A FORMER Oxford University student is heading to Priestley College to help inspire teenagers to apply for top universities.

Tom Ward, who has secured both an undergraduate and a masters degree, will be based at Priestley to help students raise their university aspirations.

The 22-year-old said: "My role will be about stretching and challenging the most able students so they reach their full potential.

"One way of doing that will be to get them thinking beyond the curriculum and pushing them to consider universities they might not traditionally have thought were within their reach."

Tom’s role goes beyond Priestley as Oxnet Coordinator for Languages in the North West.

Priestley College is an Oxford University regional hub and Tom will be organising Easter and summer camps at the Loushers Lane campus for students aiming to excel in languages.

The graduate, who grew up in Northwich, gained a first-class degree in history and politics at Oxford University before completing a masters in history in York.

He now hopes to inspire others by sharing his experiences of securing a university place.

Tom added: "Until I was 16 going to Oxford was not on my radar.

"That will be the same for a lot of young people in Warrington, but it helps to break down barriers if you see it as an option from a younger age.

"Priestley has already made great strides in recent years in changing young people’s perceptions of what is achievable and I am looking forward to continuing that work."

Priestley College runs a programme to help those aiming to study at Russell Group universities.

This year a record number of early applications have been made to the UK’s top universities by students, with 16 aiming for Oxford and Cambridge.