Beyond Sixth Form - The Oxbridge Programme at Ursuline High School

The Ursuline Provides

• Personal support from a dedicated Oxbridge Coordinator, an Oxbridge Graduate
• Open Day Visits
• Advice on choosing colleges
• Interview practice with Oxbridge Graduates
• UCAS support

The Programme

Entry to Oxford and Cambridge is very competitive. Potential applicants must have the following:

• Excellent GCSE results, at least 4 A*s
• At least 3 As at AS Level
• Predicted all As at A Level
• A passion for their subject outside their A Level Syllabus
• An enquiring mind and relish for academic work

‘Taster Trips’ to Cambridge and/or Oxford take place for Years 10 and 11 in order to give them an introduction to university life and a goal to work towards whilst studying for their GCSEs.

Suitable students are targeted in February of Year 12 and given advice in Colleges and the application procedure. They are advised to visit the Subject and College Open Days which are usually held in June and July. Weekly sessions are held with potential Oxbridge candidates where they are advised on reading around their subject. Discuss issues of topical interest and develop presentation skills and confidence for interviews. They also begin their personal statements.

In Year 13 the personal statements are completed and help is given to students with the UCAS form. Students are fully prepared for any entrance test they might have to sit, as well as the interview. They will have a number of mock subject and college interviews with recent Oxbridge graduates.

The interviews are held in December; successful applicants are then offered a place conditional on them attaining very high grades at A Level, normally 3 As.