THE dreaming spires beckon for Worsley sixth former Bethan Murray, who is set to join her brother and sister at Oxford University.

Bethan, a student at Withington Girls’ School, has received a conditional offer to study Material Sciences at Corpus Christi College.

Her brother is reading classics at Somerville and her sister Lauren, a former Withington pupil, is heading to Oxford to do her DPhil in Cardio-Vascular Research after reading Neurosciences at Nottingham.

Bethan’s enthusiasm for the male-dominated world of engineering was inspired by attending a course in mining and minerals run by the Smallpeice Trust at Exeter University and a Head Start engineering course at Bristol University.

“The degree course combines engineering with physics and chemistry — all the things I’m interested in,” she said. “Perhaps it will lead to a career in researching materials and their potential uses.”

Bethan, aged 18, from Bellpit Close, is also a keen sportswoman, having played both hockey and lacrosse at county level for Lancashire.