Since the beginning of this academic year, we’ve seen an incredible number of university offers arrive for our Year 13 students. The total now sits at 367, with some students holding multiple offers. The range of courses students have chosen to apply for is also extensive and includes Computer Science, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Law and Biochemistry.
We’re also extremely proud to see that four students have recently received offers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford to study History and Spanish, Spanish and Modern Greek, Theology and Computer Science.
Students receive dedicated support from our Director of Future Pathways, as well as a wide range of subject specific guidance, to ensure that they have a clear understanding of the post-18 options open to them from the beginning of Year 12.
We recently asked our Oxbridge offer holders to share their start-to-finish experience of this process, from exploring their options to receiving university offers.
How did the Grammar School encourage you to explore your post-18 options?
“We’ve had a few different assemblies on the topic and guest speakers, who chose to do degree apprenticeships themselves, have come into School to talk about their experience. Different departments also organise speakers relating to their subject. So, we’ve had lots of exposure to different paths, not just university.”
At what stage of your education were you encouraged to start applications?
“Since the start of Year 12, we’ve been encouraged to explore post-18 options and the university application process is started before we begin Year 13, which is good because it means a first draft of your application is completed before the end of the summer term.”
How did you find the experience of applying to university and what support did you receive along the way?
“We’ve benefitted from lots of subject specific help and comprehensive guidance when it comes to preparation. From Spanish, for example, we’ve had meetings every week relating to the Oxbridge process and from History we’ve had lots of mock interviews which were done by people who went to Oxbridge themselves.
The teachers know the process very well and any questions you have about the process, or any lack of understanding of it, are quickly fixed at the start of the application process.”
