Our students choose a wide variety of career and study paths and we encourage all of them equally. Some students aim to attend the country’s most demanding universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group establishments and we have a dedicated team to support these students in  their studies at the college.

Over the years  many of these students have gone on to study at the UK’s top universities and we are proud to have been able to support them in realising their ambitions. Here are just some of our ‘Oxbridge Alumni’.

2010

Erin Meikle

Erin was interested in several subjects at school and found it hard to decide which subjects to take at A Level. During her time at college she particularly enjoyed the all encompassing nature of Geography which she felt touched on humanities as well as science subjects.

A visit to an open day in Cambridge confirmed to her that there was a real academic focus there, and that students from all walks of life were studying there. Her tutors at York College helped her through the application process an she was thrilled to receive a conditional, yet high offer.

Ben Poulten

As well as studying A Levels in Philosophy and English Literature Ben took up A Level Modern History and GSCE Latin, studying both subjects in just one year.

He says: “When I had my interview at Cambridge I was placed into a pool of applicants, I then had a telephone interview and was told I had got in. I'd had a couple of practice interviews at college, so that was really useful.”

As well as his Cambridge offer, Ben also secured offers to study at St Andrews, Sheffield and Manchester universities; his younger brother is also at York College and he too has applied to Oxbridge.

Amy Parkin

Even though she applied quite late to a Cambridge university, with support Amy managed to catch up on the Oxbridge sessions she had missed at college.
She said: “After relocating from Wales, York College has given me a very good A Level experience. I quickly made friends and the tutors have been very supportive. It has been an excellent stepping stone between leaving my old school and going on to university.

“The actual interview at Cambridge was not too intimidating as it was based on a poem and a piece of prose I had been given to read 15 minutes beforehand. I had no idea if I had been successful so when I received the acceptance letter I was very happy and my family were delighted for me.”

Alex Stevenson

Alex decided to study Medicine after taking his GCSEs. He liked Chemistry, Biology and Maths and studied the subjects at A Level at college.

When Alex started to think about university courses he was encouraged by his maths tutor to consider applying to Trinity College Oxford,
He says: “I am the first person in my family to study medicine and I feel excited about going to Oxford. I know it will be a fantastic opportunity for me.”

Alex has enjoyed his time at York College, has been impressed by the teaching and says that his tutors have supported him in his university applications. He has been able to maintain existing friendships from Canon Lee School, as well as make new friends around college.

Rebecca Worth

Encouraged by her tutors at York College to apply for Oxbridge Rebecca was grateful for help with her entry tests and found the practice interviews very useful and after visiting Oxford she realised how much she liked the atmosphere and felt that she could see herself fitting in.
She says: “My first interview was quite enjoyable as I spent most of the time talking about my extended project. It was good to meet other students and the whole experience made me think that I wanted to go there.”

Rebecca has enjoyed studying at York College. She appreciates being treated like an adult by her tutors. She says: “I feel that my tutors respect me and I respect them in return. This is very important to me.”

Previous Years

2009

Kit Hilyard, History, Trinity College, Cambridge.
Megan Bradley, Social and Political Science, Murray College, Cambridge.
David Finch, Geography, Churchill College, Cambridge.
Robert Hughes, Engineering, Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Oliver Stannard, Computer Science and Maths, Churchill College, Cambridge.
James Swanton, English, Selwyn College, Cambridge.

2008

Margaret Brookes, Medicine, Brasenose College, Oxford.
Martin Chan, Engineering, University College, Oxford.

2007

Emily Dunn, Social and Political Sciences, King's College, Cambridge.
Ezekiel Jacob, Earth Sciences, St Peter's College, Oxford.
Alexander Linsley, Economics and Management, Merton College, Oxford.

2006

Jonathan Balls, Geography, Downing College, Cambridge.
James Gray, Economics, Girthon College, Cambridge.
Sam Meacock, Engineering, Girton College, Cambridge.
Juliette Sanders, Engineering, New Hall, Cambridge.
Sam Yoshua, Chemistry, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

2005

Sofie Buckland, Social and Political Sciences, Newnham College, Cambridge.
Nicholas Cowle, Maths and Computer Science, St Catherine's College, Oxford.
Min Ming Gao, Engineering, Hughes Hall, Cambridge.
Faezeh Godazgar, Medicine, New Hall College, Cambridge.
Tom Holding, Maths, Trinity College, Cambridge.
Natalie Kesterton, History, New Hall, Cambridge.
Daniel Lightwing, Maths, Trinity College, Cambridge.
Haobin Tan, Maths, Mansfield College, Oxford.