The Oxbridge Eight: Top universities offer places to eight hard-working students from single Northampton school

Eight pupils at a Northampton school have been offered a place at either Oxford or Cambridge - the top two universities in the country.

Although they still have their exams ahead of them, seven students from Northampton School for Boys have been offered a conditional place at one of the 'Oxbridge' institutions.

And the future is bright for one pupil in particular, who has been offered an unconditional place on the grades they've already achieved.

The pupils are:

- Joe Bray, Cambridge, to read English

- Ivan Petkov, Cambridge, to read Physics

- Kam'ron Galloway, Cambridge, to read Architecture

- Grace Wardle-Solano, Cambridge, to read Architecture

- George Wise, Cambridge, to read Music

- Ed Smith, Cambridge, to read Philosophy

- Dipto Sarkar, Oxford, to read Biochemistry

- Sebastien Roberts, Oxford, to read Philosophy and Spanish

The rigorous selection process for an Oxbridge place includes a gauntlet of admissions tests and interviews, as well as extra material like essays, portfolios and research tasks.

Director of sixth form Sarah Bradley-Brophy said: "The students here at Northampton School for Boys are a true credit to us, their families and of course themselves.

"The number of offers received this year is indicative of the high level of intellectual curiosity, hard work,dedication and pure enthusiasm from those students.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in the process especially the UCAS team, as the quality of information, advice and guidance the students receive here is of paramount importance to their chances of success, not to mention the level of support and expertise offered by the teaching staff.”

Headmaster Richard Bernard said: "I am delighted for the students that their hard work and talent has been rewarded by a place at one of our two most prestigious universities and I would also like to thank the staff, governors and other school stakeholders who worked tirelessly in support of their application and interview preparation.”