A group of Suffolk students have taken a collective step closer to realising their dreams of attending the oldest and most prestigious universities in Britain.

The five young women from Woodbridge School received conditional offers for places at Oxford and Cambridge.

The successful Oxford applicants include Rosa Gaffney to read Japanese at St Anne’s College, Lara Chittick to read German at Somerville College, Zandra Beaumont to read theology at Regent’s Park College and Becky Garnett to read biological sciences at Worcester College.

Millie Hooper, who, among other subjects, is currently studying Japanese, Latin, Greek and Spanish at A-level, has been offered a place at Clare College, Cambridge, to read linguistics.

Stephen Cole, headmaster of the independent school in Woodbridge, said: “Although nowadays several universities are on a par with both Oxford and Cambridge and many of our students apply elsewhere instead, it is still a significant feat to achieve an offer.

“These are very clever young people with excellent attitudes, and they fully deserve the opportunity.”