Sixth Formers go to Oxford

Barnsley Sixth Form College students had the opportunity to learn about life at a top university when they visited the University of Oxford.

The trip enabled the students to engage in a number of university-level sessions including subject-specific Law and History of Music in Film sessions.

A tour of the university was followed by a question and answer session with current students giving the group an insight into what it is like to study and live at Oxford. The students also took part in a session aimed at helping to develop their critical thinking skills.

The visit was organised by the College’s Academic Excellence Academy, which develops skills and provides opportunities for students who are applying to the UK’s top universities and for early deadline courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences.

Student Alice Simmonds said: “The trip to Oxford was a great opportunity to speak to student ambassadors and learn about their experiences as university students. We also listened to some of the lecturers at Oxford who gave a taster in Law and Music which was very interesting. Overall, the trip helped me gain a better understanding of university life at Oxford and encouraged me to consider it as an option.”

Denise Jelly, Principal at Barnsley Sixth Form College, added: “The trip was a great opportunity for our students to visit the University of Oxford and find out what the university can offer and what it would be like to live and study in the city. We aim to transform lives and encouraging our students to strive for the very best is part of that.”

Representatives from the University of Oxford also visited Barnsley Sixth Form College to deliver a talk to current and prospective students about applying to and studying at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Students and parents got an opportunity to be inspired by a former University of Oxford student talking about their experiences and were able to ask questions about the admissions and interview process and the selection of colleges.