WRITING for the Young Reporter scheme has helped land a schoolgirl an offer from Oxford University after tutors were "highly impressed" with her experience.

Marianna Spring honed her skills through contributing to Newsquest’s scheme for budding journalists and is now off to study French and Russian at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

She became involved in the Young Reporter scheme in 2011, whilst she was in year 11 at Sutton High School, and received that year’s prize for best article.

Marianna developed such a taste for journalism she was involved with the scheme for four years and wrote dozens of articles which have appeared on the website.

She attended the interview in Oxford before Christmas and revealed last week she had been successful in getting an offer.

She said: "The tutors were highly impressed by the scheme and I have received an offer to study French and Russian. 

"I just thought you'd like to know the extent of the impact your scheme has had on me personally and how much it impresses so many people I tell about it."

Diana Jarvis, who coordinates the Young Reporter scheme, said: "It has been interesting to watch Marianna’s style of writing grow as she has matured over this period. 

"It is an opportunity that has helped so many students with their personal development and quite a few of these students have gone on to study journalism at university. 

"Currently there are over a hundred schools and almost a thousand students taking part, all hoping to be one of the 10 winners when the scheme is judged in May of this year."

Find out more about the scheme and read articles written by our young reporters at newsshopper.co.uk/opinion/young_reporter