A CHELMSFORD school has been named in the top 10 in the country for getting students into Oxford or Cambridge universities.
Latest statistics show St John Payne RC School is the only non-selective state school in Essex on the list after five per cent of its sixth form pupils who take A-levels got places in the country's top two universities.
Head of sixth form Stella McKenna told the Chronicle: "Our success rate of getting into Oxbridge has been high for many years.
"I think the secret is we teach A-levels very well here giving pupils five lessons a week from our most experienced teachers and we have a support programme set up to help them with their applications. We encourage our students to aim high."
St John Payne shares seventh place with schools such as The Blue School in Somerset and Hills Road Sixth form College in Cambridge in the chart, which is part of a dossier of statistics published by the Government looking at what happens to young people post-16.
The Education and Employment Destination data is based on the 2010/11 school year, the latest available, when five of St John Payne's 100 sixth formers got Oxbridge places – the school's best ever performance.
But over the last decade at least one or two students have got into Oxford or Cambridge each year.
In recent years the school has achieved the best A-level results of any non-selective state school in Essex, yet has maintained its open door policy for its sixth form, meaning students do not need a minimum GCSE score to secure a place.
Michael Farrell, deputy head, says Oxbridge is more open to state school applications than ever before.
He said: "The two do differ. It is easier to obtain an interview at Cambridge. However those who gain interviews at Oxford seem to have a greater chance of being offered a place.
"The interview process is very rigorous and daunting – it is often not just one interview but three or four.
"Therefore we offer all pupils who are applying the chance to have a mock interview with our most experienced staff, and we also run trips to Oxbridge open days and give them detailed advice on their written application forms."
Antonio Borelli, 21, from Maldon was one of the class of 2010-11, who won a coveted Oxbridge place. He has just gained an upper second class geography degree at St Peter's College, Oxford, and is now job-hunting.
He said: "Oxford is not the stuffy, elitist institution that many people may imagine it to be.
"The academic side is very intense as you have eight week terms during which you have to work very hard but you are being taught by the people who write the text books in your subjects.
"It's very hard to sum it up but Oxford offers something for everyone and whatever you want to be or whatever you want to do, you can find it there."
From this year's cohort student Rebecca May, who has just sat her A-levels has an offer from Oxford to read languages.