A former pupil of an Elstree school has been celebrating after attending her graduation and receiving her first job offer.

Swansea University engineering student Clare Cooper, who attended Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls in Elstree, has graduated with a first class MEng degree in product design engineering.

She graduated at a ceremony at the City and County of Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall last week.

Miss Cooper, from Muswell Hill, London, had been interested in design technology at school and decided during her A levels that it was the area that she wanted to pursue.

Her hard work has now paid off as she has been offered a first job as a graduate engineer at Bosch, based in Suffolk, after going up against 700 other applicants for 12 graduate positions.

She said: “My course taught me to think about how to develop designs which are not only attractive but practical, using problem solving techniques and engineering principles. Although there was so much competition for the job, the confidence gained through my studies, volunteer work and prior preparation meant that I performed at my best.”

Dr Ian Masters, head of product design and mechanical engineering, said: “Clare is an outstanding student and has consistently performed well throughout her time at Swansea. She has a very bright future ahead of her and I wish her all the very best in her new job.”