HOLY Cross College can boast a magnificent seven — after the students were offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

They are part of an excellence programme at the Manchester Road college, which aims to push them and succeed academically.

Hannah Fitton, Benjamin Stott and Kieran Vail, three former pupils at St Monica’s High School in Prestwich, have all been offered a place to study biological sciences at Oxford University.

Another two former St Monica’s pupils, Naomi Weston and Stephanie McGuire, have been offered a place to study theology at Oxford.

In addition, David Peters, a former pupil at St Gabriel’s High School in Bury, has been offered a place to study mathematics at Oxford.

And Daniel Marshall, who studied at Philips High School in Whitefield, has gained an offer from Cambridge to study computer science.

The group has taken advantage of opportunities to visit colleges and departments at both universities, and has received advice from past and present Oxbridge students.

Naomi Weston has also benefited from a 12-month mentoring scheme run in conjunction with Pembroke College, Oxford, to give students a taste of life at the university.

They are now looking ahead to the summer to complete their examinations and learn their futures on results day in August.

Elizabeth Rawsthorne, the excellence programme co-ordinator at Holy Cross, said: “We have a very good track record of sending students to Oxford and Cambridge and we are delighted to see so many local students achieving success.

“We are incredibly proud of their success, especially as they faced extremely tough competition for places.

“We wish them all the best.”