It is one of the most exclusive colleges in the world, with Princes William and Harry among its famous old boys.

Now, Eton is getting ready to welcome Abdi Rahman Sudi into its privileged ranks.

Moat Community College student Abdi, 16, has won a Joe Burrell bursary worth about £27,000 a year to study A-levels at the school, which was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. His new uniform will be worth more than £1,000.

The scholarship is funded by an anonymous well-wisher.

Now the teenager, who is getting ready to sit his GCSEs this summer, says he cannot wait to start at his new school.

"It is very different," he said. "The biggest difference is going to be boarding there and I will miss my teachers, family and friends."

Abdi will study physics, maths, economics and Government politics.

He had to sit four exams and endure tough interviews to win the hotly-contested place.

Staff from Eton even visited Moat Community College, in Highfields, to get a feel for the place where Abdi was educated.

Abdi and his family have lived in Leicester for almost five years and English is his third language. His mum, Osob, is thrilled with her youngest son's success.

She said: "I am very proud of him. He has worked very hard."

Abdi has his sights set high. "I would like to go to Cambridge University. Then I would like to go into a job in engineering or economics."

Moat principal Freda Hussain said: "I always want our students to do well and when they do, we celebrate their success."

Teacher Mark Mitchley helped coach Abdi ready for his interviews. He said: "The toughest part was getting Abdi to realise how well he was doing. He is very modest. I would ask him questions and ask him how he had done. He would say, 'okay' when he had performed brilliantly."

Old Etonians include a Catholic saint, Prime Ministers, martyrs, famous scientists and explorers and world-famous writers and poets.

Head master Tony Little said: "In a nutshell, we were very impressed with Abdi's determination to do well, and his character. At Eton, he will be boarding with 1,300 other boys and it will provide him with a huge range of choices and sporting and music opportunities, as well as high academic expectations."

Source: This is Leicestershire