Oxbridge date for college’s super eight

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

OXBRIDGE bound (from the left) Thomas Miller, Joe Kidd, Robert Holt, Bethany Cox, Joshua Matley, Morgan Gibson, Ryan Murphy and Liam Ratcliffe.

EIGHT Oldham Sixth-Form College students are celebrating receiving conditional Oxbridge offers — matching the college’s record.

Former South Chadderton pupil Liam Ratcliffe is set to read natural sciences at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. The others have been offered conditional places at Oxford.

They include former Saddleworth School duo Joe Kidd and Thomas Miller, who will study English and physics respectively at St Catherine’s College.

Maths degrees beckon for former Failsworth School pupil Ryan Murphy, at St Hugh’s College, and ex-Royton and Crompton pupil Morgan Gibson, at Brasenose College.

Completing the line-up are: Bethany Cox (Mossley Hollins), English at St Anne’s College; Robert Holt (Wardle High), maths at Trinity College; and Joshua Matley (West Hill School), chemistry at Balliol College.

The number of conditional offers equals the college’s record from 2002.

Principal Jayne Clarke said: “We are thrilled to have so many students receiving Oxbridge offers this year across a good range of subjects

“They are all very well deserved and reflect the students’ outstanding work both throughout their time at college and during the very tough selection process.

“Credit must also go to the staff who have worked with the students and ensured they can compete successfully at the highest of levels”.

David Rowbottom, tutor in charge of the college’s Oxbridge group, said “We offer a range of enrichment courses for gifted and talented pupils which helps them develop the high level of skills required for Oxbridge success.

“We also run extension classes for ambitious students and the experience of meeting regularly, discussing their subjects and being challenged has really made a difference for them.

“They’ve all worked tremendously hard, reading widely and practising presentation skills, so their success is richly deserved.”