A former student at Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet has made it through the competitive selection process to gain a place at the University of Oxford next year.

Amy Smith, who now lives in Weymouth, is studying Experimental Psychology and was accepted at the university's Worcester College.

Amy attended Strode College in Street after Whitstone, and she joins two other Strode A-level students who have gained places at the University of Oxford.

Alex Williams, from Glastonbury and formerly at Crispin School in Street, is also studying Experimental Psychology and has accepted an offer from University College.

Verity Hull, from Charlton Adam and formerly at Huish Episcopi Academy, was offered a place at the university's Wadham College to their French and Spanish programme.

All three students participated in Strode's Aspire programme, which is specially designed to give their most academically-gifted students opportunities to develop skills and knowledge that will help them achieve their ambitions.

Landing a place at the college one is hoping for is not only pleasing, but to enjoy all the exciting prospects that come with such an offer is what Amy is looking forward to - living in a beautiful city, meeting like-minded people and studying a challenging and inspiring course that will provide lots of exciting prospects when she graduates.

Alex was thrilled to get an offer from Oxford. It was just the motivational boost required to do well in her studies, much needed when the second round of online learning was announced.

Alex is considered a great psychologist by her tutors, a student with an enquiring mind who often went beyond the minimum requirement producing some outstanding work.

"We will follow her with interest to see the achievements she will undoubtable make in the future academically and in her career," Psychology tutor, Emily Boarder, said.

Kate Frapwell, Philosophy tutor, said: "Alex is one of those students who appears to effortlessly get exceptional grades in all of her subjects.

"She also completed an Extended Project Qualification, in order to stretch her academic skills. She really deserves the place offered to her at Oxford."

Verity was an able linguist and dedicated student who made the best of all the help offered at Strode to get adequate preparation for her entrance test and interview.

Verity joined a scheme called Unipear, offered to her through Strode's Aspire programme which paired her with an Oxford graduate who guided her in the process.

Marian Jones and Maria Pinillos, her French and Spanish tutors, said: "We are not too surprised to see how well she has done.

"She has made so much progress since coming to Strode, linguistically, of course, but also in terms of what she has learned about the culture of the two countries."

Verity is looking forward to seeing what Oxford is really like as a student.

All the top A-level students at Strode are offered places on their Aspire programme, which provides a range of activities to stretch students academically and personally, and to boost their chances of success when applying to top universities.

This year, the programme has included help with gathering evidence of the "super-curricular" activities the most competitive universities like to see on their personal statements - wider reading, work-shadowing and work experience, and independent project work.

In addition, the students have been on a lot of out-of-college activities, such as lectures, university taster days and summer schools (some by Zoom) and have also completed a variety of interview preparation tasks.

Perhaps most importantly, they have been encouraged to take a little time out of their studies to think about their next steps and how to achieve them and to discuss their ideas with like-minded students with high aspirations.