FIFTY-three Peter Symonds students, from 29 different secondary schools, have been accepted for places at Oxbridge this September.

The figure is one of the highest in the UK for state schools.

The college puts their success down to hard work by both current and former students (presently at Oxford or Cambridge, who act as the applicants’ mentors), as well as support given by the college’s governors, who conduct practice interviews for those applying.

Kalpana Shenoi, teacher in charge of the Oxbridge entries, works closely with Eirlys Tunnard, her counterpart in Careers, and personal tutors, to help students focus on making impressive applications by encouraging wider reading, open day attendance and participation in summer schools.

Principal Neil Hopkins said: “I am very proud of the disproportionately high number of students from Symonds who receive offers from Oxbridge. There are very few schools or colleges of any kind, anywhere in the UK, state or independent, who can match this figure. It is a testament to the talent and hard work both of the students and also of their teachers and advisers.”

Mrs Shenoi said: “I am proud of all our Oxbridge applicants. Applying to these universities gives the students a real sense of focus and purpose. They all receive excellent offers, either from an Oxbridge college or from another top institution.”

Eight of the students studied at Kings’, three at Henry Beaufort, one at Perins, three at The Westgate, two at Swanmore, four at Thornden, three at Wildern and three at Wyvern.

Students who have received conditional 2013 Oxbridge offers:

Winchester state: Andrew Lawrence - Human, Social and Political Sciences at King’s, Cambridge (Henry Beaufort); Sarah Lawson - Human Sciences at St. Hugh’s, Oxford (Henry Beaufort); Meredith Hughes - Music at Worcester, Oxford (Henry Beaufort); Natalie Buhl-Nielsen - Physics at Corpus Christi, Oxford (Kings’); Hannah Germain - Maths at Corpus Christi, Oxford (Kings’); Zoe Hare - History at Christ Church, Oxford (Kings’); Rebecca Leigh - Classics and Italian at Oriel, Oxford (Kings’); Fiona McLoughlin - Psychology and Philosophy at Christ Church, Oxford (Kings’); Kate Prescott - Natural Sciences at Murray Edwards, Cambridge (Kings’); Natalie Rickard - Economics at Peterhouse, Cambridge (Kings’); Louise Wills - Medicine at Balliol, Oxford (Kings’); Rebecca Hart - Geography at Emmanuel, Cambridge (Perins); Alys Key - English Language and Literature at Somerville, Oxford (The Westgate); Matthew Duffin - Computer Science at Churchill, Cambridge (Westgate); Andrew Eve - Chemistry at Christ Church, Oxford (Westgate).

Meon Valley: Lucy May - Veterinary Medicine at Murray Edwards, Cambridge (Swanmore College of Technology); James Troup - History at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (Swanmore).

Eastleigh: Daniel Henderson - Engineering at Queens’, Cambridge (Thornden); Isabella Ford - English Language and Literature at Exeter, Oxford (Thornden); Lydie Sheehan - French and Arabic at Pembroke, Oxford (Thornden); Laura Fenwick - Chemistry at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (Thornden); Jasryan Birk - Medicine at St John’s, Cambridge (Wildern); Robert Galbenu - Economics at Selwyn, Cambridge (Wildern); Julia Galbenu - Biological Sciences Open offer, Oxford (Wildern); Paul Barnes - Economics at Sidney Sussex, Cambridge (Wyvern Technology College); Laura Carter – English and German at St. Anne’s, Oxford (Wyvern); Alastair Bassett – Maths at Balliol, Oxford (Wyvern).

Romsey: Nicola Taylor - Natural Sciences at Selwyn, Cambridge (Mountbatten); Ellen Bealing - Biochemistry at Trinity, Oxford (Mountbatten); Chanelle Hill-Dobson - Modern and Medieval Languages at Selwyn, Cambridge (Romsey).

Winchester private: Katherine Wakelin - Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Magdalene, Cambridge (St Swithun’s); Olivia Dunlop - Classics at Exeter, Oxford (St Swithun’s).

Others: Lewis Gaul - Maths at St Edmund Hall, Oxford (Bitterne Park); Jonathan Aron - PPE at Hertford, Oxford (British School of Brussels); Hannah Sharpe - Biological Sciences at Somerville, Oxford (Cams Hill); Kim Darrah - PPE at Mansfield, Oxford (Cantell); Neill Shurville – PPE at Lincoln, Oxford (Dubai College); Jacob Chanter - English at Magdalene, Cambridge (Eggar’s, Alton); Tyler Bell – PPE at Christ Church, Oxford (Hampshire Collegiate); Rebekah Holubinka - Medicine at Murray Edwards, Cambridge (King Edward VI); Simon Fern - History and English at Pembroke, Oxford (Lord Wandsworth College); Samuel Carr - History at Robinson, Cambridge (Meoncross); Josceline Dunne - Chemistry at St Edmund Hall, Oxford (Portsmouth GS); Amy Welch - Human, Social and Political Sciences at Downing, Cambridge (South Wilts GS); Rachel Maxey - Music at Brasenose, Oxford (South Wilts); Faith Kenny - Medicine at Trinity, Cambridge (St Anne’s); Lucy Wright – Experimental Psychology at St Anne’s, Oxford (St Anne’s); Manikka Marchant - Music at Jesus, Oxford (St Anne’s); Henian Su - Mathematics at St Hilda’s, Oxford (St George Catholic College); Adam Davitt - Maths at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (The Clere, Newbury); Rebecca Waldron - Medicine at Selwyn, Cambridge (The Gregg); George Carter - Biological Sciences open offer, Oxford (The International School of Port of Spain); Jessica Rush - Law at Hertford, Oxford (Wykeham House, Fareham).