A talented student is preparing to start at Oxford next month - the first pupil at his school to win a place at the prestigious university for more than a decade.

Joe Gentle, achieved his place at the world-class institution to study French after being awarded two A grades and a B in his A Levels at Epsom and Ewell High School, in Ruxley Lane, Epsom.

Alex Russell, headteacher, said he is delighted with Joe’s success which he believes will inspire other students.

He said: "Everyone at Epsom and Ewell High School is so pleased for Joe, I pay tribute to his hard work and that of the teachers who helped him achieve his great results.

"I would like to think that this is just the start and that we will now be providing the Oxbridge colleges with a steady supply of excellent students."

Joe said: "I am thrilled to be going to Oxford and would like to thank my teachers at Epsom and Ewell High School for their support and encouragement."

Claire Spain, assistant headteacher, said the school - a mixed comprehensive - has undergone a "huge transformation" in recent years and students are now consistently improving upon the previous year’s GCSE and A Level results.

She said: "We were put into special measures in November 2008, but under the leadership of Alex Russell, who was a new headteacher at the time, we were taken out of special measures and graded as Good by Ofsted by March 2010. 

"We are now well on the way to being graded Outstanding."