Air Traffic Control

I'm in year 12 doing physics, chemistry and maths as my A levels. For a few years I've been seriously interested in becoming an air traffic controller, which I believe is controlled by NATS across the UK. I've become a virtual controller on the VATSIM network which some may know about, which has only made me want to make a career out of it even more. However, I'm not sure if getting a degree before doing this would be the right/wrong move? I'm unsure whether one would help me or not as I'm considering applying when I turn 18 and, if successful, becoming an ATCO instead of going to uni.

To put a long story short, is becoming an ATCO at 18 after A-Levels a viable route? Should I go to uni first?
Thanks