Sixth Formers Sarah Kinsey and Joanna Waters are celebrating after being awarded GDST Travel Scholarships.

Each year members of the Upper Sixth who are applying in the current academic year for a place on a course leading to a degree or equivalent qualification can apply for one of the GDST Travel Scholarships which are awarded for a study or enterprise entailing travel.

Jo and Sarah submitted their travel plans to the Trust Travel Scholarships Committee earlier this year, but had to wait until this month to find out if their applications had been successful.

Only 11 scholarships were awarded, and Portsmouth High School was the only one of the 29 GDST schools to have two successful candidates.

Jo was awarded the Margureite Nicolson Scholarship, which is awarded for foreign languages studies.  Having applied to study Spanish and beginners Russian at university next year, she has received offers from universities including; Cambridge, Nottingham and Bath.

Jo intends to use her Scholarship for a 2 or 3 week trip to Russia in August 2008, before starting her university course.  She will be spending 2 weeks on a Russian language course at a language centre for foreigners in Moscow, staying in a hostel in the city, and will then travel by overnight train to St Petersburg where she will stay for a couple of nights to explore further and experience more of the culture and way of life there.

Jo said; “Having travelled to France and Spain before and appreciated the benefits this brings to my language skills as well as to fuelling my enthusiasm, I feel that my excitement about starting to learn Russian at university will be further enhanced by visiting the country.”

Sarah plans to take a Gap Year before studying Philosophy at university. Next year she plans to travel to Nepal for around 2 months to act as a volunteer teacher at a Hindu Vidya Peeth school in Kathmandu. Through its schools and associated projects, the HVP movement aims to provide holistic education to children in Nepal and spread the ideals of peace, tolerance and international fellowship. The movement is supported by charities both in the UK and USA.

Sarah said; “I first heard of the movement and its schools through my sister who visited one a few years ago. She had a fantastic time and it sounded very interesting. I thought I would follow her example and travel there as well, in order to experience a very different culture and have a go at teaching somewhere truly rewarding. Also, I have an interest in possibly being a teacher after completing my philosophy degree, and the experience should give me an insight into the profession and also provide an incredibly interesting trip.”