Grime artist Stormzy has said he hopes that a scholarship he is offering to help black Cambridge University students pay their tuition fees serves as a reminder to young people from all backgrounds that they have the opportunity to get the best education.
Stormzy, 25, was speaking at his former school the Harris City Academy in Croydon, south London, where A-level students are opening their results.
The rapper told BBC Breakfast: “If you’re academically brilliant don’t think because you come from a certain community that studying at one of the highest education institutions in the world isn’t possible.”
The scholarship aims to encourage the admission of more black students to top universities, after none got into some Cambridge University colleges between 2012 and 2016.
Fantastic generosity from @Stormzy, but he shouldn’t have to do this.
Our top universities remain inaccessible for too many young black students.
Universities and the government must change this.https://t.co/g6O8t8gTUl
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 16, 2018
Two successful Cambridge applicants this year and two next year will have their fees paid for by the scholarship.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised the rapper but accused the institution, and other top universities, of being “inaccessible”.
He said: “Fantastic generosity from @Stormzy, but he shouldn’t have to do this. Our top universities remain inaccessible for too many young black students. Universities and the government must change this.”
Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, revealed he harboured ambitions of studying at either Oxford or Cambridge when he was at school.
He said: “Luckily for myself when I was going through school, I had the academic ability.
“I was always reminded by my teachers that I was destined, if I wanted, to go down that road and study at one of the top universities.
What a morning! The launch of the Stormzy scholarship on #alevelresultsday2018 . See behind-the-scenes when he met our students:#GoingToCambridge https://t.co/AIqocrBw64 pic.twitter.com/USQh2IBaye
— Cambridge University (@Cambridge_Uni) August 16, 2018
“I diverted and ended up doing music so it didn’t happen for me. I thought I was quite a rare case in that I knew that was possible.
“That’s not always the case. When students are young, academically brilliant and getting great grades, they should know that’s an option.”
The Ivor Novello Award-winning artist offered words of encouragement to students across the country opening their results, admitting he did not get the grades he was hoping for.
Stormzy said: “As someone who used to class myself as an academic, I know how tough it is. I coasted through GCSEs, came to Harris Crystal Palace Sixth Form and started my A-levels.
Welcome back Stormzy! Thank you for coming back to celebrate with Harris students as they get their results. pic.twitter.com/HYIOaRRCoR
— Harris Federation (@HarrisFed) August 16, 2018
“I remember coming to my results day and looking at my results and they shocked me. I didn’t do too great at A-levels.
“That shock to the system showed me that education is a tough thing. When kids are dedicated and they’re smashing it and getting great results, that’s difficult.”
Stormzy was joined by his former headteacher Carolyn English and English tutor Claudette Bergin, who also taught singer Adele.
They confirmed that the Shut Up star was a hard worker as a student and stayed after school hours had finished to study.