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Abingdon news
www.abingdon.org.uk
3
The increased competition for graduate
jobs has put the spotlight on getting onto
a good degree course at a good university,
where selection is becoming increasingly
rigorous. Abingdon takes pride in
supporting all its sixth-formers through
the process
Ben Whitworth, who read Natural
Sciences at Magdalene College,
Cambridge, is responsible for advising
those boys who want to try for a place
at Oxford or Cambridge because, unlike
other universities, there is more to the
admissions procedure than simply
submitting a UCAS form. Oxbridge has
specific aptitude tests, it likes to see
examples of candidates’ written work and,
most significantly, it likes to interview
every candidate.
And what are these two universities looking for? Obviously a highly intelligent person
– AS results play an important part here – someone who can demonstrate good time
management, but above everything else, and it’s something that cannot be manufactured
or coached or spoon-fed, someone with evidence of a real long-term passion for
their subject.
Here the whole Abingdon system comes into play because the boys are taught by
staff who love their subject and are keen to provoke discussion, spark debate and
challenge the brightest. Admissions tutors will expect Abingdon boys to have had these
opportunities – and to have taken them – but there’s no evidence that they discriminate
against them as a result.
Twenty-two boys won places at Oxford and Cambridge this year, roughly 40% of those
who applied. But increasingly, says Ben, applicants are being placed in different Colleges
from the one they chose – because the universities want the best candidates, regardless
of which College the candidate originally chose.
n
Spotlight Oxbridge Entrance
Staff profile:
Anne Whitehead
Anne Whitehead is the Senior Nurse
in the School Health Centre. Very
much a local person, Anne grew up
in Harwell and remembers coming to
Abingdon market as a small child with
her father who was a farmer.
Working in the School Health Centre
is never boring and Anne enjoys the
opportunity it gives her to get to know
the pupils and staff and to follow them
through their school careers. Each
day is different, and the school year
itself brings variety to the role. The
Michaelmas term is particularly busy
with many new boys to register, flu
vaccines to administer, rugby with its
first aid cover and attendant injuries as
well as all the coughs, colds and other
illnesses that winter brings.
Health education and promotion is
a particular interest of Anne’s and
she contributes to both the School’s
General Studies and Personal, Social
and Health Education programmes.
Before coming to Abingdon she
worked for many years as a School
Nurse in Oxford, and was most
recently the National Healthy
Schools Programme Co-ordinator for
Oxfordshire. She continues to work
as a sexual health nurse part-time,
and has a particular interest in sex and
relationships education.
Anne enjoys cookery and is passionate
about locally sourced foods and the
best of British produce – probably
because of her farming roots. She is
enjoying teaching a course in Domestic
Survival for the Sixth Form, including
how to cook real food.
n
The Moon Arch following
its recent restoration
See page 14
Ben Whitworth