Stories

St Dunstan’s College is delighted to reveal four students have been offered places at the University of Oxford.

Sixth Form students Claudia, Adam, David, and Bjorn have all been offered places at the prestigious university following the application and interview process. Headmaster, Nicholas Hewlett, celebrated the news explaining: ‘These are outstanding outcomes that showcase the terrific academic success being realised at St Dunstan’s in so many different areas.’

Speaking about the news, St Dunstan’s Deputy Head Academic, Jonathan Holmes said: ‘This is a tremendous achievement for these four students, their teachers, and the whole Oxbridge team here at St Dunstan’s, and to get these Oxford places is a further sign of the academic excellence achieved from our ambitious and driven students.

‘To see such a diversity of subjects from Theology to Engineering is a testament to the broad Sixth Form curriculum we offer here at St Dunstan’s, where each individual’s potential is explored and guided to the full as part of our Diploma programme. Very well done Claudia, Bjorn, David, and Adam!”

Claudia, who has been offered a place to read medicine at Somerville College, said: ‘I’m very, very happy to have got into Oxford following the long application process. It’s been a long process, which started in Year 12 with the Oxbridge club. This really helped you think outside the box and consider things you might not necessarily think about, for example how to approach topics in a more abstract way, which really helped in the interview.’

Adam, who has been offered a place to read Physics at St Catherine’s College, explained: ‘I’m thrilled about being offered a place. It started very early with the UCAS application, but I felt prepared and supported from the academic team. There’s a lot of revision and preparation.’

Bjorn, who has been offered a place to read Engineering at Pembroke College, said: ‘It feels really good, the whole family are really excited. Luckily, I don’t have to keep checking my phone every hour. I had a lot of support from Mr Elmes and Mr Scambler. In Year 12, I was part of the Further Physics club, where we would go through practice papers. This really helped me prepare for the exams. We also got to have interview experience with teachers and visitors.’

David, who has been offered a place to read Theology and Religion at Regent’s Park College, said: ‘Finding out I had got into Oxford was amazing, straight away I called my mum, she was crying, everyone was cheering. It was a beautiful moment, it felt like being in a movie!’

David, who joined at the Sixth Form, through our bursary programme, added: ‘That programme allowed me to even think about coming to an independent school and have the resources to be able to do the things I wanted to do. It really did help me a lot and I’m very grateful for the opportunities. It changed my life for the better and gave me a way to focus on a path that I want to do, so I’m very grateful for the opportunity being given to me – but I also pat myself on the back because I have worked really hard for this.’

Oxbridge Coordinator, Thomas Scambler added: ‘These successful students have engaged positively with the Oxbridge programme here at St Dunstan’s – attending our Oxbridge Preparation Series to learn all about the application process, how to decide on a course, how to select the right College, how to embark on a fulfilling reading programme, not to mention putting in many extra hours in departments preparing for the all-important entrance exams.’

The College is also pleased to report that 35 students have also been offered places at Russell Group universities, with others waiting to hear back.

Congratulations to everyone!

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