THE mysteries of applying successfully for an Oxbridge place were unravelled for year 12 pupils at South Craven School.

A schools officer, Dr Joe Organ, and two students from Brasenose College Oxford, visited the school in Cross Hills, Keighley, at the invitation of head teacher Dr Andrew Cummings.

Dr Organ encouraged the South Craven students to set their sights on either Oxford or Cambridge.

Pictured (from left) front, Oxford students Hugh McHale-Maughan, Siddarth Shrikanth and Dr Organ.

He added that the universities also teach students in small groups and feature superb facilities and bursaries.

A spokesman for South Craven School said: “The two students talked about the support new students would get, the excellent teaching and library facilities, to say nothing of the social life!

“They then turned to the application process and the daunting prospect of four to five applicants for every place, the high grades demanded and the importance of each applicant’s personal statement.

“A former South Craven student is now at Oxford and is loving the course and life there. We therefore hope more of our students will seriously consider these universities and will be encouraged to apply.

“Both Oxbridge and the Government are keen to increase the number of state school educated students going to these universities.”