To help three working-class people get their exams

A new educational scholarship is being launched in the name of comedian Russell Kane.

The National Extension College, which offers Open University-style distance learning, will cover the cost of putting three people from lower socio-economic backgrounds through their GCSEs and A-levels under the new initiative.

Kane credits the college with turning his life around. He left  school without any A-levels, but later enrolled with the NEC to study A-level sociology.

He studied for two hours every evening while living with his grandmother in her housing association flat and working in a Rolex store during the day. Kane received the fastest ever A grade from enrolment to completion and received a special award from Betty Boothroyd, then Speaker of the House of Commons, for his success. He went on to complete an English degree at Middlesex University London. 

‘I phoned the National Extension College, and the moment that beautiful box of sociological words arrived, I became a crazed and obsessed council-estate professor,’ Kane wrote in his memoirs.

He added: ‘It was the moment that changed everything. If I had not been able to do that A-level then nothing else would follow.’

Since finding fame, Kane has often spoken about the need to improve education options for working-class kids like he was.

The three people taken on to the Russell Kane Scholarship Programme will each be able to sit up to five GCSEs and three A-levels. Typically, a GCSE course costs £445 and A levels £695 from the Cambridge-based college.

Kane announced the scheme during a conversation with author Kit De Waal, when he spoke of when he realised his background limited his potential.

‘I stopped one day at work and it hit me. I’ve been robbed by an accident of my birth,’ he said. ‘I have just become the statistic I was always going to be… It’s worse now than it was in the 60s - there is less social mobility.’

‘So what changed for you?’ De Waal asked.

‘Realising I am allowed access to this knowledge.’

Speaking of the scholarship, Kane added: ‘I feel humbled by the whole thing. I’m such a poster boy for what this National Extensions College can do. So the idea of finding people who are like me educational journey of any age, any background, any gender, whatever, and then putting a scholarship fund behind that to help them on their journey…. I mean it makes me feel so old but if Stormzy’s doing scholarships...

‘I really want to meet them [the recipients of the scholarship] and see what happens.  I don't just want to have my name on some form somewhere.

‘I want to see what happens… typical comedian, I need the emotional feedback from their journey. But I'm excited to see what happens and to whom. Genuinely.’

A spokesperson from the college said: ‘Stories like Russell’s are hugely inspiring and goes to show that if people are given the opportunity they will grab it with both hands.

‘We hope Russell’s story will motivate many people to apply for the scholarship who may have previously thought it was too late’.

Find out more about the scholarships or apply via nec.ac.uk.

Published: 20 Jul 2022