Oxbridge Programme

The UK has a world renowned university sector, with many ranking in the world’s top 10. The Russell Group of universities require an excellent academic record, and within that category there are some even more challenging and competitive pathways. These include the ancient institutions of Oxford and Cambridge.

These universities require a special approach. Candidates must prepare for interview, and be versed in the tutorial system. Special exams need to be taken, which require intense and precise preparation. Work is often submitted as part of the application. And a personal statement has to be written which shows the wide reading, intellectual curiosity, analysis and passionate engagement that mark out the most ambitious applications.

Our Helikon Centre for Academic Challenge provides weekly talks and other opportunities for students to broaden and deepen their intellectual interests and academic profile in preparation for such an application, from year 7 all the way to Year 13. We begin to identify viable candidates for Oxford and Cambridge from Year 10. In Year 12 we take our candidates on visits to both these universities.

During Year 12, we select Oxbridge candidates via a rigorous process. Oxbridge applicants are advised to complete an Extended Project Qualification, MOOCs, or, if they want to study a STEM subject or Economics, Further Maths as a fourth A level. Once they have chosen their preferred course, students are supported with weekly or fortnightly additional tutorial sessions with the Head of Department or another senior teacher. These sessions will mirror the famous Oxbridge tutorial or supervision system, and will prepare candidates for specialist tests like the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment), the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) or the HAT (History Aptitude Test). We guide our candidates in how to write Oxbridge appropriate personal statements, and push them towards the extra reading and other activities, like Olympiads and essay competitions: they need to extend themselves. We also offer numerous practice interviews both from staff, our Old Priorian network, parents and other contacts, advise applicants on which essays they should submit, and provide the technology and rooms on site to take their final interviews.