Northern Ireland and Oxford:

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1 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February 2018 Northern Ireland and Oxford: THE OXFORD SKYLINE (IMAGE: February: Important changes in Oxford by Alice Parrott and Daniel Powell Since the New Year, we have had some changes with regards to the Northern Ireland Outreach Team at Oxford and the Student Recruitment Team in in the Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Office will now be your first point of contact for outreach work in Northern Ireland. So with the Student Recruitment Team working alongside New College and St Catherine s College, there will more people on hand to support Northern Irish students considering Oxford and their teachers. So what does this mean for schools in Northern Ireland? In the short term you won t see much change, apart from some new faces delivering outreach work in your area. In the longer term, we will be developing a structured programme of activities and support for Northern Irish students and teachers and are happy to listen to your views on how we should shape this. The Student Recruitment team are likely to be the team you meet in your schools in Northern Ireland, as well as at the HE Fairs and Student Conferences. New College and St Catherine s College will still be running the Northern Ireland summer school in June and will be on hand to support with any visits you or your students make to Oxford you ll also see Dan (New), Misha (New) and Charlotte (St Catz) at various events in Northern Ireland during the year.

2 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Who are the Student Recruitment Team? The Student Recruitment Team are part of the Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach department and are not attached to a particular college. The team currently delivers a number of projects across the UK including support and events for Scottish teachers and students, the Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences, Regional Teachers Conferences, Teacher Summer Schools as well as delivering admissions talks and workshops across the world. Their aim is to attract the brightest and the best students to Oxford no matter what background they are from, and to support teachers to facilitate this. How do I get in touch with them? Northern Irish schools have a dedicated contact within the Student Recruitment Team; this is Alice Parrott, Student Recruitment Officer. You can get in touch with Alice by NIoutreach@admin.ox.ac.uk or phone When will we meet the Student Recruitment Team? Alice Parrott and Daniel Powell (New College) will be attending the UCAS fair in Lisburn at the end of February, and Alice will be taking the opportunity that week to visit schools in the area. The Student Recruitment Team will also be running a dedicated teachers session at the 2018 Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference in Lisburn in March more details below! Based in Wellington Square (left), the Student Recruitment Team are located in the central University Administrative Offices. This means that they have daily contact with staff from across the different administrative departments. Alice Parrott (right) is a member of the Student Recruitment Team. Alice has been working in the field of education and training for a number of years and has considerable experience of working with students and supporting them with their university applications. Alice is responsible for European Student Recruitment, incorporating Scotland and Northern Ireland.

3 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February University of Oxford visit to Northern Ireland The University of Oxford will be delivering a week-long tour in February and March 2018, which will coincide with the UCAS exhibition in Lisburn. We will be holding Oxford Explained talks in the locations detailed below (times and venues to be announced soon), to book on to any of these events please visit Derry/Londonderry - Monday 26 February Enniskillen - Tuesday 27 February Lisburn Wednesday 28 February Belfast - Thursday 1 March If your school is interested in hosting a talk on any of these days or another date in the future please contact NIoutreach@admin.ox.ac.uk. Northern Irish Summer School: New College and St Catherine s will continue to host the annual Northern Irish Summer School. Details of this event will be ed to schools in the coming weeks. The provisional dates of the Summer School will be Sunday June 24 th Wednesday June 27 th 2018.

4 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Student Conference: Booking now open We are pleased that the dates and venues for the 2018 Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences have been announced. This year the Northern Irish conference will be held on: Monday 26 March at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn The conferences are designed to bring up-to-date information about our courses, the application process, and admissions procedures at both universities to a venue near you. The events are aimed at Year 13 students who have completed their GCSEs or equivalent qualifications and are now undertaking further study. For 2018 we have devised a new teachers' programme and we encourage teachers and HE advisors to consider attending the conferences alongside students. The conferences will cover: Courses available at Oxford and Cambridge Applying to Oxford and Cambridge, including student life Making a competitive application Student finance and careers Teachers and HE Advisors forum new programme for Northern Irish teachers Admissions tutors, academic staff and current undergraduates from both universities will also be on hand to answer students' questions. Admission is FREE but by ticket only and all bookings should be made online through a teacher. Please do not arrive at a conference venue without having made a booking as you will be turned away. To make a booking for your students, please visit

