St Mary's College student, Jess Henderson will be celebrating her A Level achievement whilst participating in the Jo Cox Memorial exchange in America.

This prestigious scholarship and unique experience invites young people who are actively involved in promoting social cohesion in their communities to share ideas on how communities in the US and UK promote hope and inclusion. As the A Level results go live in the UK, Jess will be exploring programmes that are promoting tolerance and inclusion in communities and schools in the US, whilst being exposed to diverse and vibrant urban communities that are struggling with the loss of employment.

Jess, 18, from Blackburn, will be thrilled to hear that she has achieved an A* in English Literature, alongside a grade A in Biology and grade A in History and has been offered a place at Robinson College, University of Cambridge to study Human, Social and Political Sciences.

Before Jess embarked on this exchange she commented;

“The support you receive from St Mary’s is invaluable in the university application process.”

Jess’s passion for politics and social sciences was cultivated when she was elected as Member of the UK Youth Parliament in 2015, representing her home borough of Blackburn with Darwen. She was appointed to a position offering experience of the workings of government, regularly meeting with Councillors and MPs on boards and committees and taking part in the UK Youth Parliament’s Annual Debate televised live in the House of Commons.