Six students at North Halifax Grammar School, Illingworth, Halifax, have been offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities – the previous highest was three.

It is now down to the teenagers to achieve the grades in their exams this summer.

The students went through a series of application interviews which are notoriously difficult, with interviewers asking deliberately outlandish questions to take applicants out of their comfort zone.

Kathy Ryland, 18, from Todmorden, applied for history at Oxford, and said: "My interviews were horrible, really tough, so I'm really pleased to get an offer." The students are quick to point out that the work is far from done now they have their offers.

Kathy said: "We may have our offers but we still need to pass our exams and get the grades needed to get on our courses."

John Finnerty, 17, from Dewsbury, who hopes to study medicine at Cambridge, said: "I was surprised when I got my offer through because you don't think it's going to happen to you."

For the Cambridge-bound students this means achieving an A star and two As whereas the Oxford hopefuls require three As in their A-level exams in the summer.

Form tutor Nicola Whitehill said: "We are very proud of them. They have worked hard and they deserve it."

Cambridge offers have gone to Elizabeth Hollwey, 17, from Bradshaw, Halifax, to study natural sciences, and Bethany Megson, 17, of Shelf, to study classics and John Finnerty.

Offers from Oxford have gone to Eddie Anderton, 18, of Elland, to read biochemistry, Konrad Hepworth, 17, of Keighley, studying experimental psychology, and Kathy Ryland.