5 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February University of Oxford Teacher Conferences The University of Oxford will be running a series of conferences for teachers and advisers this year in June and July. All conferences are free to attend, and the Sutton Trust Teachers' Summer School can provide funding for travel as well as to allow your school to cover the cost of supply teachers during your absence. Sutton Trust Teachers' Summer School The Sutton Trust Oxford Teacher Summer School is a two-day residential conference in Oxford for teachers at state-funded schools and colleges in the UK. The conference aims to support teachers to stretch and challenge their most able students, and equip them with the best possible advice and guidance on selective university admissions. There are 80 places available at the conference for both humanities and STEM teachers. We particularly welcome applications from schools with a limited history of sending students to selective universities generally and Oxford specifically. Participation in the conference is free and includes two nights accommodation in an Oxford college and meals. We can also offer a contribution towards the travel and cover costs associated with attending. Applications open on 1 February For further details please visit Regional Teachers Conferences The University organises several free Regional Teachers Conferences across the UK in June/July each year. The aims of the conferences are to equip teachers with the best possible advice for their students on applying to Oxford and to break down any misconceptions that might deter students from applying to the University. The programme for the conferences covers all aspects of the admissions process from identifying candidates to writing references and preparing candidates for admissions tests and interviews. We are pleased to announce that the Northern Ireland Regional Teacher Conference will be held on: Tuesday 19 June at Hilton Templepatrick For further information and details of how to book a place please visit:

6 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Academic competitions: More details on prizes, how to apply and last years winners are on the Q-Step website The deadline is Friday 23 February just after half-term. Please note that the flyer below has not been adjusted for NI students. Language Competitions: French, German, Spanish We have just launched our annual competitions: the Spanish flash fiction competition and the French film competition. In each language, winners in each category (years 8-12 and years 13-14) will received a prize of 100, with runners up receiving prizes of 25. More details can be found on our website, here: For the Germanists, the Oxford German Network is once again running its fantastic Olympiad, and will also run its German Classic prize for the second time next year. Details are available on the OGN website:

7 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Open Days & Events: Modern Languages: Open Days Dates of most of our open days are now on the website, with programmes to follow: The Russian programme is attached to this . Dates are: German Open Day 24 February Spanish and Portuguese Open Day 1 March Russian and Other Slavonic Languages Open Day 3 March Faculty-wide Open Day 28 April University Open Days 27/28 June, 14 September Booking is now open. We are also hoping to hold an Italian Open Day on 17 March, although that is still being confirmed. Please note that for the sub-faculty open days (German, Spanish and Portuguese, Italian, and Russian and other Slavonic Languages) and the main open day, booking is essential. Modern Languages: Virtual Book Club We plan to launch the virtual book club in January, with the first episode focussing on a passage of a Russian text. However, all extracts will also be circulated in translation to allow non-russian speakers to benefit from this as well. We will be disseminating the first texts in early January, with the video discussion published at the end of the month. The book club will then run on a monthly basis, rotating through different languages. If anyone would like to sign up, or has students who would like to sign up, and has not already done so, please do get in touch by ing schools.liaison@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk Teachers Conference (SRTS) A date for your diaries: the annual conference of the Sir Robert Taylor Society, which brings together Oxford academics and secondary school and sixth-form teachers of modern languages, will be on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 September It will be held at Somerville College. The programme is currently being assembled and booking will open in the spring.

8 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Open Days & Events: Law: Open Days The Faculty of Law is holding three Open Days in March 2018 on Monday 12, Tuesday 13, and Wednesday 14 March. This is an excellent opportunity to find out what it s really like to study Law at Oxford. We have a full day s programme planned including full information on our undergraduate courses and admissions procedures, plus a chance to hear about opportunities for careers in law following undergraduate study. Also all prospective students will have lunch, a tour, and an academic taster session at one of our colleges. We warmly invite up to three of your students, to attend one of these Open Days. Please use the link below for more information, details of the programme, eligibility for overnight accommodation, and to apply. Applications will open on Wednesday 17 January and close on Monday 12 February, or when fully booked. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone on or opendays@law.ox.ac.uk. Yr 13/14 Legal Reasoning Prize (Essay Competition) Applications for Corpus Christi s Peter Cane Legal Reasoning Prize 2018 are now open! Year 13 and 14 students can enter the competition; please circulate amongst any aspiring lawyers. No prior legal knowledge or study is expected or required! Details can be found here: Shortlisted students will be invited to visit the College to experience legal workshops with academics and meet current undergraduate Law students. Law Residential for Year 13s: Save the Date Monday, March 12 th Tuesday, March 13 th The first day of this free residential (meals and accommodation included) will involve legal workshops at Pembroke and Corpus Christi College led by legal academics, with opportunities to meet and chat to current undergraduate law students. Students will stay overnight in one of the colleges, then have a closing session on Tuesday, 13th March before being taken to the Faculty of Law Open Day. Applications will be open soon at

