TWO S6 students from Beath High School have won a place in the Sutton Trust US Programme, which is run in partnership with the US-UK Fulbright Commission.

Entry is highly competitive and Maia Beeson and Elliot Makin were chosen from 1,000 of the UK’s brightest students to be one of 150 scholars.

The programme allows academically talented low and middle income British students to explore American higher education and what it would be like to study at a top US university.

All 150 students take a week-long trip to the USA, visiting different campuses and giving the students a flavour of life stateside.

Maia and Elliot said: “We’re very excited to pursue this opportunity. So far we have learnt so much about the American education system and are very proud to be involved in this fantastic programme!”

Mr. Blanchflower, Maia’s counsellor, added: “Maia and Elliot have worked hard every day since S1.

"We have watched as they have flourished academically and socially.

"They truly are model pupils and an inspiration to our younger pupils. We are immensely proud of their massive achievement in taking part in the programme and they fully deserve the opportunity to study in America.”

At the end of the summer, students on the programme choose if they’d like to continue to make applications to US universities alongside their UK applications.