Novel approach to Oxbridge success (From Crewe Guardian)

Novel approach to Oxbridge success

8:10am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News By Matthew Taylor

A COLLEGE in Crewe will construct a replica Oxford University don’s office in an attempt to help students pass notoriously tense Oxbridge entry interviews.

Oxford’s Pembroke College has joined forces with South Cheshire College to help put students at ease before they go for interviews at the world-famous university.

The mock up office at South Cheshire’s Dane Bank Avenue campus aims to encourage more students to apply to the university and other leading institutions.

The link-up is part of the Pem-Brooke project, spearheaded by Pembroke College and focusing on improving access for students to competitive universities.

Linda Buchanan, honours programme Co-ordinator at South Cheshire College, said: “Going for an interview at Oxford can be a daunting experience, but giving students the opportunity to use the don’s study will help them enormously beforehand.

“If they are able to use the study for research and mock interviews, they will be much more able to cope at the actual interview without being thrown by an unfamiliar environment.”

The room which will offer a place for reflective study, house mock interviews and be home to visiting dons and undergraduate students from Oxford, who will be working closely with South Cheshire College students to prepare them for the move to University.

For more information about courses at South Cheshire College, please call 01270 654654 or visit www.s-cheshire.ac.uk