A 24-year-old former lifeguard and shop assistant who studied at Uxbridge College was bouncing off the walls on Thursday (August 18) after his A Level results were good enough to secure at place at Oxford University.

Timothy Harding, from Pinner , had taken time out of education to work a number of different jobs before he opted to aim high and go to university.

After getting A*AAB grades, Timothy will now be heading off to one of the best universities in the country to study physics.

Competition as tough this year with some students struggling to find places at university, including one Greenford pupil who found herself without a place despite getting straight As.

He said: “I am very happy and somewhat relieved to know I have achieved my goal to get to Oxford University.

“I really didn't think I was going to get in as my GCSEs are mostly Bs, including a B in physics and I've had to do my A Levels twice.”

Timothy will be starting at Brasenose College in Oxford at the start of the next academic year, and he had a message of optimism for students like him.

He said: “Whatever you've been doing in past years and even if your GCSEs aren't that good, you can still do it.

“In fact 90% of the entry requirement is to do with the admissions test and interview process. Oxford and Cambridge are looking for well-rounded people.”

Head of the academy at Uxbridge College, which teaches A levels, GCSEs and vocational science, Amanda Washbrook said: “I would like to say a huge congratulations to Timothy and to all our other A Level achievers this year.

“We have seen some really excellent individual performances, both in terms of high grades and distance travelled.”

To keep up to date with A level results day across west London see our live blog .