatened to scupper her plans to go to Oxford, as her attendance at Prior Pursglove College suffered.

Megan said: “In my second year, it dropped to 70%, which wasn’t fantastic, and I expected to be going to my second choice of University, St Andrews, because of this.”

However, her dedication and resilience meant she still got the grades needed to be accepted at Oxford, as they included A-stars in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and history, as well as As in Spanish and classic civilisations.

She is due leave Teesside to start her course at Oxford University, where she will study Spanish and beginners’ Russian, this week.

Megan said: “The staff at Prior Pursglove College really helped me - they were so amazing and I couldn't have asked for a better experience than I got with them.

“Every form of support you can imagine was put in place for me, from the management of my allergies at college to support with my studies. My allergies are very severe, but they managed to cater for me, and my tutor was also my Spanish teacher and really helped me.”