Oxford for South West
At the University of Oxford, we have a long history of working with schools and students from across the South West of England. We are now launching a new approach to improve how the university collaborates with these schools and to encourage more students from the South West to make successful applications to Oxford and other top UK universities.
Who are we?
What is Oxford for South West?
Oxford for South West brings together three Oxford colleges with established links in the region: Exeter, Lady Margaret Hall and Merton. Together, we work with pupils, teachers and families to provide bespoke support where it’s needed, from helping raise attainment to offering professional advice about applying to university.
The local authorities supported by Oxford for East England are:
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth
- Bristol, City of
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- Isles of Scilly
- North Somerset
- Plymouth
- Poole
- Torbay
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
Aims
Our aims are ambitious and focus on supporting students from backgrounds that are underrepresented at Oxford, and their schools. Through Oxford for South West, we aim to:
- Help students in the South West enjoy their learning, to think big and become independent learners
- Inspire students of all ages and from all backgrounds to have the confidence to be themselves and to be ambitious about their futures
- Support raising attainment of primary level, GCSE and A-level students
- Offer information and skills development to support studying in FE, HE and the University of Oxford
- Encourage more students from the South West to aim for top universities and to achieve their goals
- Increase the number of students at Oxford from currently under-represented groups
- Ensure Oxford University is a realistic goal for anyone with academic talent and commitment.
For more details on the research underpinning these targets, please read the University of Oxford's Access and Participation Plan.
Working together
We are also developing partnerships with local authorities, multi academy trusts, community organisations, local universities and social mobility organisations.
Please note that if you or your school do not fall into our access categories, there is still plenty of advice and support available for you here and on the University website. All schools, sixth form and further education colleges have a point of contact within University of Oxford who will be happy to provide information and advice on admissions and outreach. Please contact Oxford for South West link colleges directly for support.
Impact
We do not expect to make radical changes overnight, but hope to build lasting partnerships with schools across the region that will deliver benefits for their whole school community as well as for the University. We will evaluate the impact of our outreach across the South West.
Get in touch
The three colleges which make up Oxford for South West collaborate in planning and evaluation to ensure a consistent approach across the whole region. To make communication timely and manageable, they each have a direct responsibility for a number of Local Authorities within the region – if you’re a student or teacher from the South West, you should get in touch with your ‘linked’ college below in the first instance.
Cornwall, Devon, Isles of Scilly, Plymouth, Somerset, Torbay, North Somerset, Bristol (shared)
- You are linked with Exeter College.
Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol (shared)
- You are linked with Lady Margaret Hall.
Bournemouth, Dorset, Poole, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol (shared)
- You are linked with Merton College.