Oxbridge Success
In 2015, all of our students who applied for University were able to access a course of their choice. The experiences gained at Pontypridd High were re flected in results which showed the percentage of students achieving 3 A* and A grades is above the Local Authority fi gure, and the percentage achieving 3 A* to C grades is 10% above the LA. This year will be no di fferent and the support we provide for
our More Able Learners is re flected in the fantastic success of Zoe Brooks and Joseph Isingrini who were amongst only 8 students in RCT to be accepted into Oxford or Cambridge this year. Both deserve great credit for what they have already achieved and they are role models for our More Able students looking to repeat the success next year.
Joseph Isingrini:
I applied to Oxford to read music. I had attended the UNIQ
Summer School in July and liked the small, closeknit nature
of the music school. The colleges provide endless opportunities
for performing music; each one usually has a college
choir. Going on the Summer School helped as this gave me
the opportunity to talk about what I had thought about it in
my personal statement. Pontypridd High School provided
me with lots of books to read in preparation for my interview
as well as bringing in a former Oxford student to help with
interview practice
Zoe Brooks:
I’ve had continual interest from the staff since the beginning of
my application to Oxford University. After teachers checking
with me for updates on every test, interview and letter, it’s
fair to say, that the school was just as excited about my o ffer
as I was. I would especially like to thank Mr. Cripps for my
slightly terrifying mock interviews, and Madame Crozier, for
o ffering to take me to my interview when I suggested going
alone, and who is still annoyed that I took so long (about 40
minutes after I came in) to tell her the good news!