A "Straight A" student rejected by a string of universities says he has been penalised for being posh.

Brighton College sixth-former Edward Romain has been turned down by all but one of the six colleges he applied to, despite being predicted four A grades at A-level.

Cambridge was one of five universities which rejected the 18-year-old, whose ancestry stretches back into the Spanish aristocracy.

Edward, whose family lives in Hove, said: "You always think working hard through school and getting top grades has the ultimate reward of a good university but it is not the case."

Edward already has A grades in his AS levels and nine GCSEs under his belt, eight of them As or A*s.

He is studying history, English, theatre studies and government with politics and has taken two of his A-level papers early, receiving almost perfect scores. Yet Cambridge, Durham, Warwick, Nottingham and the London School of Economics turned him down for law and politics.

He said: "I would not have applied to Cambridge if I didn't think I was able and my teachers are surprised as well.

"My academic achievement has always been at a very high level and my one shame was a C in GCSE maths."

Edward noted his extra-curricular achievements on his UCAS application form, including producing and starring in theatre productions, writing and co-editing his school newspaper, running for the European Youth Parliament and voluntary work in a home for the elderly. But he has only been offered a place by Exeter on condition he gets AAB grades this summer.

He intends to take it rather than reapplying to Cambridge after receiving his grades.

He said: "I want to be a commercial barrister. I applied for social and political science at Cambridge.

"I wanted essentially to expand my knowledge. I love learning and wanted to continue my education."

Durham University rejected Edward's application within two weeks and only Magdalene College, Cambridge, offered him an interview.

He said: "When I went for the Cambridge interview, not only was I told I should dress down - I dress quite eccentrically and wear waistcoats - but also that I should try to sound more normal and tone down my accent.

"I thought the idea I should turn up in torn jeans and have a Cockney accent was terrible."

Edward's family originates from the Basque region. His ancestors fled to England in the 16th Century and one married the sister of Nelson's mistress, Lady Hamilton.

His grandfather, the Duke of Najera, still receives an income from the Spanish royal family.

Official figures due out next week are understood to show the number who applied to university reached a record 500,000.

More than eight out of ten applications for courses like medicine and law are thought to have ended in failure.

Last year 476,467 applied to universities and 355,531 - about three quarters - found a place.

Headteachers criticised the way places are awarded, calling the system a lottery.

Labour MP Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons education committee, called for urgent action.

He said: "There's a problem. Standards are going up, more people are getting straight As and it's very difficult to differentiate between candidates."

Dr Jane Hughes, admissions tutor at Magdelene, said: "This year, Cambridge University received over 600 applications for 100 places in social and political sciences.

"The vast majority of these were from students who have or are predicted three or four As at A-level, with excellent AS and GCSE results."

About ten students from Brighton College get into Oxford and Cambridge each year.

Deputy headteacher Simon Smith said there was concern over positive discrimination working against public school applicants.

He said: "It is difficult to determine. I'm not sure how to address the issue when the colleges so vigorously deny they have a policy over it."