In June, Lady Margaret Hall welcomed 115 Year 12 pupils from state schools across the UK for subject-specific Taster Days in History, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Classics and Ancient History.
Students on the Classics and Ancient History Taster Day listening to talks from tutors, including LMH Fellow in Classics Dr Guy Westwood (right).
The Taster Days form part of the College’s access and outreach work, which aims to raise aspirations and increase applications from students from backgrounds that are under-represented at Oxford.
Each day was designed to offer a brief taste of life and learning at Oxford. Students took part in academic workshops with LMH tutors, had lunch in the dining hall, toured the College with current undergraduates, and received practical guidance on the admissions process.
Interest was high: over 330 students applied for just 115 places. Of those who attended, 31% said they would be the first in their family to attend university, and 14% were eligible for free school meals. All of the students who attended come from UK state schools, some of them in LMH’s linked areas of Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Haringey.
Each event was tailored to help students stretch their thinking, build confidence, and develop a better understanding of what studying their subject at Oxford might involve:
The atmosphere across the three days was lively and positive, with enthusiastic engagement from both students and tutors. Feedback has been positive, with many students saying the experience boosted their confidence and encouraged them to consider applying to Oxford.
