This year, three more students are joining the impressive roster of former Ashton Sixth Form College students that have progressed onto Oxbridge institutions. Following in the footsteps of Student Council President Sam Thomas, who progressed to the University of Oxford last year, Ashton Sixth Form College students Joe Gregory, Eleanor Ormsby and Nathan Caldecott have this year secured places at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Former West Hill School student Joe Gregory is one of our star students and highest achievers. Alongside his academic work Joe has worked as a Student Ambassador and has represented his peers within his position on the Student Council. Joe has achieved an outstanding grades in his A Levels (A*, A*, A*, B) and has secured his place at the University of Cambridge. Last year Joe took part in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and achieved a “Rontgenium” award which placed him in the top 0.8 % of all the students who took the paper (6500 across the country). 

Eleanor Ormsby (former student of All Saints Catholic College) has always been ambitious and has attended many of the college’s ‘Raising Aspirations’ events. Eleanor fought hard for her place at Oxford, attending Oxford’s UNIQ summer school and accessing several mock interviews with the Ashton XL and Raising Aspirations team. She excelled in her A-Level exams, gaining and impressive four A grades.

Nathan Caldecott was a student at Ashton Sixth Form College from 2011-2013, studying Fine Art, Physics and Maths gaining A, A and A* grades in his respective subjects. He left last year to complete and Art Foundation course at Manchester Metropolitan University. His hard work and dedication have been rewarded and he has been offered a place at the University of Oxford to read Fine Art.

Nathan said “The staff at Ashton went above and beyond to tailor my learning – facilitating extracurricular clubs and residencies, and additional courses, modules and 1-1 tuition whenever I needed, or wanted them. The value they provided to the direction and scale of my education was immeasurable.”

All three students were part of the Ashton XL scheme that supports high achievers. Students on this scheme receive targeted support from expert tutors and have access to a range of enrichment activities such as Oxford and Cambridge conferences, residential courses at Villiers Park Educational Trust, Cambridge and mock Oxbridge style interviews with tutors from Oxford and Cambridge. 

Ashton Sixth Form College has strong links with the Pembroke College, Oxford and was chosen to be their North West Hub for Theology. Staff also attend regular training conferences at Pembroke College to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge needed to encourage and support students to apply for Oxford and Cambridge.