Students from Priestley College’s High Achievers’ Programme gained a taste of life at one of the world’s leading universities during a residential visit to the University of Oxford.
The annual trip gave students the opportunity to stay overnight at Christ Church, one of Oxford’s most famous colleges, allowing them to experience university life first-hand while exploring what it takes to study at a highly selective institution.
During the visit, the group took part in sessions covering personal statements, the Oxford admissions process, interviews and the university’s distinctive tutorial teaching system. They also visited the Pitt Rivers Museum and spent time at Pembroke College, one of Priestley’s OxNet partner colleges.
Students explored several of Oxford’s historic colleges, including Lincoln College, Exeter College and University College, giving them an insight into the different environments available to prospective undergraduates.
The visit forms part of Priestley College’s High Achievers’ Programme, which supports students who are considering applications to Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities by helping them make informed choices and build confidence throughout the admissions process.
Among those on the trip was former BCA student Pavel Stoimenov, who is hoping to study Physics at Oxford.
He said: “The main reason why the trip impacted my decision on applying to specific colleges was the experience of living on-site for a day. It gave me a real feel for what life as an Oxford student would be like.
“I also found the mock interviews incredibly useful because they completely changed my understanding of how academic interviews differ from career interviews.
“Aside from that, the trip itself was amazing. I couldn’t believe how close all the colleges were to each other and how different each one felt. It was also great to explore the Pitt Rivers Museum and spend some time looking around the city.”
Chris Peacock, who leads Priestley College’s High Achievers’ Programme, said: “One of the biggest barriers for many talented students is believing that universities like Oxford are out of reach. Visits like this help remove that barrier by allowing students to experience the environment for themselves, ask questions and see what studying there is really like.
“Our aim is to ensure every student has the knowledge, confidence and support to make ambitious choices about their future. Whether they go on to Oxford, Cambridge or another leading university, experiences like this help them make informed decisions and realise that these opportunities are genuinely within their reach.”
