ONE of Winsford's top achievers in this year's GCSEs has secured a place at one of the country's most exclusive colleges.

Joanna Holden, of Townfields Crescent, will receive the best possible grooming for a career in the army when she starts her A-levels at Welbeck College this week.

She came through a tough selection process to gain her place at the Worksop residential college - one of only 90 places available in the country, a quarter of which are open to girls.

The clincher for the departing Verdin High School pupil was the stunning performance in her GCSEs, scoring four A*s, four As and a B. She will study A-levels in Maths, Physics, Electronics, General Studies and an AS-level in Further Maths at Welbeck.

Jo said: "I didn't really know what I wanted to do and I thought about all types of careers.

"I'd like to go into the communications corps of the army eventually but I'm going to Welbeck for the new experience.

"When I first went I was surprised at how big it was but they had great grounds and nice people which attracted me to it."

Though she admits she is a little nervous, the military lifestyle - particularly the demanding physical effort - is something Jo feels she is well equipped to adapt to.

She continued: "I used to swim at Winsford Swimming Club and take part in school sports and cross-country so I've always had good fitness.

"It came in useful for my two days of intensive training in Westbury, where we were tested on physical fitness and set demanding tasks to do like building bridges over rivers.

"It's a tough six-day week, eight to nine o'clock each day, but we finish early on a Saturday and do sports on some afternoons so it should be enjoyable."

Jo plans to keep in touch with her many friends in Winsford, something she will soon have the opportunity to do when she returns to Verdin for its annual presentation night on September 24.

Her headteacher at Verdin, Neil Dyment, was thrilled with Jo's decision to leave Winsford and live away from home two years earlier than most students.

He said: "We encourage students to stay here at the sixth form but this is a first for our school and we are pleased to support her.

"It's different from what most 16-year-olds do and is quite a challenge because of the high standards there. It's very good news for our school."

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