Notre Dame has run an Enhancing Excellence programme for many years, the aim of which is to encourage and support academically exceptional students with their applications to Russell Group universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and LSE. On 25 April, we held an evening event to introduce the programme to year 11 students – and their parents – who are hoping to enrol at Notre Dame in September.
The event included presentations from the Enhancing Excellence team and current students who have benefited from the programme. 200 prospective students and their parents attended, with one visitor commenting: ‘This was very helpful and very clear. My son would love to be a part of this programme.’
At Notre Dame, we are keen to help students achieve beyond their potential and the Enhancing Excellence programme plays a key part in this process. The programme includes trips to universities such as Durham, Cambridge and Oxford, as well as an annual conference at Notre Dame attended by Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Students accepted onto the programme are provided with additional support in the form of weekly discussion groups, mock interviews, and personal statement workshops, to ensure they write the strongest possible applications, and have the best possible chance of gaining a place at one of the UK’s most prestigious universities.
Our staff have an excellent track record of enabling students to gain places at Russell Group institutions. This year, 28% of our upper sixth students who applied to Oxford or Cambridge Universities have received offers to study there, compared with only 20% from state schools nationally. 17 of 31 applicants have been offered places on Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science courses, which is an outstanding success rate of 55%!
Prospective Notre Dame students can apply to be part of the Enhancing Excellence programme by visiting our website and completing the online form: http://www.notredamecoll.ac.uk/index.php/support/enhancing-excellence/
Thanks to all college staff who organised the event, and to everyone who attended it.