In Your Region or School
The Trinity College Access Team offer university information and guidance sessions in schools, in Oxfordshire. These sessions are for pupils in Years 4 to 13, which can be adapted to suit the needs of each group. We also offer introductory Oxplore (critical thinking skills) workshops for secondary school pupils.
There are also a wide range of other opportunities available from departments and collections available to students in your region or school.
Our Core Offer
Trinity College is the main point of contact for Oxfordshire’s schools within the University, and we work closely with the central Undergraduate Admissions Office to offer a range of programmes regularly available to students, their teachers, and families.
Outreach visits | Careers education for schools | Oxbridge Student Conferences | Study Higher | Maths & sciences events | Medical sciences events | Social sciences events | Oxford's Gardens, Libraries and Museums
Trinity Outreach Visits to Schools
When over-subscribed with requests from teachers to work with pupils in schools and to support key dates and events throughout the school academic year, the Access Team at the College try to prioritise work with specific year groups at different times of the year. For example, in the Winter Term we prioritise work with Year 11 to Year 13; in Spring Term we prioritise Year 10 and Year 12; and in the Summer Term we work with the full range of year groups across secondary and primary schools.
In-person or live-online sessions in your school
The Access Team at Trinity College offer the following sessions to state schools in Oxfordshire as follows:
- Year 4, 5 & 6: What is University? Supporting primary aged pupils to understand what university education is, why and how they might get there. Suitable for all pupils.
- Year 7 & 8: Exploring University. The purpose, myth-busting the cost and what it might be like to study There. Suitable for all pupils.
- Year 9: Exploring University. The purpose, myth-busting the cost and a brief introduction to the University of Oxford. Suitable for all pupils.
- Year 10: An Introduction to Oxford. The people, the courses & the Super Curriculum. Suitable for all pupils and those beginning to show potential to apply to a top university.
- Year 11: Exploring A-Level Options. University courses and the Russell Group. Suitable for all pupils.
- Year 12: Oxford & the application process. Suitable for those expressing an interest and/or having potential to apply to Oxford and/or Cambridge.
- Year 12: Personal Statement Workshop. Suitable for all pupils and/or those applying to Oxford and/or Cambridge.
- Year 13: Interviews and Admissions Test Guidance workshop. Suitable for those who have submitted an application to Oxbridge.
- Oxplore - an introduction for Years 7 to 12: These sessions are inspired by Oxford’s online outreach platform, Oxplore, and aim to develop the kinds of skills associated with academic and other future success. These skills include critical thinking & analysis, explaining & reasoning, active listening & reflection, persuading, arguing and concluding. Further development of these skills can advantage all pupils in their future, whatever direction this may take.
To book an in-person visit, live-online or pre-recorded session for your students, teachers should email [email protected] with a request. These sessions are flexible and can be adjusted depending on the needs of your students.
Oxford careers education for schools
Trinity's Teacher Engagement Officer, Richard Petty, is also responsible for supporting schools to access Oxford Careers Education for Schools. The University of Oxford Careers Service have adapted a series of successful programmes that we use with undergraduate students, in versions appropriate, usable, and effective for schools.
The Tailored programmes especially for schools are Litmus, The Student Consultancy for Schools, and Ignite.
The programmes are free to schools and students in the maintained sector and are aimed at all learners within schools and colleges, not just those with particular aspirations in mind.
This initiative also extends to a specialised programme called Oxford Opportunity North, which offers careers education support for state schools in the Northeast of England.
For more information about this programme please contact [email protected]
Litmus
Targeted and personalised careers advice can be more effective with students and more efficient for staff; Litmus is a careers registration tool that asks students to define their frame of mind around their career and the specific industry sectors in which they are interested. Staff can then use these to arrange tailored careers events that fit with students’ current mindset and industry interests.
The Student Consultancy for Schools
The Student Consultancy for Schools is a structured programme designed to engage teams of pupils on real business issues with local organisations. Pupils who take part learn basic consulting skills including analysis, research, interviewing, presenting and report writing, as well as secondary skills of planning their time, taking part in a 12+ week project, working with the public and business people, and understanding how organisations work.
Ignite: Careers Confidence for Schools
Ignite is a programme of over 60 separate, age-specific lessons on assertiveness, confidence, networking, and marketing for Key Stages 3, 4, and 5. The programme is designed to be delivered by (e.g., PSHE) teachers within the existing curriculum, in 20, 30, 45, or 60 minute lessons.
The Oxford Careers Website
Oxford University Careers website might be of particular interest to teachers interested in supporting student progression within their own school. On this website teachers can find information supporting and developing student knowledge and understanding of the different sector & occupation pathways, guidance on generating careers ideas and CV writing.
Oxbridge Student Conferences
These conferences are designed as Open Days on the road, our conferences bring experienced admissions staff, subject specialists and current students from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to you and your students at venues around the UK.
The events are aimed at Year 12 students (or equivalent) who are studying for their A Levels/IB (or equivalent) and are beginning to consider their options for study beyond sixth form. These full day events provide up to date information about our courses, clearly outline the admissions process and provide students with the opportunity to hear first-hand how our current undergraduate students find life at Oxford and Cambridge. Our aim is for students to leave having explored the breadth of subjects on offer to them, gained a deeper insight in to what our courses involve and an understanding of how both universities assess applications.
Find out more about the conferences on the Oxbridge Student Conferences page.
