TWO Herefordshire girls have won awards to two of the top schools in the country.

Isabella Evans, 13 from Eyton, Leominster has won an Academic Exhibition to Downe House in Newbury, an all girls school famous for its high academic standards, but also for two of its Old Girls – Miranda Hart and Clare Balding. Isabella was one of only five girls to win an academic award and was up against strong opposition from girls who attend some of the well-known prep schools in the south east of the country such as the Dragon School.

Alice Rees, also 13 from Pembridge, Leominster won a Music Scholarship to Rugby School in Warwickshire. Rugby is one of the oldest Independent schools in the country, and again there is always stiff opposition for an award. Alice plays the violin and piano, and is also an extremely talented singer, having been a member of the National Youth Choir.

Both girls currently attend Moor Park, Shropshire, where they have been since they were three and four years old respectively. Jonathan Bartlett, headmaster said" We are incredibly proud of Isabella and Alice. These awards are a reflection of all the hard work they have both put in during their time at Moor Park. Their year group as a whole performed exceptionally well, winning 18 awards in total for academic, music, art, design technology and drama."