Halle Afflick

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” Pele

The college community was delighted to learn of former Head Girl, Halle Afflick’s success.

Halle has recently been voted in as President of the 93% Club at the prestigious Durham University. After a gruelling election campaign which included writing a manifesto, giving speeches in the Student Union, the online voting started, and the winner was Halle Afflick.

Headteacher Paul Stirling said, “this is a great personal success story from an outstanding former student, Halle always gave tremendous commitment to her studies and was a shining example to the student community”

So, what is the 93% Club?

The 93% Club is a UK-wide charity that provides a national social mobility network, dedicated to levelling the playing field for students who were educated at state schools who account for 93% of the population, but face exceptional inequality when it comes to obtaining opportunities at university and in the workplace. This in turn gives employers the opportunity to reach state school students in a way that they have previously been unable to do.

The Club boasts an impressive list of sponsors, including Bright Network, Teach First and Accenture, and now has a staggering 32 clubs at various UK universities, after it was founded at the University of Bristol just five years ago. The Club also recently won Bright Network’s ‘Society of the Year’ award for ‘Impact on Campus’, a tremendous accolade for a network that was established so recently. Interview Editor, Claudia Jacob, speaks to the executive committee about the ways that the pandemic has exacerbated student class divides, their aims for 2021, and how the club is working to make Durham University a more inclusive space.