DON DEAL AS EVIE HEADS TO OXFORD
A WESTWOOD College student is to study at Oxford University – despite having to sit her admission exam in Vietnam.
Evie Graham will be taking up her place at Oxford this autumn to read history and politics at one of their oldest colleges, New College, which was founded in 1379.
Evie secured her place in style by achieving two A* grades and one A.
The Leek teenager admits she did not at first think she was good enough to apply. It took a while for her to reject the view that Oxbridge was only for the privileged few.
She said: “If it hadn’t been for my teachers at Westwood and the Step Up programme instilling self-belief in me, I might not have applied to Oxford.”
Elora Chakma, Westwood College’s Oxbridge Coordinator, added: “All Evie’s teachers recognised her very special combination of high intellect and sincere curiosity that top universities are looking for but she needed some persuading.”
In fact, Evie’s late decision to apply to Oxford was met with another obstacle: she wouldn’t even be in the country for the crucial admission test.
Last October, the date of the test fell during the national half-term. As Evie had not anticipated applying to Oxford, she had booked a trip to Vietnam to learn about the country’s educational and cultural ethos by spending some time at a school there.
For a while, it looked as if circumstances would bring Evie’s Oxford application to an end, as sitting the admissions test was mandatory for her chosen course.
Yet, Evie did manage to sit the admissions test – in Vietnam.
Evie said: “Having been convinced to apply, you can imagine how disappointed I was when I thought I wouldn’t be able to sit the test. However, my teachers at Westwood were tireless in communicating with the British Council, Oxford University and educational centres in Hanoi which enabled me to sit the test in Vietnam. Staff came up against really difficult bureaucracy and language barriers.”
Evie also recognised the support of the Step Up programme, a scheme financed by New College. Westwood is one of the few state schools nationally to have been selected as applications are hugely competitive. The programme is now in its third year and has expanded, but Westwood College was one of only 10 schools to be chosen for its pilot scheme.
Sixth formers visit the university often for workshops and their representatives visit Leek. Daniel Powell, the university’s Step Up advisor will be visiting Westwood in November to motivate a group of Y12 students to break the stereotypes that surround Oxford.
And 32 current Y11s will be visiting Oxford University this autumn to experience the annual open day.
The college also have very good links with Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge University.
A college spokesman said: “One of our former students, Becki Wood, graduated with first class honours this summer in French and Italian from Oxford. We have also learnt that our Oxford trio from last year – Emily Cook, Lauryn Deaville and Libby Nicholls – all passed their first year exam with flying colours.
“If you have a genuine passion for a subject and would like to study at world renowned educational establishments such as Oxbridge, you must pursue your goal.”