Norfolk students heading to Oxbridge

Three students from Sprowston and Spixworth are celebrating after learning they have won places at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

The three students all attend Paston Sixth Form College in North Walsham and received the news that they will be starting at the universities this September.

Paston College principal Peter Mayne, said: 'I am hugely proud of their achievement in winning places at Oxford and Cambridge and on courses which are regarded as highly competitive. It is great to see students aiming high and reaching the heights of their ambition.'

The three students are Amorette Perkins, 17, and Mollie Whitehall, 17, from Sprowston, who are both going to Cambridge to read politics, psychology and sociology and Dale Rout, 18, from Spixworth, who will study mathematics at Oxford. A fourth student ,Amy Robinson, 17, from North Walsham, has also won a place at Cambridge, where she will be studying veterinary medicine.

Miss Whitehall said: 'It's exciting but still a bit of a shock. It will be nice to be moving out and still be close to home. I hope to go on to do a post-grad after I have finished. Everyone is really chuffed for me.'

Miss Perkins added: 'I am really shocked as I didn't expect it.

'My family and friends are shocked too.

'The interview was difficult as it was very abstract but now I'm excited to be going.'

The four had to demonstrate outstanding academic ability in their GCSE and AS results and in their predicted A-level grades.

These, together with their personal statements and college references, got them an interview, but winning a place was down to their own performance in the highly competitive interviews.

Have you achieved something exceptional during your time studying? Contact Local Life Editor Donna-Louise Bishop on donna-louise.bishop@archant.co.uk or call 01603 772438.