A BUDDING accountant from Wirral is celebrating after being awarded a full scholarship which will help him to achieve his dream.

Matthew Swift, an A-level student at Birkenhead Sixth Form College (BSFC), won the £15,000 scholarship from training and education provider Kaplan Financial, which supports the Helena Kennedy Foundation.

The Oxton student will attend the Kaplan Study Centre in Leeds from September where he will complete his accountancy exams.

The course is a two year programme and will include modules in Business and Law, Accountancy in Business, Audit and Financial Management and will lead to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants qualification.

Matthew, who is head boy at the college, is currently studying for A-levels in maths, economics and psychology.

He was awarded his bursary after Kaplan Financial and the Helena Kennedy Foundation recognised his commitment to accountancy.

Matthew said: “I have always enjoyed mathematics and was appointed to the Finance and General Purpose Committee at the college.  This provided me with the opportunity to work alongside the Governors and work on the college’s budgets and forecasts.

“The Helena Kennedy Foundation and Kaplan recognised my passion for accountancy and I am looking forward to attending the Kaplan Study Centre in Leeds.”

College Principal Kathryn Podmore said: “Matthew is a wonderful advocate for The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead and as Head Boy he has been involved in all aspects of college life. Matthew is on track to perform well in his A Levels and we are very proud that Matthew has been awarded a bursary from the Helena Kennedy Foundation which will enable him to complete his accountancy exams.”

Matthew is the latest in a number of BSFC students to win places on prestigious academic and professional programmes, which are helping the college’s students to achieve their aspirations.