OLIVER Pepper is hoping his GCSE results will help him to get a place at either Oxford or Cambridge University.

The 16-year-old is celebrating achieving 7A*s and 5As in his exams.

Oliver, of Eastwood, said: "We've all worked really hard and I've put a lot of effort in because I realise they are important.

"Everyone is doing well in A-levels now so people start to look back at your GCSEs on application forms for university.

"There's a lot of pressure on everyone to do well, but I don't think it's because the exams are getting easier, it's that people are doing better.

Oliver will now return to Westcliff High School for Boys to study French, English, maths and geography although he is not sure what subject he will specialise in at university.