Cambridge and Oxford University have officially released their offers for students this year. Three fantastic students from Ashton Sixth Form College have successfully received offers from the prestigious institutions.

Asha Ali, Jonathan Le and Olivia Harrison have all received offers. Each student receiving offers are part of the Ashton XL programme at the college. The programme is aimed at ensuring high achieving students have access to unique opportunities and tailored support that enables them to achieve their goals. 

Asha Ali studies Biology, Chemistry, Maths and the EPQ at Ashton. She has gained an offer from the University of Oxford to study Biochemistry. Her high school education took place at Great Academy Ashton.

Jonathan Le is studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and the EPQ. He has received an offer to study Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. He started his early education at Droylsden Academy.

Olivia Harrison is studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and the EPQ at Ashton. She has an offer to study Maths at Cambridge University. She completed her high school studies at Great Academy Ashton.

Damian Windle, Ashton XL Manager, is extremely proud of the students, saying, 

“This year has been the most challenging of circumstances for our Oxbridge applicants, with remote interviews, isolated home learning and many students having never even visited Oxford or Cambridge. Therefore, these offers are testament to the students' hard work and perseverance and the continued excellence of the outstanding teaching, learning and support available at Ashton Sixth Form College.”

Throughout the pandemic, the XL programme has worked extremely hard to ensure that students continue to gain access to programmes, schemes and summer schools that further their learning and understanding. Many of these became ‘virtual’ alternatives and the students have showed tremendous dedication and ability.

Olivia Harrison who has an offer from Oxford said,

“I’m elated about the offer, it’s what I’ve wanted for a long time and I never thought that I’d be able to achieve it with such a high level of competition.”

Olivia also managed to attend the Cambridge Shadowing Scheme before lockdown came in to place, explaining, 

“At the beginning of last year, I participated in the Cambridge Shadowing Scheme where I shadowed a Natural Sciences student. I experienced lectures and daily life at the university, and beforehand I wasn’t sure if I wanted to study maths or science, until I realised the parts I enjoyed the most were about maths. I was able to get a feel for the city, the accommodation I stayed in and the people there. The whole experience was amazing, and this was definitely what made me want to apply to Cambridge.”

The Cambridge Shadowing Scheme is an example of just one opportunity selected for XL students, allowing them the best possible prospect at gaining a place on competitive degree programmes.

Ashton Sixth Form College supports high achieving students every year and has a remarkable history of ensuring their students progress on to a range of positive destinations. In early 2020, the college was awarded an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating and continues to provide high quality education for young people across Tameside and Greater Manchester.

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Find out more about the Ashton XL programme here.