Gifted and Able Programe
NEW College is committed to supporting every student in achieving their potential.
A key initiative in this area is our Gifted and Able programme, planned to help us meet the needs of students’ with high ability, potential and talent.
You may be interested in our Gifted and Able programme if one or more of the following describes you:
You expect to achieve outstanding GCSE results
You intend to apply for a course at a competitive university
As a Gifted and Able student you will be part of our Gifted and Able group, and will experience a wide variety of challenging and exciting learning opportunities inside and outside college, each are planned to help you achieve your potential whilst at the same time having a first-rate college experience among friends and teachers. During your time at college you will be given information, advice and guidance to help you plan your progression and prepare for transition from college to your next stage.
Our Gifted and Able group is called the G&A group. Together with a team of specialist staff, you will be invited to join in a range of additional activities and will be given an individual guidance programme if you apply to Oxford or Cambridge, since the application and interview process is different and demanding.
As well as helping you with progression to HE, the G7 programme will ensure that you are provided with appropriate challenging material in each of your subjects, and will involve you in lots of opportunities outside class, such as Debating Competitions, conferences, trips to universities including an Oxford and Cambridge residential, a film club, book club and many other activities.
Oxbridge
Since NEW College opened we have built up a programme of advice and support for prospective Oxbridge candidates.
This involves:
• Oxbridge meetings
• A two day visit at the end of June to the Oxford and Cambridge Open Days, including overnight stay in one of the colleges
• A suggested summer vacation programme of study
• Help with decisions in September
• Help with application forms
• Meeting ex-NEW College students currently at Oxbridge
• Early reference writing
• Preparation for the all-important interview, specialist teacher support, and the latest advice from colleges on what to expect
What chance do I have? You need to be under no illusions about the competition for places. The Admissions Tutors in the colleges are largely faced with similar very able students. So what else can you offer?
• Hard work; you meet deadlines
• You are perceptive
• Enthusiasm for and evidence of interest in your chosen subject beyond the confines of the A Level syllabus
• Where appropriate, relevant work experience
• Could you interview well? Oxbridge interviews are really oral examinations. You will receive help with interview technique.
In the last five years, 20 NEW College students have received offers from Oxbridge colleges
Applying to Oxbridge 2011 – 2012:
December - June: Gather Information
June/July: Open Days
August: AS Results
September: Consultation
October: Application in and UCAS
November: Practice Interview
December: Interviews
Christmas/January: Decision
June/July: STEP (if applicable)
August: Results
October: You are an undergraduate!
If you do get an offer then you will almost certainly be asked for either A*AA or AAA at A Level. Further, most Cambridge colleges ask mathematicians to sit their own STEP exam (Sixth Term Examination Paper) which they set at the end of the A Level exam period in summer.
What will it cost? Contrary to what some people think, whatever your household income, you can afford to come to Oxbridge. Going to any university means having to think about money and plan carefully, but going to Oxbridge is no more expensive than anywhere else.
What next? Judith Lawson and Karen Smitten, our NEW College Oxbridge Co-ordinators, will be posting details about:
• Oxbridge meetings in college (first meeting in January)
• Meetings in college with ex-NEW College students currently at Oxbridge
• The three day trip to Oxford and Cambridge (end of June)