Hereford Sixth Form College students are celebrating their incredible success with Oxbridge applications.

20 high-achieving students, 31% of those who applied, have been offered prestigious places to study at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

The total number of successful applicants has risen to 72 offers in three years, which puts Hereford Sixth Form College in competition with the best independent schools in the country. Last year, The Spectator reported on the most successful schools for receiving offers to Oxford and Cambridge, and Hereford Sixth Form College was placed sixth when ranked in order of the applicant to offer ratio.

STEM subjects continue to be hugely successful, with offers for Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine and Natural Science! Particularly impressive are two students who have offers to study PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) and two for Classics.

This breadth of subjects demonstrates the depth of academic rigour across the subjects, and the diversity of the interests in the gifted and talented cohort.

Bethan Talbot, a former Ysgol Gwernyfed student, has received an offer to study Classical Civilisations at the University of Oxford. Bethan is very pleased with her offer.

Bethan said: “I feel grateful, but deserving because I feel like I’ve worked hard for it. Hereford Sixth Form College made me feel more prepared and confident in applying.”

Students who are considering applying to competitive universities have access to the College’s dedicated Reach programme, which aims to help students make an informed decision about their futures.

These weekly sessions encourage students to consider the right options for them, whether this is Oxford or Cambridge, other top universities, or highly competitive degree apprenticeships.

Students who start on the Reach programme receive the bespoke support they need to compete with the best in country, and many students who complete the course choose to go on to Imperial, UCL, Warwick and Bristol, to name a few!

The College maintains incredibly close links with Oxford and Cambridge, but also an increasing circle of successful alumni who mentor the students through the application process.

Before the interviews, students benefitted from a full afternoon masterclass with Arron O’Connor, from Oriel, Oxford, about the process. 18 former students returned to the College to lead workshops on interviews, ranging from Architecture to Archaeology.

The College also ran an evening session for the families of interviewees with Ellie Wood, from Christ’s, Cambridge, so the whole family were aware of the process.

Scott Jones, a former Wigmore High School student, finished his studies with Hereford Sixth Form College last year and applied during his gap year; he has received an offer to study Computer Science at the University of Cambridge.

Scott said: “I feel pleased to have been offered a place at such a prestigious university. Hereford Sixth Form College has supported me through the admissions process; I was able to ask questions and was offered a mock interview during my gap year.”

Vicky Orsmond, creator of the Reach programme, said: “Once again our students have overcome the hardships of the pandemic and have proven themselves to be up there with the best schools in the country: our students are so academic, so driven, so impressive.

“It has been such a joy being able to support them through the process, and I know we will all keep in touch - I’ll likely be interviewing them for my YouTube for their hints, tips and support for future students of Reach!”