PUPILS in Worcestershire are snapping up places at two of Britain's most reputable universities.

Eleven pupils at the RGS, Worcester and the Alice Ottley School (RGSAO) have won offers at Oxford and Cambridge so far this year, along with seven students from the King's School, Worcester, and two from Pershore High School.

Andy Rattue, headteacher at RGSAO, said: "These results are a great credit to the young people themselves, and also to their teachers, who have devoted a great deal of time and energy to their preparation beyond the confines of the ordinary curriculum. RGSAO pupils have been offered an impressive total of just under 50 Oxbridge places in the last four years.

"Our acceptance rate of 59 per cent is a long way above the independent school average. I am also delighted to report that large numbers of the Upper Sixth have received offers from other top universities, as well as dental, medical and veterinary schools."

Those students at RGSAO offered places at Cambridge are Chris Shaw, Chris Bellamy, James Burton, Tom Crane and Daniel Scott. Those offered places at Oxford are Chris Davis, David Harries, Andrew James, Alice Mantle, Ben Mason, and Chris Morgan.

The students from the King's School, Worcester, offered places at Cambridge are George Austin-Cliff, Edward McKenzie and Zoe Monkley.

Those offered places at Oxford are Michael Cairns-Terry, Lizzie Grew, Emma Hirons, and Jolyon Loy.

Pershore High School sixth form students Matthew Betteridge and Giles Shaw have been offered conditional places at Oxford University.