The future is looking bright for seventeen Cornish students who have received conditional places to study at the country’s most prestigious universities, Oxford and Cambridge.

The students from Truro and Penwith College are studying A Levels or the International Baccalaureate diploma and have received offers to read a diverse range of subjects, including psychology, modern and medieval languages, biochemistry, music, linguistics, geography, biomedical sciences and philosophy, politics and economics.

Truro and Penwith College Principal, David Walrond, said: “They are excellent examples of what young people here can achieve when high aspirations are not simply encouraged, or applauded, but developed and built upon by specialist post-16 academic support and excellent teaching. I am genuinely delighted for them and their families and I wish them every success.”

Johannes Black, from Penzance and previously of Mounts Bay School, has an offer to read English Literature at Clare College, Cambridge, and said: “I’m overwhelmed and surprised because I didn’t think I’d get into one of the best universities, it’s difficult to believe. I had a really inspiring Oxbridge mentor for English and it was a big help to really structure my ideas to the way I wanted it to be. The general help also helped me prepare for my application and interview.”

Penwith College student Jess Thomson, from Helston, is taking A Levels in biology, chemistry and maths and is part of the Academic Academy. She has received an offer to read biological sciences at St John’s College, Oxford.

Anna Middlewick, from Stithians, formerly of Penair School, received an offer to study education with English and drama at Downing College, Cambridge. “It was so unexpected, after the interview I thought ‘I haven’t got this.’ The college were really useful, especially with the amount of people offering to give me practice interviews. I went with education because I like working with people, and English and drama I’m really passionate about. I was part of the Academic Academy which was fantastic for getting a little bit of knowledge about lots of different things.”

Max Harrison, previously from Redruth School, studies on the International Baccalaureate at Truro College and has an offer to study education with English and drama at Christ’s College, Cambridge. He said: “Doing the IB has been really good for me. It’s intense, but really worth it. The tutors are really helpful; you can ask them anything.”

Oxford and Cambridge offers made to Truro and Penwith College students are as follows:

University of Oxford

Hannah Healey (St Agnes) from Richard Lander School
Psychology at New College

Mia Parnall (Camborne) from Truro High
History of Art at Trinity Hall

Rozen Whitworth (St Agnes) from Richard Lander School
English and History at Wadham College

Lowenna Ovens (Truro) from Truro High
Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Merton College

Adam Proughten (Truro) from Penair School
Biomedical Sciences at St Hugh’s College

Jess Thomson (Helston) from Mullion School
Biological Sciences at St John’s College

Benjamin White (Truro) from Richard Lander School
Biochemistry at Lincoln College

Kerenza Hurr (Hayle) from Hayle Community School
Music at St Peters College

University of Cambridge

Anna Gowenlock (Truro) from Truro High
Linguistics at Magdalene College

Johannes Black (Penzance) from Mounts Bay Academy
English Literature at Clare College

Max Harrison (Redruth) from Redruth School
Education, English and Drama at Christ’s College

Matthew Walker (Redruth) from Pool Academy
Modern and Medieval Languages at King’s College

Anna Middlewick (Truro) from Penair School
English, Drama and Education at Downing College

Elynor Moore (Lostwithiel) from Bodmin College
Natural Sciences at Sidney College

Samuel Clark (Hayle) from St Ives School
Natural Sciences at Christ’s College

Noah Semonin (Truro) from Roseland Community College
Natural Sciences at Jesus College

Lucy Nicholls (Penzance) from Humphry Davy School
Geography at Girton College