I wouldn't bother with PPL personally. OK, you get a PPL, but that doesn't do anything really for you in relation to getting a CPL. All you do is use up money that could be put towards your eventual goal. I would suggest a trial lesson, you never know, you might hate it and throw up everywhere, but don't bother with a PPL.
Not sure about a degree either to be fair, good GCSE's are important, A levels are a bonus. The only thing a degree gives you is time to mature and gain some further life experience, however you leave uni with a debt, and then want to become a pilot, so there's more debt.
My son wants to be a pilot, I am hounding him to put in the effort now for his GCSE's, he's going to do A levels (providing he does well enough in his GCSE's), and then if he still wants to be a pilot, that will be next, I am discouraging uni, if you want to be a pilot, get it done sooner rather than later.