Soaring to success: Worthing College students secure Oxford University offers

Two Worthing College students are soaring to new heights as they celebrate offers to study at the world-renowned University of Oxford filling the college community with pride and excitement.

Sylvie Bracey and Isaac Hewitt, who both attended Worthing High School, are riding a wave of achievement as they work towards the grades that could see them take their places at one of the most prestigious universities.

Both students credit their involvement in the Worthing College Academy Programme for high achieving students as being central to their success.

Led by Biology Teacher, Carla Mansfield, the Worthing College Academy is a dedicated programme for students achieving 7-9s at GCSE and aims to inspire and support students to apply for competitive universities including Oxford and Cambridge and those universities offering Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry.

This successful programme enables students to develop a range of academic skills and receive support with university applications including writing personal statements and interviews.

Students can also complete an academic project which gives them the chance to dive deep into a topic they love and showcase the kind of curiosity and independence that top Universities look for.

Sylvie, who has been offered a place to study Biology, is aiming for an A* and two As. She’s already proving her passion and drive through her A levels in Biology, Chemistry, Art and Media Studies and her ambition to pursue insect research or a future in science communication. Her dream is to work on documentaries that bring science to life.

Sylvie said: “Carla Mansfield has really, really helped me.

“When I came back from the summer, I had written my first draft of my personal statement, and we had a few sessions where she would give me feedback on it and helped me to improve it.

“And then, when I got invited to interview at Oxford, we had three or four mock interviews which helped me build my confidence for the real one.”

Isaac is also celebrating a standout achievement. With aspirations to go into teaching or computer programming, he has been offered a place to study Maths. He’s currently studying Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science, and already holds an A* in A level Maths.

Isaac reflected on the support he had from the College and the Academy Programme. He said: “My Maths teacher Debbie Collier has been amazing. It’s a very small class for us so I think the atmosphere is really good.”

Passionate about the work of the programme, Carla added: “I really enjoy leading the Academy and showing students that courses at competitive universities are within their reach. 

“Working with small groups of students means that I can get to know them well and create a bespoke support programme to help with personal statements and interviews.

“It is a privilege to help them develop their skills and point them in the right direction to make successful applications to competitive universities.”

For more information about the courses at Worthing College, including upcoming events, please click here