Megan wins all-rounder scholarship to Yale

Former Wellington School pupil Megan Toon is blazing a trail to America that many students will wish to follow, winning a much coveted All-Rounder Scholarship to Yale University.

It all started with excellent academic performance: Megan gained an A* and 2As in Biology, Maths and Latin, and an A in her Extended Project on the relationship between Athenian Society and the Olympic Games. She also gained an A* in Greek GCSE which she started ab initio in the Upper Sixth.Success in the exam room was complemented by outstanding performances in athletics. Megan captained Somerset at both the English Schools Athletics Championships and the English Schools Heptathlon. She competed in an international meet in Belgium and is ranked 5^th Under 20 in the UK for High Jump.

The Yale athletics coach came to watch her in the summer and she then had to complete the common application and SAT tests for entrance. Her mathematics scores in particular were significantly above the Yale average. So far, out of 675 students admitted worldwide this year, only 12 are from the UK of whom only two are women.

Megan is naturally delighted, saying that ‘the opportunities are out of this world and it is very much a dream fulfilled.’

Headmaster, Martin Reader, who tutored her for the extended project, commented:

‘Megan thoroughly deserves this scholarship: I have met very few students with Megan’s drive and enthusiasm for learning. It is very pleasing that Yale has recognised that Wellington School is able to provide the all-round education that will support the ambitions of someone they have identified as a student with outstanding potential.

As English universities charge tuition fees, more students will look to prestigious universities overseas to complete their education. I am sure that Megan will be the first of many.’