A bright Newham boy has become the fourth pupil from his inner city school to win a scholarship to a top independent six-form in less than a year.

Adam Patel will cross London to take up a place at the prestigious Latymer School, Hugh Grant’s alma-mata, in Hammersmith.

The 15-year-old is set to arrive at Latymer on a £32,000 scholarship in September, entering in the sixth form to study A-levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics.

He is currently a pupil at Forest Gate Community School where he is supported by the “pupil premium” payment which gives extra support to children from families on low income.

He said: “My family don’t work so without this scholarship there is absolutely no way I would have been able to have this opportunity.

“It is only because I go to this school where they have very high ambitions for the pupils that this is even possible. If I went to another school in Newham or anywhere there is no way I would have this opportunity.

“I am so grateful to them because this is going to completely change my life.”

The school start preparing youngsters for interviews and exams at the beginning of Year 10, to give them the best chance to impress the top six forms.

Adam follows in the footsteps of former pupils Ishak Ayiris, Irfan Badshah and Alexis Marinoiu, who won scholarships to Eton, Winchester and City of London, respectively last February.

He added: “When I saw Ishak win a place at Eton, that is when I started to understand this might be possible for me.

“But it was the belief the school and in particular the head teacher Mr Elliott had in me that really made it possible.”

Other well-known former Latymerians include late comic Mel Smith, actor Alan Rickman, Labour MP Keith Vaz and TV chef Heston Blumenthal.

Adam hopes to study Maths at MIT in America after his two years at Latymer.

He said: “MIT was not even on my radar two years ago. Now it feels like a realistic dream. That shows how far I have come.”