Alumni offer words of inspiration to Oxbridge hopefuls

TWO Priestley alumni have sent inspiring messages to those in the current cohort who are aiming to study at the UK’s most competitive universities.

Amber Ford and Cameron Matthews, both now studying at the University of Oxford, wanted the current crop of A-Level students to know that geography was no barrier to studying at the top educational institutions. 

Speaking from Regent’s Park College at Oxford, Cameron said: “Realising Oxford was an option came quite late in the game for me and only after my Graduate tutor at Priestley told me it was something I could do.

“My reaction was ‘if they think I can do it then I guess I’ll have a go’ and here we are.”

Cameron, a former pupil at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, left Priestley College last year and is now studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford.

Amber was also among the Class of 2023 and took part in several academic programmes including the Pre Med, which prepares students for higher education study as well as careers in Medicine.

She is now studying Medicine at University College, Oxford, and has thrown herself into university life. 

“You’ve got things like the Northern Society and the State School Society if you want to take part,” said the former King’s Leadership Academy pupil.

“There’s just so much for you to get stuck into all the time.”

The encouraging words of both alumni are being shared with current students as well as those considering studying at Priestley this September.

Another former Priestley student, Madgey Thompson, is President of the Northern Society at University of Oxford. Her goal – and that of the society – is to promote students from the North and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

She is studying French and Arabic at Pembroke College, but says Oxford was never something she considered until joining The Graduate programme at Priestley.

“It took me so long to get over the imposter syndrome of being at Oxford,” she said. 

“When you get to Oxford you have to remind yourself that you deserve to be here as much as anyone else.”