Aspire Students Visit Oxford University

On Tuesday 28th February 2023, our highest achieving students from the Aspire Programme were invited to visit Oxford University, Mansfield College, for a tour and taster day. JLC has developed a strong relationship with Mansfield college, who support us as our Oxford University partner.

A party of 40 travelled by coach to visit the city and meet staff and students from the University. During our visit we saw both ancient and modern colleges, fascinating museums and galleries, and plenty of parks, gardens and green spaces in which to relax. Oxford is not a campus university, it is made up of individual colleges. Colleges are a collection of buildings, often historic and attractive, which form a small self-enclosed community. Within each college complex you find student accommodation, common rooms, cafes and bars, library and computer facilities (often open 24/7), and offices for staff members.

On arrival to Oxford the students were led by Aspire Tutor and Oxford University Alumni, David Cooper, to Mansfield College Lecture Hall. There we met with Mansfield Colleges' Access officer Sarah Large. Sarah was accompanied by Senior Tutor Lucinder Rumsey, who talked to the students about writing Personal Statements and preparing for applying to university. Our group also had the chance to hear from three current Oxford University students, all at various points in their degree programme. They led a Q&A session which our students found particularly insightful. After a tour of the College University buildings, gardens, library and study rooms, and a complimentary hot lunch, the students then took part in two taster sessions on Psychology and History led by the school liaison team.

To finish the visit, the students enjoyed a walking tour around Oxford City led by David, before heading home. The day helped our students understand how achievable it is for them to successfully apply to study at one of the top universities in the world, and we are already planning a second visit to Oxford amongst other trips to other top universities in the country.