Success securing student ideal of perfection (5)
I believe the answer is:
bloom
'ideal of perfection' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'success securing student' is the wordplay.
'success' becomes 'boom'.
'securing' is an insertion indicator.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'boom' enclosing 'l' is 'BLOOM'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bloom that I've seen before include "Orlando" , "Produce flowers" , "Coat (lens); flower" , "Flourish" , "look good" .)