The Downs School celebrates best and brightest as students receive offers from Oxford and Cambridge universities

THE Downs School is celebrating an all-time record with several of its students receiving conditional offers to Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities.

Five students from the Compton school have been offered places at Cambridge and four at Oxford.

Plus, all three of its veterinary medicine students have already received at least one offer.

The Downs School said its sixth form has a proven track record of success and "its results continually reflect its status as one of the best performing sixth forms in the country".

The students accepted into the University of Cambridge are Sam Arnold, studying engineering; Alexandra Jarrett, studying biological natural sciences; Maya Noonan, studying biological natural sciences; Niamh Rasmussen, studying Asian and Middle Eastern studies; and Alexandra Rogers, studying human, social and political sciences.

The students accepted into the University of Oxford are Ellen Bentley, studying English language and literature; Henry Field, studying philosophy and psychology; Sam Herman, studying mathematics and Jake Peto, studying classics.

Students Ramya Evans and Haris Ali are both going to study veterinary medicine at Nottingham University.

The school's apprentice students are also excited by their career and study prospects post graduation.

Polly Gibson currently studies law, sociology, applied sciences and English language and will start her work placement at Bayer in September.

Ruby Martin, who currently studies sociology, media and English language, is keen to be pursuing a career in journalism.

Head girl Ava Kite and head boy Sam Schreiber are equally proud of the legacy they are leaving behind.

Both students have been instrumental in leading the student council, under the guidance of assistant head of sixth form, Nicole Jaaqar.

Whether by organising zoom calls or meetings with other schools across West Berkshire and Reading, the pair have connected with fellow students by discussing the issues that matter most to them.

Executive headteacher of the Downland Federation Chris Prosser said: "As in previous years, I am incredibly proud of the work Sam and Ava have done to raise the profile of teenage mental health across our school."

Ava joined in Year 12 and is going on to study liberals arts and natural sciences after graduating.

Sam has been a student at The Downs since Year 8 and is pleased to kick off his career in television production.

All students said they were nervous, but excited to be taking on new challenges and applying their skills to the outside world, but first they all plan to enjoy a much needed summer respite.