Of our UK university applicants, 97 per cent gained a place at their firm or insurance choice. Twenty-three students are heading to Cambridge (8) or Oxford (15), while 64 are going to London colleges, including 26 to UCL.

While the number of Russell Group and Oxbridge places remain reasonably steady, more students than ever before have chosen to focus on international universities and on UK universities which offer work placement and study abroad opportunities. Over 20 per cent of the cohort will attend university in the US, Canada, Europe or another international destination. This reflects the global outlook of our students and their aspirations.

Our US offers this year have been especially impressive, with 45 students taking up a university place in the US or Canada. We have 18 students joining an Ivy League institution, with at least one student placed at every Ivy League school. But the Ivy League, while well known internationally, is not the only marker of success in the US admissions process. Students will also take up places at other highly selective institutions. Beyond North America, our leavers are attending universities in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, including dual degrees.

We are also delighted that for the first time we have three students taking up places on highly competitive and sought-after degree apprenticeships, combining lucrative paid work with university study at Morgan Stanley, Amazon and Bank of America.

Our university entry this year is a tremendous record of achievement. The department aims to offer every student the best level of individually tailored support and advice and we are delighted to witness a growing breadth of aspiration amongst our students.

We wish all our new undergraduates every success in their higher education and future careers.