Today 06 February 2025, the ODA Dr Paul Murray and Jacob Fried met at The Mitre for the first time after Jacob had completed his A Level exams in November 2024.  Jacob was part of Paul's A Level History class, so it was good to catch up.

Jacob studied three A Level subject at Bishops in 2024, History, Economics and Mathematics, for the Cambridge International Examinations board, earning A* in all three, a truly remarkable achievement.  

Based on his stellar academic career at Bishops, Jacob was awarded the Mary Gray Studentship to study Law at St John's College Cambridge, from October 2025.

This studentship is awarded after a selection process at Bishops, and only when the College is approached by St John's, based on available funding.  The College's selection committee consists of the Principal and Deputy/ies. 

The scholarship is based principally on academic achievement and applicants go through the UCAS system and  compete in the gathered field; the scholarship has no effect on the admissions process, which is independent.  

The studentship is fully funded for the duration of the candidates' studies at graduate level.

Robert Michael Ker Gray Q.C. gave the residue of his estate for this studentship to be awarded as follows: “The Studentship shall be awarded to such a member of Bishops … to be capable of becoming proficient in Jurisprudence, Theology or Russian and to have been accepted as a member of St John’s College to read for any degree of the University of Cambridge in either or any of the said subjects.” 

In the case of academically equally suitable candidates, preference would be given to candidates who apply to be admitted to the fields of Jurisprudence, Theology or Russian as per the will of the donor.