The Sixth Form College Colchester - Academic Aspirations - Opportunities for Our Most Ambitious, High-Achieving Students

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Aladdin

The Sixth Form College Colchester outlines opportunities and tailored support for ambitious, high-achieving A Level students aiming for the most competitive routes into higher education. The leaflet describes weekly AV Programme activities, Oxbridge guidance including interviews and super-curricular planning, and options for aspiring lawyers, medics, and students preparing for university entrance exams. It also highlights success in national competitions, broader study pathways with additional A Levels and EPQ projects, language development, and an extensive extra- and super-curricular programme.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Aspirations and vision

Oxbridge support

Subject pathways and preparation

Lawyers

University entrance exams preparation

National competitions

Doctors, dentists and vets

Expanded study and development

Broader programmes of study and extra qualifications

Language skills

Extra-curricular and super-curricular activities

College ethos and student support

THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE COLCHESTER ACADEMIC ASPIRATIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MOST AMBITIOUS, HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS The college provides an enormous range of opportunities, activities and guidance for all our students and we create individualised programmes and support for every student, including those with the highest aspirations. Every year, several hundred of our students progress to the most selective universities including Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group/Sutton 30 institutions. Many of them will achieve places on the most competitive courses including law, medicine, mathematics, architecture and others, having achieved top grades at A Level. This leaflet outlines the opportunities, support and guidance available at college to help students achieve the highest aspirations. ASPIRATIONS AND VISION The AV Programme is for A Level students with ambitious plans. It is an exciting programme of weekly events, including talks and discussions, mini lectures, visits, advice and expert speakers. Its aims are to broaden horizons, encourage bold choices and help students navigate the process of applying for the most prestigious places in higher education. Our AV coordinator is an extra point of contact and much valued source of guidance for students who sign up to the programme. OXBRIDGE SUPPORT For students who may wish to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, expert guidance begins in the first term at college. Our two Oxbridge coordinators (one for the arts subjects, one for STEMM) are both Oxbridge graduates who provide initial information and then organise opportunities for potential applicants to meet former college students currently studying at Oxford and Cambridge. Later in the year, they will have one to one interviews with the relevant coordinator. Parents can find out more at the Oxbridge Briefing Evening. The support then continues with advice on super-curricular activities, the personal statement, entrance tests and interview preparation and practice. LAWYERS The Lawyers group is for students who don’t study law at A Level but who want to explore law as a future career. As well as offering information and careers advice, the course develops core skills, such as debating and public speaking. Students take part in mock trials, often competing and succeeding at national level. SUPPORT WITH PREPARATION FOR UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS Several universities either require or prefer candidates to take additional admissions tests, for example STEP (for mathematics), BMAT and UKCAT (for medicine) and LNAT (for law) . Help is available from subject specialists to prepare for these tests. Some of the STEP students join the group not because their chosen university requires it, but just for the joy of extra maths! OPPORTUNITIES TO ENTER PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL COMPETITIONS Over recent years, college students have seen real success in national competitions such as the Biology, Chemistry and Physics Olympiads, The Maths Challenge and The Bar Mock Trial Competition. They even won a competition where knowledge of physics was required to crack a safe! DOCTORS, DENTISTS AND VETS Aspiring medics join a dedicated group to learn more about the medical profession and prepare for the challenging selection processes to enter medical school. Students get help and encouragement with arranging relevant work experience, preparing for additional admissions tests and practising the rigorous interviews, including the “multimini” or “speed-dating” interviews. Specialist staff have expert knowledge of the precise requirements of individual medical schools and universities, which they use to help students make successful applications. BROADER PROGRAMMES OF STUDY AND EXTRA QUALIFICATIONS Students with strong GCSE grades have the opportunity to study 4, or even 5 A Level options, from a range of approximately 50, including options in ‘harder to find’ subject areas such as A Levels in further mathematics, classical civilis

FAQs

What university entrance tests does the college help students prepare for?

The leaflet notes additional admissions tests that may be required or preferred, including STEP for mathematics, BMAT and UKCAT for medicine, and LNAT for law. Preparation support is provided by subject specialists.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Aladdin