Leroi’s Story

Leroi first came across Magistra Mea during his Year 12 year at his state sixth form college. “I’d been trying to teach myself Latin on the side, just using YouTube videos,” he recalls. “And when I said I wanted to apply to Oxford for Classics, people looked at me like I was joking. I found Catherine through LinkedIn and she suggested I apply to her Ad Astra scholarship programme.”

When Leroi applied for a Ad Astra scholarship with Magistra Mea, everything changed. “I didn’t know programmes like this even existed: I got free tutoring from a Cambridge graduate which felt accessible, friendly and yet still serious and respectful,” Leroi says. “From the first session, it became clear that this journey wasn’t just about beginning to learn Latin. It was like someone actually believed I could do achieve my dreams and was going to help me get there.”

With one-to-one sessions tailored to his goals, Leroi learned Latin from beginner-level to GCSE in one year, and also got support with his UCAS applications and Oxbridge-style interview questions. “It was intense, but in the best way. Every lesson stretched me. Catherine never made me feel behind. She gave me tools to work with, expected me to rise, and I wanted to prove her right.”

Leroi also received weekly academic mentoring, revision guidance, extension reading material, and interview prep. “In our sessions, we didn’t just cover grammar. We talked about the legacies of empire, race, power and how ancient language study intersects with modern issues. I felt like I had access to the same kind of preparation someone at a top private school might get.”

In the end, it was the mentorship Leroi received from Magistra Mea that got him to the next stage in his educational journey. “I’ve always worked hard,” Leroi says, “but it was Magistra Mea that gave me the confidence to actually press submit on my application.”

In Year 13, Leroi was invited to interview for Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and received his offer from Oxford. He was the only student at his college to receive an offer.

“Without Ad Astra, I honestly don’t know where I’d be,” he says. “I’m so excited to start at Oxford in September. And it’s not because of the Latin learning that’s given me a head start, but because of Catherine’s faith in me. Catherine showed me that I could be taken seriously as a scholar and that I belonged in that space. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Looking back, Leroi reflects: “My younger self would never have imagined I’d be here. I want people like him to know it’s possible.”