Loreto and Oxbridge - two happy working relationships
I became the Oxbridge coordinator at Loreto in 2003. Since then we have furnished good working relationships with both universities. Every year it is a privilege to help some very talented students with their applications. Some give great joy, especially those who arrived at Loreto with no real aspiration of applying to a competitive university and then benefit from our program; sadly, every year, there are some immensely talented students who fail to secure an offer, but they will have been advised on other competitive universities prior to the submission of the UCAS form. It is a delight that most of the students who go on to Oxford or Cambridge from Loreto attain good degrees, with a high proportion of them gaining First Class degrees and/or who go on into postgraduate study. It is also rewarding that so many of our students who succeed in gaining offers are able to contribute so much to university life, whether it is in music or drama, sport or college life or work with the admissions teams. Our students don't only benefit from attending Oxford or Cambridge, but both universities are enriched by our former-students in a variety of ways.
2013-4
The year started with a good exposure in the Guardian ( link to web version here!) When I was interviewed my main message was about the damage that is being done by de-coupling the AS Level from the A Level. There is NO logic behind the policy whatsoever - the coupled qualification enables late shiners to be identified, it enables students to have options with their subjects and research done at Cambridge shows that it is the BEST indicator of future performance. The only benefit of decoupling is that it allows the secretary of state to leave his mark. I am delighted that John Harris was able to get across that we take students as they are, we look at whether they are suitable for Oxford or Cambridge and make sure that the students are aware of what they would be in for as Oxbridge students. Five x A* as a starting point is a guide: almost a third of the 2013-4 successful applicants were not originally on the radar: last year, 7 of the 16 offer holders did not have the 5 x A* at GCSE. We do try to give our students the best chance!
2012-3
Jenny made it to the front and inside pages of the Manchester Evening News, 16 August 2013Elle's story made it in the MEN , though they transferred her from Sidney Sussex to Murray Edwards!!! That this error was repeated in the Daily Mail's version of the story - even after they'd spoken with Elle! (The published version was corrected, see above!) |
The above article prompted a message to reach Loreto from Rome! (Though again, the journalist has not named the correct college! Elle is at SIDNEY SUSSEX and not to Murray Edwards!!!)
In the Manchester Evening News (24 August) they added more Loreto students. As well as Jenny and Elle (featuring again) they included Courtney, Laura and a piece about Liam. Jenny was rather taken aback to find that she is labelled as going to Cambridge! At least the earlier editions were correct in stating her destination as St Peter's College, Oxford!
2012-13 - The group of students with offers to start in 2013/14 are highlighted in this Loreto article.: 11 have offers from Cambridge and 5 have offers from Oxford. As ever, I'm delighted by the results - every offer is well merited, and I know that every offer-holder will thrive on their chosen course. Above you can see Joe (History), Liam (Philosophy), Lucy (Linguistics), Jenny (Engineering), Laura (Earth Sciences), Jake (PPE), Polly (HSPS), Sam (NatSci), me, Dom (NatSci), Courtney (Psychology), Pete (Maths), Rachel (Theology), John (Engineering) and Elle (Psychology). Absent from the photo are Oliver (Music) and Maryum (Economics).
As ever, there were some totally outstanding students who failed to secure offers. This is very upsetting: as it is, Durham looks like it will be establishing a Loreto 2.0 with such a talented cohort destined to read for their undergraduate degree there. Oxford and Cambridge have missed out. This year's BIGGEST mistakes by Oxford and Cambridge will be benefiting the North East - and Exeter! |
2011-12
The group of Loreto students who started at Oxford or Cambridge in October 2012 are highlighted here. Congratulations to each
of them, and I do know that they will be able to flourish in the challenging environment!
As regards the other highly talented students to whom Oxford and Cambridge did not make an offer, making BIG mistakes in some cases, I similarly wish every good fortune to them. Some have already moved on to their prestigious universities for future studies: the calibre they have shown indicate that they will, as many before them, end up with top class degrees from very high powered departments.
of them, and I do know that they will be able to flourish in the challenging environment!
As regards the other highly talented students to whom Oxford and Cambridge did not make an offer, making BIG mistakes in some cases, I similarly wish every good fortune to them. Some have already moved on to their prestigious universities for future studies: the calibre they have shown indicate that they will, as many before them, end up with top class degrees from very high powered departments.