Independent Day & Boarding School for girls and boys aged 3 to 18 years. Founded 1414.

PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:

OXBRIDGE SUCCESS FOR DURHAM SCHOOL FOUR

Durham School is celebrating an outstanding set of Oxford and Cambridge University offers.

FourSixth Formersat the prestigious independent school have been successful in achieving conditional offers to study at Oxford or Cambridge universities, representing a total of 5% of the year group.

The four students are:

Cambridge University

  • Peter Lotts - Computer Science (Queens College)

Oxford University

  • Isaac Walton - Biomedical Sciences (Keble College)
  • Alastair Reith - Medicine (Magdalen College)
  • Alexandra Powell - English Language and Literature (Merton College)

Alexandra Powell (known as Lexy) had two reasons to celebrate, as she was also awarded a prestigious Choral Scholarship at Oxford, at a separate audition earlier in the term. She said “Hearing the news that I had received a Choral Scholarship at Oxford was really exciting and motivated me to work hard to gain an academic place. Merton is such a beautiful college and I feel privileged to have been given an offer to study English there.”

“We are delighted to be able to celebrate the achievement of our four successful Oxbridge candidates, whose offers are just reward for the sustained hard work they have invested,"says Headmaster of Durham School, Mr Kieran McLaughlin.

“Under the guidance of our dedicated member of staff for elite applications, together with support from specialist subject teachers, our pupils have developed the love of their subject and the appetite for learning so valued by Oxbridge admissions tutors. It’s harder than ever to receive offers from these universities, and the pupils deserve many congratulations for their focus, dedication and achievement.”

He added: “Offers for other universities are still being received by students but already this is set to be a strong year for Russell Group University places. Last summer saw Upper Sixth leavers gain record A Level results so hopes are high for this cohort. We wish all students the very best of luck as they progress through their final year here at Durham School.”

Mr Ben Brownlee, Elite Course Coordinator at Durham School added his congratulations:"The Oxbridge offers are fantastic and a real justificationfor the incredible amount of work the students have demonstrated, not just during their application, but throughout their time at Durham School. It is also important to recognise the valuable contribution ofthe staff as they have helped thoroughly prepare the students for what is an academically challenging and extremely rigorous process. Congratulations to everyone!" END

Notes for Editors:

  • For all media enquiries please contact Durham School Marketing Director, Mrs Nicola McCann on

0191 375 3280 or by email at

  • Background information on Durham School is available upon request from the Marketing Department or from their website at

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