A MALMESBURY School pupil will be going to university with a £36,000 scholarship from the James Dyson Foundation.

Abigail Morgan, 18, found out she’d got the grades she needed to attend her first choice university today having achieved an A* in maths and two As in further maths and physics.

Her fantastic A-level results have earned her a place at the University of Sheffield to study civil engineering.

Abigail found out she was the recipient of the scholarship in April and now goes to university without the worry of student debt attached to her £9,000 per year fees.

Abigail said: “I was very nervous about my results – it’s such a relief that they have gone so well. I don’t know what to do with myself.

“I am very excited about going to Sheffield and becoming a civil engineer.

“The James Dyson Foundation scholarship means that I will be able to work hard and achieve my ambitions, without being distracted by financial worries.”

It is estimated that the UK will need over half a million engineers by 2020, but current projections suggest we will fall well short of reaching that target. A key cause of this shortfall is the failure to draw girls into the sector, with only six per cent of the engineering workforce currently female.

The James Dyson Foundation seeks to redress the balance and support more young people like Abigail entering the sector.

In addition to the scholarship, the foundation also supports six Malmesbury School students that study design and technology with bursaries and state-of-the-art equipment.

Tim Gilson, Malmesbury School Head Teacher, says: “As a specialist maths and science school we understand the importance of these subjects as the foundation for challenging careers in science and engineering – but getting students to share our enthusiasm isn’t always easy.

“Our relationship with the James Dyson Foundation is invaluable; raising the profile of STEM subjects and helping to bring engineering to life.”