In the most challenging year yet for Oxbridge offers to independent schools, Surbiton High School is pleased to announce the following students have achieved offers to Oxford and Cambridge Universities:
Anna – Education, English, Drama and the Arts, Homerton College, Cambridge
Ava – History, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Jade – Human, Social and Political Science, Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Poppy – French and (ab initio) Italian, Girton College, Cambridge
The above will join the following who deferred their offers from last year to start this October:
Niamh – Education, Policy and International Development, Homerton College, Cambridge
Lauren – Engineering, Peterhouse, Cambridge
Our strongly embedded Oxbridge programme is the foundation for these successes and between 2017 and 2022, 43 students have received Oxbridge offers. In a context where Oxbridge offers to independent schools have gone from nearly 50% in 2010 to below 30% in 2021, it is testament to the school’s students and staff that our offers have gone in the reverse direction. We are a School that prides itself on adding value and bringing out the best in everyone; our approach to Oxbridge and university admissions is no exception.
Mr Terry McDermott, Director of Careers and Head of Oxbridge, stated: “I am delighted by our Oxbridge results again, not least given the particularly competitive environment (a product of more reapplicants, fewer places and an emphasis on widening participation). However, regardless of the outcome of a student’s application, what is even more gratifying is to see so many of our students continuing to challenge themselves by applying. Our Oxbridge success demonstrates that at Surbiton High School you do not have choose between academic excellence and enjoying other pursuits like sport, drama or community work. All our offer recipients have rich lives beyond their academics. For example, Jade, who came to us in Sixth Form and has just received an offer to read for a degree in Human, Social and Political Science at Cambridge, is a GB netball player and an Art Scholar as well as having an Academic Scholarship.”
Jade added: “I’m very thankful for the way the School has allowed me to explore my interests in politics, sociology and anthropology, and to think critically about them. In studying Art A-level, I was able to explore my passions, especially politics. Researching the black presence in art history was a stepping stone to take on a role in Black History Month at School. I have also been able to balance my academic studies alongside England Netball.”
On an interesting side note, our twins – Niamh and Anna – will be starting at the same college (Homerton) in the same intake (2022) for the same course (Education – although they are choosing different tracks – Niamh will study Education, Policy and International Development and Anna will read Education, English, Drama and the Arts). We are delighted for them both and look forward to hearing the exciting things they will get up to on these innovative courses which are all about making positive social change.
