Kate Craigie, 18, will be going to Cambridge to study English after a gap year.

The South East Essex College student will be taking a year out to work before taking her place at Homerton College, in 2008.

She won her place with As in English, media studies, communication studies and film studies.

But despite such amazing grades, she doesn't expect to be the only Canvey student there.

She said: "There's a guy who lives down the same road as me, in Central Avenue, so I'm not the only one. I'd always wanted to go to Cambridge.

"It was a dream, I didn't think I would be able to do it.

"But you won't see me in the boat races. I don't think I've got the physique - I'm five feet tall with weedy arms!"