Tom Blackburn, Josh Gaskell, Joshua Games and Wensong Zhang

Four pupils have received offers of places at Oxford and Cambridge this year.

Joshua Games has been offered an unconditional place at Robinson College, Cambridge to read Theology. Joshua Gaskell has been offered a place at Mansfield College, Oxford to read English. Wensong Zhang a place at Pembroke College, Oxford to read Engineering and Tom Blackburn a place at Oriel College, Oxford to read Philosophy and Theology.

Tom had the distinction of being described as one of the strongest applicants across the university for his course.

This follows an outstanding year of academic achievement at Christ College in 2008/9 which saw 73 per cent of all A level grades achieving A or B.

Successful Oxbridge candidates with Head Mrs Emma Taylor

Head, Emma Taylor, expressed delight at these offers. She said: “It is wonderful to see these pupils, who have been significant in helping to lead the school in my first year or so as Head, receiving such an incentive for all their hard work."

She added:“At the same time, there are many pupils whose results have been and will be more modest but who have nevertheless make the very most of their potential and benefit from the exceptional talents and commitment of our teaching staff. Christ College has a broad academic intake and it is perhaps even more satisfying to see a pupil who is battling hard academically, leave not only with good A levels to their name but also with the social, teamwork and leadership skills that life at Christ College promotes and supports.”