In your Region
Oxford for West Midlands is keen to target its outreach at communities that need its support the most. Working together, our colleges will ensure that all state schools across the West Midlands will be given access to guidance and resources on supporting Oxford applications. Alongside working with individual schools, collaborative programmes for the region involving multiple schools, organisations, and areas are also available.
We list all these activities below, and they also appear on our event calendar.
For students: Schools Access Programme (all year groups) | Oxbridge Student Conferences (Year 12) | Essay Competitions (Year 12)
For teachers: Schools Access Programme | Regional Teacher conferences | Oxbridge Student Conferences
For families: Supporting Higher Education Choices
For students
Schools Access Programme (all year groups)
The Oxford for West Midlands team visit priority state schools throughout the academic year. We often bring student ambassadors who come from the regions with us, so you have the chance to speak with someone who knows your region and has up-to-date experience of what it is like to study at Oxford. The programme includes a range of activities for students of different ages, from advice on choosing GCSEs and A Levels through to university applications. The events are hosted by a school and are often open for students from other local schools to attend. Please ask your teacher about attending one of these events. Oxford for West Midlands colleges are also continuing to use virtual talks and sessions to engage with and advise schools and colleges in their region. This offers greater flexibility for offering sessions to individual institutions. Teachers should contact the college responsible for their area to find out more.
Oxbridge Student Conferences (Year 12)
These events are aimed at Year 12 students who are studying for their A Levels (or equivalent) and are beginning to consider their options for study beyond Sixth Form. The conferences are designed as Open Days on the road, and bring experienced admissions staff, subject specialists and current students from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to venues around the UK. 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 undergraduates find life at Oxford and Cambridge. More details of these events are found on the Oxford and Cambridge students conference website. Please ask your teacher about attending one of these events.
Essay Competitions (Year 12)
- Oriel College invites entries from Year 12 students for the Lloyd Davies Philosophy Prize each spring. A variety of essay titles are available to Year 12 thinkers, whether or not they have studied Philosophy before or not.
- Keble College runs a Year 12 Theology essay competition to encourage students from around the world to consider in-depth questions around the subject. More information will be available by the beginning of April 2022 on the Keble College website.
Details of other academic competitions open to students across the country are available on the University of Oxford website.
Oxford for West Midlands is currently reviewing the support it delivers to students, and hope to update this webpage soon with further details of our programmes in your area.
For Teachers
Schools Access Programme
We visit and interact online with a large number of state schools throughout the year and deliver sessions to different year groups on a range of topics. Some sessions are about university in general, whilst others focus on the University of Oxford, for example:
For Year 12 and 13
- Making a Competitive Application to University, Oxford and the Application Process
- Personal Statement Workshop
- Admissions Test Workshop
- Interview Workshop (suitable for Oxbridge applicants)
- Support for Oxford Offer Holders
For Years 9, 10 and 11
- University and Future Choices: GCSEs, A Levels and how they link to university courses
- Why University? Why Oxford? The purpose of university, myth-busting, the cost and a brief introduction to the Russell Group and the University of Oxford
For Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
- Higher Education Explained: Exploring university and what it might be like to study there
- Oxplore workshops
Whilst the majority of our outreach is directed at older students, we are also able to provide some sessions for primary aged pupils to help them understand university education. Please contact the college linked to your area for more information.
Oxford for West Midlands can also share information on other topics related to widening access and Oxford admissions during access visits. If you have any particular interests that you would like us to address, please do get in touch either with your link college or via our contact form.
Oxford for West Midlands colleges are responsible for outreach activity in the following areas:
- Oriel College: Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire, Herefordshire
- Keble College: Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Warwickshire
- University College: Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, Telford and the Wrekin
Some events will be open for students from different local schools to attend. Please contact the college listed for your region for details of school visits your students can join this year and to discuss hosting similar events for students in the future.
Oxbridge Student Conferences
Whilst these events are aimed at Year 12 students, the events also include updates on admissions and outreach for accompanying teachers.
The conferences are designed as Open Days on the road, and bring experienced admissions staff, subject specialists and current students from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to venues around the UK. 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 undergraduates find life at Oxford and Cambridge. More details and booking arrangements are found on the Oxford and Cambridge students conference website.
Regional Teacher Conferences
The University recognises the key role that teachers and careers advisers play in encouraging students to make informed decisions, so we run regional teacher conferences. During these conferences, we welcome the chance to talk with teachers and advisers about supporting your students through all aspects of considering and applying to Oxford. Sign up to attend the next conference in your region or email [email protected] .
For Families
Supporting Higher Education Choices
Our colleges often attend parents’ and carers’ talks that are hosted by schools as part of our schools access programme. We are happy to talk with you about how you can support your child to make a competitive application to universities like Oxford, as well as answer any specific questions you might have. Schools will advertise any parent and carer talks that they are hosting, but if you have any specific questions about Oxford, you are welcome to get in touch.