A student from Varndean College has been granted a conditional offer to study at Cambridge University.

Chico Shankland, won the offer to study Architecture at Magdalene College, Cambridge University, after being questioned about his work in A level 3D Design at his admission interview.

Chico, who is predicted to get A* grades in Physics, Double Maths and 3D Design A levels, is one of six students at Varndean College to get offers from Oxford or Cambridge University this year.

He said: “If it wasn’t for the 3D Design course here, I wouldn’t have been able to apply for architecture, simply because I missed out on doing Art when I was at Ringmer School - I was too busy with my academic GCSEs.” 

Admission to study architecture at university is very competitive and usually requires applicants to have studied Art and Design as one of their A levels alongside so-called “facilitating subjects” like Maths and Physics.

3D Design teacher at Varndean, Belinda Coyne, said: “Usually you can’t do Art & Design without doing GCSE in Art first, but the 3D Design course is unique in accepting students who haven’t had the opportunity to do so.”

Varndean College is the only sixth form in the area that offers the specialist 3D syllabus. So far this term, seven students from the course have won places to study architecture next year.

According to Ms Coyne, Chico’s success demonstrates the vital role creative subjects play not only for progression to top universities but also for the future economic needs of the country in providing the next generation of architects, designers and engineers.