Oxbridge Day at BISS

It is fair to say that this year’s Oxbridge Day built successfully on the success of last year’s event. With keynote speakers and interviewers who have themselves studied at Oxford and Cambridge, students were given an authentic insight into the academic environment and the expectations of studying at these universities. Across the day, they explored the tutorial and supervision model, considered what makes a strong Oxbridge applicant, and had opportunities to test their thinking through discussion, challenging questions and mock interviews.

It was particularly rewarding to see students navigate difficult questions, rethink their initial responses and engage with ideas beyond what they already knew. A key message throughout the day was that strong applicants do not simply demonstrate what they have learnt; they develop questions of their own. Students were encouraged to move from simply being interested in a subject to investigating it more deeply, reflecting on what they discover and allowing new questions to emerge. We hope they will take this approach forward in the months ahead, using their own curiosity to explore, challenge and develop their academic interests before submitting their applications.