The Oxbridge Group

Each year we have a number of students who have the potential to apply to Oxford or Cambridge Universities. To support students in their application, a group of potential students is established in Year 12, based on academic performance at GCSE. Mr Barron, a Governor of Hayes School, who works at Eltham College and has considerable experience with Oxbridge applications, gives students an introductory talk. Thereafter, once students have chosen their course, they are offered a range of support, including:

• help from Connexions in writing their personal statement;
• an Oxbridge admissions conference at Eltham College in February;
• internal practice interviews;
• exchange interviews organised by St.Olaves.

Exchange interviews give students the experience of being interviewed by subject specialists in
participating local schools and have been running since last term. A key criterion for success at interview lies in showing a passion for the chosen subject. Students are advised to deepen and broaden their study and in recent weeks I have written about Open University courses and materials offered by Villiers Park Charitable Foundation as possible avenues to explore.

There is a useful book, entitled “So you want to go to Oxbridge, tell me about a banana” , offering an interesting and useful insight into the range of colleges, courses and the whole application process from start to finish. I have a copy in school and I am happy to lend it to interested students.

Mrs Nunn