Trip to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

In November Mrs Newby, Aspire Coordinator, Mr Jones, Head of Year 11, and Ms Moser from the Sixth Form team took 41 Year 11s and 12s to our partner college, Lady Margaret Hall, at the University of Oxford.

Since Covid, Mrs Newby and Mr White have run this trip virtually from the Sixth Form Common Room and this was the first time since that we had been able to go again in person.

Students and staff were met by their Outreach Officer who gave a very insightful presentation about the application process and life as a student at Oxford. She was also able to debunk several myths and provide practical tips and ideas.

Student ambassadors then gave a tour of Lady Margaret Hall where our students got a feel for living in college, saw the fantastic sports facilities including the punt on the river, wandered through the beautiful gardens near University Parks and met the college library cat! The ambassadors were also happy to chat through their week, explaining lectures and the tutorial system and sharing their own interview and application experiences.

Following a delicious lunch in the hall, two Cotswold School alumni, Joe (2017) and Ethan (2019), studying Medicine and Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies respectively, shared their own experiences of studying in Oxford, as well as advising current students who are considering applying. Thank you to Joe and Ethan for giving up their time – it was great to see the Year 11s and 12s keen to ask so many questions. Joe and Ethan were also happy to have their photograph taken with Mr Jones – Joe’s form tutor in Year 7 and Ethan’s Head of Year in Year 11!

Our Year 11s and 12s were a real credit to the school during the entire visit and it was an inspiring day for all.