A GIFTED teenager from a Cleobury Mortimer school is off to Italy after winning a place at one of the internationally renowned United World Colleges.

Stevie Ratcliff, 16, who attends Lacon Childe School, will attend the UWC in Trieste for two years from September to follow the academically-challenging International Baccalaureate, as well as a diverse programme of community service, creative activity and personal challenge.

UWC is the only global educational movement which brings together students from all over the world at pre-university level, regardless of their ability to pay.

Students are selected on merit to live in an environment designed to foster international understanding, peace and justice.

Stevie is one of only 40 students selected to attend from the UK this year. He said: "I hope that I will broaden my cultural horizons, as well as challenge myself to play an active part in my community."

Deputy headteacher Valerie Reynolds said: "He is very gifted academically and a thoroughly nice person.

"He has every reason to be big-headed, but isn't."