Study Higher
The Study Higher targeted outreach is for young people in school years 9 -13, who live in specific geographical areas across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Swindon. These wards have been identified by the funders, the Office for Students, and focus on areas where there is typically lower progression to higher education.
Schools with a high percentage of target pupils are eligible for our extensive programme of activity, which includes support from one of our Higher Education Liaison Officers (HELOs). HELOs ensure that schools are aware of outreach opportunities available and that activity is tailored to meet the needs of both the school and pupils.
Study Higher currently work intensively with 34 schools in these regions. To find out if you, your school and/or your child is eligible or for more information about our targeted outreach consult the Study Higher website.
Other opportunities
In addition to the regular opportunities provided by Trinity College and Oxford University's Outreach and Access team, Oxford's departments, divisions, libraries, museums and collections offer a wide range of subject and interest-specific outreach activities that can take place in your school. Find out more about what's on offer below.
Events and activities in Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences subjects
Chemistry lecture-demonstrations
Be informed and entertained by chemistry with these assembly-style lecture-demonstrations delivered either in school or in a lecture theatre in Oxford. More information can be found on the Chemistry Department website.
Chemistry career & research talks
Hear researchers, staff and alumni share their stories and take questions about working in chemistry. More information can be found on the Chemistry Department website.
Chemistry workshops
Interact with outreach ambassadors and staff through these tailored workshops for students in school or in the Chemistry Teaching Laboratory in Oxford. Find out more on the Chemistry Department website.
Bebras computing challenge
The Bebras Computing Challenge introduces computational thinking to school students (year 2 to 13). Each participant answer questions (online in their own school) that focus on computational and logical thinking. Find out more on the Bebras website.
HOPE for the future NLHF funded project
HOPE for the Future is a three-year project at Oxford University Museum of Natural History funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Through a programme of free activities for KS2 and 3 students the programme aims to nurture and enthuse children and young people about natural sciences generally and insects in particular. Find out more on the Museum's website.
IntoSTEM
These careers workshops are aimed at KS3 students/parents from BAME backgrounds, encouraging the study of STEM from a careers perspective and run by Hertford College. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Events and activities in medical sciences subjects
Classroom demonstration in big data
Play the Data Games! This is an opportunity for primary school pupils to learn what data can tell us and how it can be collected, sorted and organised to help population health research. Run by the Nuffield Department of Population Health, you can contact [email protected] for more information.
Classroom demonstration on laboratory testing
There are secrets in our blood! Join a demonstration for key stage 2-4 pupils of the different components of blood and methods for testing samples, to show how valuable it is for investigating the causes of diseases. Run by the Nuffield Department of Population Health, you can contact [email protected] for more information.
Classroom demonstration to explain epidemiological research
How do scientists find out what puts people at risk of disease? Take part in a game for key stage 2-4 pupils to explain epidemiology and how research studies are carried out. Run by the Nuffield Department of Population Health, you can contact [email protected] for more information.
Resilience to stress
Building resilience to stress is an important skill to develop. This programme helps students understand what happens in their brain when they are stressed and gives practical tools to combat stress immediately and in the future. Find out more on the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging website.
Big Brain Roadshow
The Big Brain Roadshow takes students (and teachers) on a journey spanning the past 200 years of brain ‘imaging’ techniques, how those techniques have given us insight into how our brain learns, speaks, and sees, and allows students to spend time chatting with researchers. Visit the website for more information.
Student careers fair stall
Join a demonstration of how biological samples are tested in a laboratory for population health research. This is an opportunity for students to meet scientists and discuss careers in laboratory research and epidemiology. Run by the Nuffield Department of Population Health, you can contact [email protected] for more information.
Events and activities in social sciences subjects
Law Ambassador school visits
Linklaters Oxford Law Access Ambassadors are available for virtual/physical school talks. These can be tailored to your needs, for example a general talk through the admissions process, a talk specifically on the LNAT or interview, assistance with study skills or writing personal statements. For more information contact [email protected] or visit the programme website.
Events and Activities offered by Oxford's Gardens, Libraries and Museums
Ashmolean Museum primary school programme
The Ashmolean offers a creative programme of gallery activities for KS1& KS2 classes inspired by collections and linked to national curriculum, for example Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Prehistory, Anglo Saxons. Find out more on the Ashmolean website or email [email protected] for more information.
Natural History Museum primary school programme
These virtual and physical workshops are linked to the science and geography national curriculum, for example an evolution workshop for KS2. For more information visit the Natural History Museum website or email [email protected].
History of Science Museum primary schools programme
The History of Science Museum offers a wide range of science and cross-curricular facilitated workshops for all key stages physical and virtual. For more information visit the programme website or email [email protected].
Iffley Academy Partnership
This is a partnership spanning the University's Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) that offers a secondary school SEN project designed in collaboration with teachers leading to Arts Award. For more information visit the GLAM website or email [email protected].
Pitt Rivers Museum Secondary School and FE Sessions
The Pitt Rivers offers a wide range of hands-on taught workshops for pupils in years 7 to 13 based on the museum collections and the school curriculum. For more information visit the museum website or email [email protected].
History of Science Museum outreach visits to schools
The History of Science Museum offers outreach visits to local schools linked to ongoing projects and visits to the Museum. For more information visit the museum website or email [email protected].
Natural History Museum Secondary School Programme
The Oxford Museum of Natural History offers virtual and physical workshops linked to the science, geography and art curriculum, with topics including biodiversity and evolution. For more information visit the museum website or email [email protected].