THEY are the Eastleigh students who have been offered a place at some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Barton Peveril Sixth Form College is celebrating the academic success of a group of 14 students who have been offered prestigious places at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Ten of them have received an offer from Oxford University and four from Cambridge.

The college said the total number of successful applicants has been raised threefold to 48 offers in three years.

This year the students have received offers to study a wide range of subjects including classics, English, mathematics and computer science.

Principal Jonathan Prest said: " I’d like to add my congratulations to those brilliant Barton Peveril students who have won themselves offers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. They were competing with the brightest people of their age in the UK and internationally and have succeeded because of their exceptional abilities and application.”

Mr Prest has also highlighted the success of the Oxbridge Support Service run by the college.

He said: "For the last three years the college has identified students with potential, regardless of background, and prepared them for a successful Oxbridge application. Our Aspire programme includes lectures by local academics, visits to and by Oxford and Cambridge, practice interviews and providing each applicant with a mentor to prepare them, build confidence, and steer their studies.”

As part of the programme, students are also given the chance to visit the country’s Russell Group Universities and receive tailored application support.