What is a Head Start Day?

Our in-school Head Start Days are designed to give practical, subject-specific interview and admissions test support to sixth form students aiming for Oxford, Cambridge, Law or Medical school. We give students advice on each element of the applications process as well as an opportunity to have a mock interview with a specialist in their subject and receive full feedback on their strengths and the areas they need to improve.

Our team of fully trained Oxbridge-graduate tutors works with your students in small subject groups, solving admissions test problems and analysing interview questions. The purpose of the day is to give students the knowledge and confidence to take charge of their application and the tools to give themselves the greatest chance of success.

We believe that, although academic ability is essential to attain a place at a top university, students who approach the process with practical interview experience, a mature understanding of their subject and confidence in their own capabilities will have a greater chance of success.

How we structure our Head Start Days

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Our Head Start Days are fully tailored to each school's needs. We can discuss with you your pupils' needs as well as how best to use the school building.

The table below outlines a typical programme, which we have found works very well, and can be adapted to meet your school's needs.

Time	Programme	Details
9am-10am	Introduction & summary of the Oxbridge application process	Our Oxbridge-educated consultant will guide students on what the admissions tutors are really looking for and how to stand out at every stage of the applications process. Using our own research, we will discuss: Taking responsibility for your learning Writing your personal statement Preparing for and taking admissions tests Preparing for and excelling at interview The importance of a flexible approach Successful communication skills How to ensure students fully demonstrate their ability and motivation at interview
10.00am - 10.30am	Break
10.30am - 12.30am	Tackling Questions	Students will be split into groups according to subject and, guided by our subject-specialist Oxbridge graduate tutors, will look at material relating to their subject choice. Our tutors will pose questions to the group, which challenge their academic ability and lateral-thinking skills. Students will take it in turns to give answers to the group, which will in turn give feedback, highlighting both good points and areas to improve upon: Does the answer have grounding and basis for argument, show knowledge and potential? Is it properly supported? Did the explanation make sense? Was it logical and easy to follow? Was it interesting and innovative? Examples will be given as to how questions can be answered, both on paper and in front of the class.
12.30pm - 1pm	Lunch
1pm-4pm	Mock interviews	Each student will receive a one-to-one 20 minute mock interview with full verbal and written feedback. Students may be asked to comment on a text, article, source, graph or image, depending on the subject they wish to apply for. Students are assessed on: Interest in and aptitude for their subject Ability to respond to new ideas Lateral thinking and teachability Interview technique Further reading When students are not being interviewed, they will have the chance to have a good read of the materials provided, work on their personal statement or try their hand at a mock admissions test. There will also be the opportunity to ask the consultant any questions they may have.
4pm-4.20pm	A de-brief of the day's learnings with the students and a chance to answer questions about their application or interview.

Materials provided on the day

Every student on our Head Start Days will receive either a copy of our book 'So you want to go to Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana...' including:

Information on courses and colleges written by Oxbridge graduates
A guide to writing your personal statement
Information on the admissions tests from our test experts
Tips for the interview from our communications specialist, Gwyn Day
Examples of real Oxbridge interview questions for their course and advice on how to tackle them

Or, if all your students have confirmed their course choice, each student will receive a subject-specific course report, containing a course overview, a case study by a graduate from that course and a list of real subject-specific Oxbridge interview questions.

Each student, if their course requires them to sit an admissions test, will also receive a mock admissions test. Each mock test comes with model answers.

What is a Head Start Day?

How we structure our Head Start Days

Materials provided on the day

Our Schools Team

Hosting a Head Start Day

Claude the Snail

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