Thanks to our partnership with the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation, Hills and Wills, students from our North Liverpool centre, are in their final year studying at Eton College, with offers to attend Oxbridge to study Engineering.
Hills and Wills, twins from Anfield in Liverpool, first heard about IntoUniversity during a Year 6 assembly in Primary school and started attending Academic Support at our North Liverpool centre.
Now, thanks to IntoUniversity’s partnership with the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation, Hills and Wills are in their final year studying at Eton College, with offers to attend Oxbridge to study Engineering.
RNCSF currently works with over 100 IntoUniversity young people across England and Scotland to provide a 110% bursary at a state or independent boarding school, ensuring a safe, pastoral environment for them to learn and grow.
Wills: At first, I just wanted somewhere to revise, complete homework, and meet new people. I never imagined how life-changing it would be. IntoUniversity became a place full of hope and opportunity, especially for young students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Hills: Initially, I hoped IntoUniversity would help me reach my academic goals. I’ve since gained straight 9s at GCSE, secured a bursary to Eton College, and received offers from both Cambridge and Oxford to study Engineering. The benefits have been huge.
Wills: Absolutely. From taking us to our first ever football match to helping us access boarding school through SpringBoard, the support has been incredible. I’m now sitting A Levels at Eton and holding an offer from Oxford. Rosie [IntoUniversity’s Boarding Schools Bursary Manager] and the IntoUniversity team have been behind us every step of the way.
Hills: IntoUniversity introduced me to life-changing opportunities like SpringBoard and the Oxford Scholastica Academy, which gave me vital work experience. Rosie constantly checked in on us and even visited us at Eton. I can’t overstate how much their encouragement shaped my journey.
Wills: We started at Academic Support and enjoyed taking part in Holiday Focus weeks. Then in Year 11, IntoUniversity encouraged us to apply to the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation. After assessments and interviews, we were both matched with Eton and offered a SpringBoard bursary.
Hills: IntoUniversity believed in us and pushed us to go for SpringBoard. We were accepted, and getting into Eton was a huge step. From All Saints Primary to one of the most prestigious schools in the country, IntoUniversity was at the heart of that transformation.
Wills: Boarding school has been an eye-opening and transformative experience. I’ve learned how to manage time, be organised, and balance academics with sports and societies. It’s developed me both as a student and a person.
Hills: SpringBoard gave us not just access, but real support while at Eton. I’ve grown in confidence, learned not to compare myself to others, and gained valuable work experience through SpringBoard newsletters. Boarding school also taught me independence and resilience.
Wills: Eton offered Oxbridge prep classes and helped stretch my academic thinking. IntoUniversity supported application advice, wellbeing check-ins, and hosted a great interview prep webinar. Having Rosie there during the intense first term of Year 13 was a huge comfort.
Hills: We were supported with ESAT and interview clinics at school, and IntoUniversity offered us prep sessions too. I attended online ESAT prep through IntoUniversity and felt really prepared. Both school and IntoUniversity helped keep me focused and confident.
Wills: My younger self wouldn’t believe it. I wasn’t even sure about attending Academic Support at first, and now I’ve got an offer from Oxford. It would feel fictional to that version of me.
Hills: Honestly, my younger self would be in shock. I always dreamed about Cambridge, but never saw it as realistic. Seeing how far we’ve come would fill him with joy and pride. It really proves what’s possible with support and hard work.
Wills: I hope to study Engineering Science at Oxford, start a career in engineering, and eventually own my own engineering firm. I’d love to give back by speaking in schools and inspiring others.
Hills: In five years, I hope to have graduated from Cambridge with a Master’s in Engineering and be working in a growing field that I enjoy. I also want to be driving, and able to support my parents and sisters in small but meaningful ways.
Click on the image to watch a video of Hills and Wills from when they were 10 years old at IntoUniversity North Liverpool!
