GAZETTE & HERALD: TALENTED Sheldon School A level student, Jonathan Piper, 18, is delighted at earning a place at Oxford University, despite suffering the tragic loss of his twin brother Tim last year.

Jonathan was named one of the country's top performers, achieving four A grades, but his thoughts were with brother Tim, who should also have been receiving his exam results last Thursday.

Tim, described as a brilliant and gifted student, took his own life last November at the family's Lacock home.

Jonathan said his brother would almost certainly have been celebrating top grades.

"It's a great shame. Without doubt there would have been another four A grades as he would have done just as well."

"He should have been going to Oxford or Cambridge as he was cleverer than me. I will dedicate my grades to him."

Jonathan, who aspires to be an 'eminent scientist', will be going to Christchurch College, Oxford, to study physics after he received four As in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry.

Speaking about his own success, Jonathan said: "I am very much looking forward to Oxford. I feel pretty pleased.

"In a way this was not the main part, as getting through the interview was my main concern," he said.

"I put in a fair bit of hard work over the past couple of years to get this.

"Some parts of this A Level have been really hard work."

Three other Sheldon students have secured places at Oxford or Cambridge Universities.

There were also celebrations at neighbouring school Hardenhuish, where 96 per cent of students passed their A levels.

Forty-five per cent passed with A or B grades, with 11 achieving straight A grades.