A PAIR of high-achieving twins are just two of 21 star pupils at a Marlow school to receive university offers from Oxford and Cambridge this academic year.

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School head girl Beth Potter and her twin sister Ellie, who is arts captain, are holding offers to study English from Oxford colleges Hertford and Keble.

The raft of Oxbridge offers for Borlase pupils comes as the West Street academy was awarded the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) Award, which recognises teaching for gifted and talented pupils.

Kay Mountfield, Deputy Head praised the sustained hard work and enthusiasm for academic learning of the students and their teachers.

She said: "Showing and sharing your passion for learning whether that is in Mathematics or Languages, Literature or Science, Sports or Arts, is part of the culture at Borlase, and in that environment everyone can thrive."

As well as Oxbridge acceptances, similar offers from top Russell Group universities, medicine and veterinary medicine schools and various specialist colleges are also being celebrated throughout the school.

Borlase’s accredation from NACE follows a rigorous assessment process judging the quality of the school's work with gifted youngsters.

Assessors observed lessons and interviewed pupils, teachers, parents and governors, as well as looking at students’ work. The report also recognized the value the school places on artistic and sporting achievement.

The award recognises that work undertaken by teachers and governors in challenging all pupils, including the most able ones, to achieve their best.

NACE Chief Executive Rowena Gaston said: "Sir William Borlase's Grammar School has shown itself to be committed to developing a school where all pupils are challenged to be the best they can be.

“The Head Assessor reported after the visit that ‘gifted and talented provision is a whole school undertaking which has become embedded with the total support and commitment of the headteacher and the senior leadership team’."