9 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February English / History The project, entitled, Lest We Forget, is a nationwide initiative which aims to record the stories, objects, and memories of the First World War. As part of this initiative, we are inviting local schools across the country to hold their own Digital Collection Days (with the help of the LWF team). It is our sincere hope that students from your outreach schools would be able to participate in such an event. Essentially, a Digital Collection Day involves members of the community being invited to bring in their Great War stories, photographs, diaries, and letters to a participating school. Members of staff and students can then document and digitize these vital items so that they can be saved for future generations. The documented stories and objects will then be uploaded to a free-to-use Oxford University database, where they will be freely accessible to all members of the public to discover, research, and learn. All that s required is: 1. A Room 2. A Digital Camera or two (or mobile phones) 3. A computer 4. Staff & Student Volunteers Hosting such an event would also have many benefits for both school and students, including: -Opportunities for student enrichment activities -Extra curricula development -Enhancement of school s reputation in local community -Meaningful school-family-student interaction and collaboration -Students gaining an understanding of the local impact of the First World War -Enhanced student participation in, and understanding of, the Act of Remembrance -Development of student s participation in, and understanding of, digital libraries and archives -Partnership working with the University of Oxford and other heritage professionals and organizations -Local and regional media opportunities If you would like further information please don t hesitate to contact either myself (nancy.martin@linacre.ox.ac.uk), or the Lest We Forget team at ww1collections@it.ox.ac.uk. You can also visit our website at: A recent and highly successful event at an Oxford school was recently covered by the Oxford Mail: _digital_project/.

10 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Mathematics: Further Maths What Next? Wednesday 14 March, Mathematical Institute at Oxford University. Studying Further Maths A-level, but not sure what you want to do at University? Talented at Maths, but not sure you want to do something that abstract at Uni? Want to know a bit more about Maths related degree subjects that don't appear on the school curriculum? Oxford University is delighted to welcome A- level students, from UK schools, to the 'Further Maths What Next?' event. The day draws together subject areas from across the University which are suitable for prospective students with a real aptitude for Maths. Participants will attend a range of short taster sessions on subjects that list Further Maths as either a 'highly desirable' or 'helpful' A-level for Oxford applicants to have. You will get the most out of this day if you are also taking Chemistry or Physics at A Level. Apply for your space here: Materials Science Taster Days 2018 I would like to make you aware that the 2018 Oxford Materials Science Taster Days are now open for applications. These will run on 13 th, 14 th March and 17 th April and are aimed at Yr12 and 13 students who are interested in physical sciences and/or would like to find out more about Materials Science at Oxford. Students need to be studying or intending to study maths and physics at A level (or equivalent). Further details and an application form can be found here. If you have any questions please contact the organiser at schools.liaison@materials.ox.ac.uk Physical Sciences Study Day University College Oxford are excited to host an engaging and challenging study day for Year 13 students interested in Physical Sciences, on Tuesday 6 March The day will include lectures from Univ's tutors in Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences and some extended break-out sessions where students will be able to discuss these subjects in detail with other students. Students need to submit an online application form, and teachers need to fill in an approval for, by Friday 9 February Information about the day and how to apply is available on the College website under Year 13 Subject Study Days :

11 NORTHERN IRELAND TEACHERS NEWSLETTER February Students interested in Music: AgreatopportunityforyoungpeopletoexperienceadayinthelifeofachoralororganscholaratOxford SingEvensong Enjoyworkshops Learnnewskills ExploreanOxfordcollege Meetcurrentstudents Worcester College s Choral and Organ Open Day will take place on 3 March We look forward to welcoming prospective organists and singers of all voice parts to a day of workshops and music-making in the College Chapel. The day will conclude with Choral Evensong at 5.45 pm, in which participants will sing alongside current members of the Choir. Students aged 14 and over are invited to come along and experience a day in the life of an Oxford choral or organ scholar. There is no charge for this day and lunch will be provided Registration and welcome Information about admissions to Worcester, tour of the extensive College grounds, panel discussion Lunch Workshop sessions on repertoire and skills 3.30 Tea (parents welcome to attend from this point) 4.00 Rehearsal for Evensong 5.10 Organ recital (by participants and organ scholars) 5.45 Choral Evensong sung by participants and choral scholars