A Forest Gate teenager has won a place at one of the country’s top schools in hope of becoming a politician or lawyer.

Newham Recorder: Assistant headteacher Omar Deria congratulating student Kaashif Kamaly on winning a scolarship to Eton College.Assistant headteacher Omar Deria congratulating student Kaashif Kamaly on winning a scolarship to Eton College. (Image: Archant)

Kaashif Kamaly, who attends Forest Gate Community School in Forest Lane, will be swapping the streets of Newham for the halls of the world famous Eton school.

The 15-year-old has landed himself a two-year £76,000 scholarship to study at the school that has produced a host of public figures such as former prime minister David Cameron and princes Harry and William.

“It’s quiet overwhelming for me especially as I’m nothing special,” explained Kaashif.

“It’s the fact someone like me from a borough like this can do it.”

The youngster who will be heading off to the school in Windsor, to study maths, chemistry, English literature, biology and history is extremely “excited” to get started.

“I’m excited - you don’t even know if the boy sitting next to you could be the son of a leading businessman or a lawyer.”

Kaashif believes his success is down to the help he’s been given by his teachers and his parents.

His work ethic comes from his Bangladeshi dad Shah Mia, who despite a disability works as an immigration officer at Heathrow.

“Of course motivation and courage help a great deal, you can’t get anywhere without taking risks.”

The teenager, whose predicted all A*s in his GCSE’s, is the second student from the school to have won a scholarship to Eton, after Ishak Ayiris earned a place in 2014, but he wants to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

“I want to be able to represent my community,” he said.

“I feel that a story like mine can resonate on other children growing up in this area. If they look at my story and say ‘he could do it, why can’t I do it’.

“I do hope in the future I can come back here and deliver talks and make a difference to other people’s lives.

“If someone was to hand me a crystal ball and say you could be born into a rich family or do anything different, I’d hand it back.

“The whole notion of Newham being a deprived area, I feel is a bit exaggerated, I haven’t noticed it because I’ve had so many opportunities.”