FIVE Launceston College Sixth Form students are thrilled to have been given offers of places at two of the top five universities in the world.

After hours of hard work and dedication, through a gruelling, but inspiring programme of applications and interviews, supported by Launceston College’s Aspire Programme for able students, the five students were delighted last week to find out about their success.

The offers for the students are: Emma Platt reading English and French at St John’s College, Oxford University; Emma Gillard reading physics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University; Issy Paul reading Theology at Worcester College, Oxford University; Ruchen He reading Physics at Jesus College, Oxford University and Max Whale reading Computer Science at Cambridge University.

Emma Platt said: “I feel really proud of what we have all achieved.” For Ruchen He, this is an outstanding achievement — Ruchen joined the college at the start of Year 12 with very limited English, yet has navigated one of the most demanding application processes with style.

Emma Gillard joined the college in Year 12 from St Joseph’s Independent School, where her former headteacher Oliver Scott has expressed his delight at the progress.

Nationally the success rate for applications to Oxbridge is at approximately 20%, where for Launceston College this year it is at 62.5% — this represents 8% of the 80 students in the current Year 13.

There was success too for former students of the college who have moved out of the area — Callum Hudson has been offered a place at Oxford and Shannon Bryant has been offered a place at Cambridge University to read English.

Principal Bryan Maywood said: “Success has been achieved because of the hard work and dedication of the students but also because of the opportunites offered to realise these dreams.

“The Launceston College Aspire Programme identifies able students in KS3 and KS4, offering these students opportunities to develop their thinking and their academic confidence through a range of extra events, visits and qualifications.

“Once in sixth form, students engage with intensive weekly tutorial style lessons with our Aspire mentors, former Oxbridge academics Professor Colin Webb and Dr Fenella Wojnarowska, on top of their chosen A-Level subjects. This is designed to prepare them to perform confidently in interviews, which are conducted by world leading subject experts.

“It is hoped that many more students will benefit both from this opportunity, and the inspiration provided by Emma, Issy, Emma, Ruchen and Max.”