Year 12 Pupils Experience 'Week in the Life of an Oxford Undergraduate' During OxNet Access Week

At the start of August we opened our doors to OxNet’s 2023 cohort for the annual Access Week. 130 year 12 pupils were welcomed to Pembroke for a residential summer school designed to replicate ‘a week in the life of an Oxford Undergraduate’.

OxNet, an access initiative led by Pembroke in collaboration with other institutions, runs five subject-based academic programmes offered to year 12 pupils across our target regions. Participants in the programmes take part in academic events through the year, including a Study Skills Day at Pembroke, a 6-week Seminar Series, an Essay Competition and a Twilight Talks Series.

Access Week marks the end of the OxNet year and sees pupils return to Pembroke for a week of Oxford-style tutorials and lectures, day trips and group activities, a formal dinner, an awards ceremony, and more, all while living in College accommodation and eating together in Hall.

During the week, time is allocated for work on essays and problem sheets which are submitted on the final day. This year seven Undergraduate Mentors – Pembroke students who applied to support pupils pastorally and academically throughout the week – were on hand to help with these tasks and offer feedback.

Alongside independent work and subject-specific tutorials and lectures, attendees took part in workshops covering study skills and use of University libraries; how to choose the right course; admissions tips; mock interviews; and more. Current undergraduate students shared their experiences studying at Oxford and led activities throughout the week. And pupils were given a taste of all Oxford has to offer with trips to various museums, sites of interest, and other Colleges and departments.

At the end of the week, a keynote lecture was given by Senior Research Fellow Dr Nicholas Cole, followed by a drinks’ reception and the annual Joseph Owen Formal Dinner.

OxNet Officer Morgan Lewis shares: "In 2023, 43 Academics, 33 Postgraduates, 13 Undergraduates, 43 schools and 130 pupils were involved in our five Year-12 programmes. We are especially grateful to the academic community who generously volunteered their time & provided their subject expertise to guide our academic work, in addition to the Hub Coordinators who championed the wellbeing of our pupils & the OxNet programme at the local level. We wish only the very best to our OxNet Alumna as they move into Year 13 & beyond!"