BSix Goes to Oxford
BSix students have just completed a week long residential at Pembroke College University of Oxford.
The residential gives BSix students an experience of studying as an Oxford undergraduate. They live in halls, attend lectures and seminars and have to write an essay. It is the climax of the Pem-Brooke scheme, a unique collaboration between Pembroke College (‘Pem’) and BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College (hence ‘Brooke’). Students are selected to attend a year-long academic programme, an Easter school on study skills and interview sessions at Pembroke.
Dr Peter Claus, Senior Research Fellow in History, at Pembroke College, had the following reflection on the experience of the summer school:
“I knew before BSix students came to Pembroke College at the University of Oxford for a residential week of study that they had talent. I had yet to be convinced that they had ambition and the confidence to realise their potential. As they went through the week experiencing life as an undergraduate, this ambition would be tested. I asked their tutors to set an essay question that might be given to undergraduates at the end of their first year. Oxford undergraduates acted as mentors and I demanded from them that these high standards were met. They were in all cases and in one case they were exceeded. When I hear that BSix will send a student to Oxford this year, that it has its sights on greater academic achievement, I could in all conscience demand no less.”
At the end of the school, selected students are given prizes for their performance on the course. Shirley Tetteh won a scholarship and was praised by Oxford students as someone who is already studying like an undergraduate.
Vivien Kintu also attended the school, returning to find that she had scored straight As in her AS levels and had even been awarded 100% in one of her Sociology exams. Vivien had the following thoughts on the residential:
“The week I spent in Oxford was really inspirational for me in many different ways. It provided me with an insight of what life for an undergraduate student is really like, both in terms of workload and also in general. I was able to experience University style lectures and was guided through the process of writing an undergraduate essay which was assessed by Oxford undergraduate tutors. The best thing about the programme is that it has given me the inner strength to aim high. Now I am certain that I want to apply to Oxbridge and if it wasn’t for this week and the programme I possibly would have dismissed this option. I was made to feel that I can aim high and I should not limit myself and for that I am very thankful.”
The first success of the Pem-Brooke scheme was Allum Bokhari who achieved three A*s at A Level and takes up a place at Queen College Oxford in October.
Pem-Brooke is part of BSix’s under mission to open up the best universities to young people in the East End of London. It forms part of a whole Raising Aspirations programme which prepares students for undergraduate life and study.
“We believe that our students are capable of matching the highest standards in the land”, says Ken Warman, BSix’s Principal. “Allum shows what can be done. He arrived at BSix two years ago with no qualifications and is now going off to Oxford to study History and Politics.”
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