THREE friends who went to the same primary and secondary school are all heading to Oxbridge after scooping five A grades each.

Rachel Blackford, Xinmei Wang and Sophie Madley, who went to Brookfield School, in Shaw, and then Bradon Forest School, in Purton, collected 15 A-levels between them at Cirencester College on Thursday.

Rachel, 17, of Peatmoor, said: “We have been really good friends all the way through. We have worked very hard and motivated each other. We have a lot in common but like different subjects.”

Rachel is going to study philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford, and had more than most to contend with at school.

She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in January 2005 and missed a year of school.

Rachel is now in remission for the cancer but suffered a glandular fever relapse while taking her A-level exams.

She said: “My family are really pleased for me – they knew I wanted to go to Oxford. It is an amazing place and I can’t wait to get started.”

Xinmei, 17, of Shaw, is heading to Cambridge to study economics.

She said: “I was really hoping for As, as I needed them. When I got to Cirencester, I didn’t want to look at my results but my teacher said: “well done” I was quite relieved.

“I did lots and lots of practice papers before the exams.”

“My parents called me a star when they found out. I always knew Rachel and Sophie would do very well.

“We got 12 A*s at GCSE. I am really happy for them.”

Sophie is in Canada will go to Cambridge to study medicine.

“I think Sophie will be a really great doctor,” said Xinmei.

Another former Bradon Forest pupil, Alyssia Booth, achieved six A grades, and was Cirencester College’s top performing A-level student.

Alyssia, 18, from Cricklade, will study architecture at Bath University.

She said: “I didn’t expect to get those grades to be honest. I had no idea I had done that well.

“I was hoping to get into Bath and needed three As for that.

“I do work hard but try to achieve a balance.”