Nine bright minds from Xaverian College have received offers to study at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.
The journey to securing offers from these prestigious universities is rigorous and highly competitive, requiring not only exceptional academic performance but also strong extracurricular involvement and a compelling personal statement.
Among the students receiving offers are aspiring scientists, linguists, historians, and mathematicians, each demonstrating exceptional aptitude and passion in their chosen fields.
Orla Chidgey, former pupil at The Barlow RC High School, is currently studying A Levels in Biology, English Literature and History and has received an offer to study History at the University of Cambridge. She said: “When I first joined Xaverian I aspired to pursue a Degree in Law, however when I joined the Oxbridge Programme, I was quickly encouraged to pursue a subject I was truly passionate about, which led me to History. The College has been really supportive throughout the application process, particularly in arranging lots of mock interviews, as this is one of the most daunting aspects.”
Louis Kidger, who has received an offer to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford, added: “I am also pursuing a Degree in a subject I love! PPE is a versatile subject which lends itself to numerous careers, which is really exciting and over the next few years I’ll have the opportunity to surround myself with some of the world’s leading minds.”
Diogo Figueiredo, completed his GCSEs at Chorlton High School, before joining the College in September 2022 to study A Levels in Ancient History, Biology and Mathematics, said: “I’ve always known that I wanted to apply to the University of Oxford. I knew that the College would support me, and one aspect that I found really useful was the opportunities they provided for us to get involved with ‘super-curricular’ programmes, as this allowed me to seek advice from experts in my subject of choice. I would encourage anyone interested in Oxbridge to stay curious and to start challenging themselves academically as early as possible.”
All students were part of the College’s specialist ‘Oxbridge Programme’, a unique and tailored programme that prepares students to apply to these universities.
Jenny Ayres, Oxbridge Coordinator, said: “It’s a really exciting time of year, as our students’ offers come in and once again, they have done exceptionally well to secure highly competitive offers on such a diverse range of subjects.
“Our Oxbridge Programme really is like no other! Working in partnership with our careers team and the universities, our students receive bespoke support and excellent opportunities to give them the best possible chance of gaining a place, however our continued success is due to the hard work and academic rigor of our students!”
Tony Knowles, Principal, added: “The College has a long-standing tradition of fostering academic excellence and supporting students in their pursuit of higher education. In recent weeks, hundreds more students at Xaverian have received offers from other top UK universities, including, Durham University, University of St Andrews, The University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, University of Warwick and more.
“I’m incredibly proud of their achievements – a big well done to them, and to our fantastic staff and wonderful families who are supporting them in taking their next steps!”
Other students with offers include:
• Anree Bektashi-Brown (Home Educated) - University of Oxford, Biology
• Elsa Vass-De-Zomba (Stretford Grammar School) - University of Oxford, Music
• Hannah Warburton (Flixton Girls School) - University of Oxford, Modern Languages (German) and Linguistics
• Jenna Stieger (Glossopdale School) - University of Cambridge, Natural Sciences
• Livia Boyle (Glossopdale School) - University of Oxford, History
• Nicholas Youmbi-Youdom (The Barlow RC High School) - University of Oxford, Economics and Management
As one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the region, Xaverian College offers exciting opportunities to over 2800 students. To find out more, visit xaverian.ac.uk – This Is Your Place!