FOURTEEN sixth form students from Okehampton College visited Oxford University recently to tour one of its colleges and meet the admissions tutor.

The visit included a presentation by the tutor for admissions, which covered current admissions policy and some background history of the university.

Students also toured St Edmund Hall and had a group discussion with Central Devon Conservative MP Mel Stride.

The visit was designed to encourage state school students not to be intimidated by applying for the best universities in the country. Between 2007 and 2009, five schools including Eton, Westminster, St Paul's Boys and St Paul's Girls sent more pupils to Oxford than almost 2,000 lower-performing schools combined.

Mr Stride, a former Oxford alumni, helped to organise the visit. He said: 'It was great to spend time with such a talented and bright group of students.

'I'm determined to help those in Central Devon who have the ability and aspiration to win places at these two great universities, and have offered to work further with teachers in my constituency on this.'