Every year hundreds of Priestley students secure university places including at the UK’s most competitive institutions like Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group.
The Graduate Programme is an extra-curricular activity that prepares Priestley students applying for university places, helping them stand out from the crowd.
It is academic and challenging, ensuring those learners with aspirations to study at the likes of Oxford and Cambridge develop the skills they need to fulfil their goals.
We also offer a Pre Med programme for anyone aiming to go into Medicine and for aspiring lawyers there is the Pre Law specialism, which prepares students for careers in this area.
From Priestley to Oxford and Cambridge
Each year students from Priestley College secure places at the UK’s most prestigious universities and each year we like to catch up with a few of them to see how their university experience is going. Here’s what they have to say..
Securing top university places
Throughout the year we invite speakers into college to help you make the right decisions about your future.
In the past year we’ve enjoyed fascinating talks by representatives from Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, Liverpool and Queen Mary University of London.
Annually we are visited by York, UCLan, Dundee, Arts University of London, Liverpool Hope and Chester universities. They offer advice on securing university places, writing personal statements, degree apprenticeships and early applicant interviews for Oxbridge.Â
Another tool you will have to assist you is UNIFROG. This online platform will help you to make the best choices and submit the strongest applications.
Priestley also organises a number of study days at University College Oxford for those students aiming to study at Russell Group universities designed.
Each year we dedicate Choices Week to helping students gather all the information they need about securing university places. More than 100 sessions take place.
Priestley is an OxNet Hub
Priestley College is one of seven OxNet Hub Schools, and employs an OxNet Coordinator who acts as a link between Pembroke College, Oxford and Priestley College. Attainment driven, informed by evidence and unapologetically academic in its focus, OxNet runs five intensive courses.
Each course includes participation in a Study Skills Day, a six-week Seminar Series, an Easter Essay Competition, Twilight Talks and our famous August Summer School, otherwise known as Access Week.
Priestley College is a regional subject centre for Modern Languages and has the title of North West Centre for Languages and Cultures.
The North West Centre for Languages and Cultures works collaboratively with Pembroke College, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London and Lancaster University strengthen the position of Modern Foreign Languages in schools and sixth form colleges in the North-West region.
This means that Priestley is a hub of languages-related outreach activity including, but not limited to, ab initio languages taster sessions, reading groups and a global film club.Â
Inspiring students to secure Oxford and Cambridge university places
The Oxnet facilitates contact between Priestley College and the University of Oxford via Pembroke College. This is not the extent of the relationship between Priestley and the collegiate university.Â
Oxplore, an outreach initiative led by the University of Oxford, has a relationship with TCAT. This means that students are able to engage closely with the central university. Â
Each year, we are visited by guests from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge who give tailored advice and guidance to our students.
Helping you to excel
All your teachers will help you to reach your full potential, but we also have a team dedicated to raising the aspirations of Priestley students.
Chris Peacock is Head of Languages and Applied Social Sciences and oversees The Graduate. He has a BA from Liverpool University in Sociology and Criminology and worked in countries such as Nigeria and China before entering teaching. During these years he learned how to speak Mandarin.
Guy is our Graduate Tutor and OxNet Coordinator. He graduated from University College, Oxford with a BA in History and Politics. From a working-class background himself, he is passionate about helping students from underrepresented backgrounds realise their ambitions and secure places at top universities.
Jenny George is a former Bridgewater High School pupil who studied at Priestley College. She went on to secure a 1st Class Philosophy Degree from the University of Warwick.
Dan Martin is our Pastoral Head in charge of overseeing students’ UCAS applications.
Excel at Priestley brochure
For more details about how Priestley helps you Excel take some time to read our brochure. It adds more detail to what you have read on this page and gives you a better idea of the ethos behind the Excel Programme.
