Monday 01 February 2021

This week Keswick School was delighted to receive notification that three A Level students have secured conditional offers from Oxford and Cambridge. Charlotte Hignett (from Gilcrux) has been offered a place at Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study Modern and Medieval Languages.

This week Keswick School was delighted to receive notification that three A Level students have secured conditional offers from Oxford and Cambridge. Charlotte Hignett (from Gilcrux) has been offered a place at Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study Modern and Medieval Languages, Sophie Mackenzie (from Workington), has been offered a place at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, to read History, and Hannah Rumney (from Ennerdale) has been offered a place at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, to study Veterinary Medicine.

Charlotte said “I am absolutely delighted to have received an offer to study at Pembroke. I hope that, through lots of hard work, I can achieve the conditions of my offer and I am extremely grateful to all of the Keswick School staff who have continuously supported me in both the Cambridge application process and my Sixth Form studies. Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, teachers have consistently issued guidance, resources and encouragement to help all students engage with material within and beyond the curriculum”.

Sophie commented “When I received my offer I was completely surprised and thrilled. The application process is long and difficult so I was just proud of myself for making it to interview; however, to receive an offer was the best reward for the hard work I had put in over the years. I have been very fortunate to have been taught by fantastic teachers over the years, and more recently, the guidance of the Sixth Form team allowed me to prepare for the different stages of the application process. Without this support, along with the support of my family and friends, I would not have been as confident in my ability to make a successful application."

Hannah said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been offered a place. The application process was intense; however, my subject teachers and the Sixth Form staff were incredibly supportive throughout, helping me to arrange mock interviews and prepare for the entrance exam. Their encouragement was invaluable and definitely played a significant part in getting an offer. I never expected to get the chance to study at Cambridge - I still can’t quite believe it’s real!”

In recent years Keswick School Sixth Form has developed a unique programme of support for Oxbridge applicants. Open Days, guest speakers and, when possible, a three-day visit to Queen’s College, Oxford, form part of the programme developed to help students reach their full potential. There has also been interview preparation and mentoring, as well as support from former students currently attending the top universities.

Head of Sixth Form, Sophie French, said “This is a fantastic achievement and we are absolutely delighted for Charlotte, Sophie and Hannah, whose hard work, dedication and engagement has been recognised in their offers. It is a pleasure to work with Keswick School sixth formers; they are confident, thoughtful and distinctive young adults who embrace the opportunity to learn and to make a significant contribution to the life of the school, as well as to the wider community.”

Keswick School Sixth Form students have an enviable record of gaining offers from prestigious universities, including Oxbridge and those in the Russell Group. Current Year 13 students have already received offers from the majority of their university choices, in subjects ranging from pharmacy, physics and mechanical engineering, to history, law and geography. Personalised and focused support is offered for all A Level students, irrespective of the university applied to or the pathway chosen, and so the school is also pleased to have been able to support several students in their applications for higher level and degree apprenticeships.