• Identify suitable students
• Raise awareness of opportunities for high achievers
• Encourage students to be aspirational and aim high
• Challenge misconceptions about Oxford and
Cambridge
• Provide assistance to allow students to maximise their potential in terms of their Higher Education future
• Provide as much individual attention as possible

“……I just wanted to say thank you for everything; for your support with Oxbridge - I never thought two years ago this would be (let's not tempt fate too much) potentially my future, I hadn't even considered Oxford when I started Bullers. I'd just like to say, thank you so much for opening doors for me.”
(Stephanie Back, 2010-12, offered a conditional place to read Spanish at St Anne’s College, Oxford)

• Mr Weeks
Oxbridge and Medicine Co-ordinator
Head of Year 12
• Mr Leonard
Key Stage 5 Academic Progress Co-ordinator
• Ms Bellis
Director 6 th Form
• Ms Van Teutem
Assistant Head Teacher (i/c Gifted and Talented)

• 2008:
– 2 offers
• 2009:
– 1 offer
• 2010:
– 2 offers
• 2011:
– O offers
• 2012:
– 3 offers
Every year 1 or 2 students gain paces on Medicine (or related) courses

Cambridge (Murray Edwards College) Admissions Tutor:
“Students need to be excited by intellectual complexity and uncertainty. This is key and arguably more important than exam results”
Advice to students:
• Academic ability and potential
• Motivation and independence of mind
• Enthusiasm and commitment

Oxford Admissions department:
“your subject becomes your hobby”
Suitability for tutorial system:
– Ability in and passion for their subject
– Enquiring / questioning mindset
– Analytical / logical thinking style
– Proven track record at GCSE
– Self motivated & reads outside the classroom
(Not about personality type / confidence and not looking for ‘all-rounders’)

1.
GCSE
– Average applicant to Oxford has 6.2 A*s (Classics 7.81 to Computer science 4.43)
“if GCSEs poor, but AS results show promise…..” , “continual improvement”

2. AS level grades
– The Cambridge ‘supplementary application questionnaire’ (inc.
UMS scores)
3. A2 predicted grades

4. UCAS Personal statement
– Super-curricular activities
– (Extra-curricular activities)
– Work experience
– Associated skills
– ENTHUSIASM
5. UCAS reference
6. Aptitude / assessment tests for most subjects
7. Written work
8. Interviews (minimum 2)
(On average 4 hours time spent per candidate with no interview. 8 hours if interview)

• Cambridge and Oxford interviews similar
• Approx 3 candidates per place interviewed at Oxford
(more at Cam)
• Structured but informal based upon tutorial / supervision approach
• Questions become more challenging (but not ‘trick questions’)
• Questions based on resource prompt and involve problem solving
• In interviews must demonstrate:
– enthusiasm, genuine interest, clarity of thought, analytical ability, intellectual flexibility
– Wider reading

• Oxford
– AAA for most Humanities or Social Science courses
(unlikely that this will change to A* over next couple of years)
– A*AA for most Science based subjects
– A*A*A for most Mathematics courses
• Cambridge
– Standard Offer of A*AA
– “Some flexibility”
• Medicine
– Minimum AAA (Often A*AA)

Here, students identified and tracked on basis of:
• Analysis of GCSE results, ALIS targets and AS first modules (if applicable)
• Analysis of the Key stage 3 / 4 gifted and talented tracking
• Dialogue with Heads of Department and subject teachers (November of Year 12)
• Self selection and subsequent discussion with teachers
• Evidence of INDEPENDENT LEARNERS
The group of students is fluid. Students opt out and others opt in (September in Year 13) due to student review of their future or unexpected AS results.

• Assemblies / presentations / meetings
• Alumnus talk
• Higher Education evening at Bullers Wood
• Oxbridge information evening at ‘linked’ local school
• Regular one to one discussions regarding
College and course choice with 6 th form team
• Participation in events provided by external agencies……

Annual
• Oxford and Cambridge conference (Epsom, 2012)
• Summer Schools
• London University Taster Days
• Pathways to Success Conference
Adhoc events
• PiXL conference
• Subject specific study days at either Oxford or
Cambridge

• External advice:
– PiXL Conference
– Epsom conference
– Summer schools
– Personal statement workshop provided by the
“Life Skills Company”
• Internal UCAS supervision:
– Initial draft with form tutors
– Regular meetings with Mr Weeks to perfect the personal statement

• Experienced teachers assist
• Practice Tests provided
• Specialist BMAT / UKCAT assistance
• Booked through school (eg LNAT) or taken at time of interview

• Discussion workshops
– Developing the confidence to impress academically via verbal communication
• Provide advice
– Demonstrate ability to think critically
– Demonstrate deep understanding beyond AS level (students should ensure that AS material is revised well)
• Practice:
– Training given by Mansfield College Admissions Co-ordinator
– Mock interviews with Admissions Tutor from Imperial College
– ‘Swaps’ with Townley Grammar
– Senior Leadership interviews at Bullers Wood
– Subject specific interviews at Bullers Wood
– Parental assistance…..

• Same as Oxbridge assistance
• Specialise subject teacher assistance
• External speakers
– Work experience guidance
– BMAT and UKCAT advice
• Work experience advice (internally)

Bullers Wood Sixth Form Gifted and Talented support programme 2011-13
(Approximate timeline for the programme for the current Year 12, as illustration)
Year 12
Nov: - Identification of potential
Feb: - Increase awareness (Alumnus talk, Oxbridge conference)
- Summer school applications
March: - Higher Education and Careers evening at Bullers Wood
April: - Oxbridge evening at local school
July: - Pathways to Success Conference (Murray Edwards, Cambridge)
- Discussion workshops
- UCAS personal statement workshop
- Departments and college open days
- Discussion meeting about preparation over the summer
Year 13
Sep: - Interview assistance from Mansfield College Admissions Co-ordinator
- UCAS personal statement assistance
Oct:
- Subject specific preparation led by subject teachers
- General interview preparation given by Bullers Wood
- Mock interviews (SLT, Imperial College Tutor, subject specialists)
Dec: - Collation of feedback about the interview and student preparation

• Encourage completion of “super-curricular” activities
• Listen to talks about academic issues
• Conduct practice interviews
• Offer mock interviews for other students
(Act as chauffeur for open days etc)