"Going to Oxford is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity"

Callum Wood has just left Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire, where he got three As for his A-levels (mathematics, physics and economics). He attended school with the assistance of an RAF bursary and has won a place to study Economics and management at Oxford University, Brasenose College.

"When I joined Wycliffe I was not an angel. I wouldn't do anything malicious but I'd try things out, be adventurous and not exactly play by the rules. For instance, when I joined Year 9, I thought it would be funny to bleach my hair completely white.

"It came as a big surprise to me - and to other people - when I was made head boy. Everyone thought it would be someone who had been perfect throughout.

"I joined the school when I was 12. My dad is in the RAF and you can get a discount for independent school. We've moved around quite a lot - starting with Northern Ireland, then to RAF Lyneham and then to Carterton in Oxfordshire, where we live now. My parents wanted the best for me and were looking for somewhere that would offer continuity, which is one of the reasons why we chose Wycliffe, which has a junior and a senior school.

A special atmosphere

"We visited three or four schools on open days and found that there was something special about the atmosphere at Wycliffe. A lot of schools have really big campuses, but Wycliffe is smaller and everyone knows everyone else.

"I started boarding when I was 12, so that was a bit hard at the start, but now it's perfectly natural for me to be away from my parents. It's like constantly having a sleepover with your friends.

"I've made such good friends there, right from junior school. The whole atmosphere and the tightness of the school means that you get to know everyone and make really good friends. It's been a great preparation for university.

"The school has done everything possible to educate us about university life, but I still don't know quite what to expect of Oxford. I spoke to a guy from Wycliffe who went there and he said it's a lot of work but there is time to enjoy yourself.

"It was a real surprise getting into Oxford because I thought my interviews had gone badly. I know that studying at Oxford is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and that I'm lucky.

"I wasn't too nervous on results day because I'd already taken four out of six of the exams and had put myself in a good position. I knew I'd have to mess up really badly to lose my place.

"I was more worried about friends who were on the borderline and didn't know which way it would go. They're all fine, though and have got into their first or second choices. No-one had to go through clearing.

"My parents are really proud that I'm going to university but they tease me about it a bit. If I do something silly, they say, ‘Oh, an Oxford boy shouldn't do that!'"

For more details on Wycliffe College, see our school search section