The Inspire Programme for Years 12 and 13

St John’s College Oxford

ST JOHN’S COLLEGE

The Inspire Programme for Years 12 & 13

WHAT IS THE YEAR 12 AND 13 INSPIRE PROGRAMME?

The Inspire Programme is a two-year course for Years 12 and 13 designed to inspire, encourage, and support you during your final years of study before university.

ACADEMIC TASTER LECTURES

Opportunities for you to explore your subject in greater depth and find new interdisciplinary links.

INSPIRE RESEARCH PROJECT

Investigate a topic of your choice and develop your ability to think critically and independently.

STUDY DAYS & SUBJECT EXPLORATION DAYS

Explore your subject at St John’s College with current tutors and students.

YEAR 12 INSPIRE STUDENT

RESIDENTIAL & VIRTUAL SUMMER SCHOOLS

Stay at St John’s College, experience life as an Oxford student and meet like-minded people.

STUDY & REVISION SKILLS SESSIONS

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU TRANSITION FOR LIFE AT UNIVERSITY

Develop study skills and learn effective revision techniques useful to your a-level studies. Build your confidence and empower you to make competitive applications to university.

Equip you with the tools to start university with confidence and supports you throughout your university career.

“I love the Inspire Programme. It’s made me feel much more prepared for the application process as well as studying at university level.”

While you are in Year 12, the Inspire Programme allows you to explore your academic interests, develop your independent study skills and encourages you to think about university applications.

In this first year, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in:

Our inspiring Academic Taster Lectures are released once a month, and are then available for you to work through at your own pace.

Every set of Academic Taster Lectures includes talks from a range of subjects so that you can delve deeper into your favourite subjects, and discover new interdisciplinary connections. Each set of lectures are also accompanied by extra resources for you to explore, which include opportunities for you to get involved in, competitions where you can show off your knowledge, and events like exhibitions and public lectures.

TASTER LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDE...

From the Big Bang to Biology: Finding Patterns Through Mathematics (Computational Modelling)

Our taster lectures have been specially developed by academics from the University of Oxford.

They’re exciting, engaging and cover a wide range of topics from the Sciences and Engineering, to the Arts and Humanities. You’ll get plenty of choice each month, meaning

Palmyra: An Ancient City in the Desert (Classical Archaeology) Cancer Research: Accidental Discoveries, Yeasty Cures, and Mathematical Biology (Biomedical Sciences)

“I love the academic taster lectures. They’re always really interesting, and I can fit them around my A-Level revision really easily”

The Dystopian Order: How Imagining the Worst is Norm and Normal (English & Film Studies) AND MANY MORE!

YEAR 12: CHALLENGE YOURSELF

Our Academic Taster Lectures are also accompanied by extra resources which encourage you challenge yourself, including recommended readings from the academics who created the lectures, wider opportunities that you can get involved in competitions, and events such talks and exhibitions which you could talk about in your university application.

YEAR 12 INSPIRE STUDENT

“It can be hard to find competitions and supercurricular resources by myself, so these documents have been really useful for exposing me to a greater range of resources on topics that I want to learn more about.”

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The Inspire Research Project offers you the exciting opportunity to investigate a topic of your choice. You will develop your ability to think creatively, critically, and independently – skills which are important for university study. Students who take part and submit a winning Inspire Research Proposal are invited to St John’s College for a Research Skills Day where they can talk to researchers from the University of Oxford, receive access to Oxford University Press resources, and spend their book voucher prizes at the famous Blackwell’s Bookshop!

Those who go on to submit a full research poster will be invited – along with their guests – to a celebration evening at the College where their posters will be displayed. Taking part in the Inspire Research Project is an excellent way to show your intellectual curiosity and unique academic interests in your application for university.

If you are studying for an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), then you are also welcome to use the Inspire Research Project to support your research. Taking part in the Inspire Research Project is an optional element of the Inspire Programme.

JAN - APR 2023 Write a short research proposal on a topic that you are interested in

JUNE 2023 50 winning proposal authors are invited to a Research Skills Day, awarded £100 Blackwell’s voucher, and given access to Oxford University Press resources

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JAN 2024 Submit your Research Poster APR 2024 Celebration Evening at St John’s College

YEAR 12: STUDY DAYS

Inspire Study Days are immersive, subjectspecific events that take place at St John’s College, and enable you to experience what it is like to study your chosen subject at university.

You will have the chance to meet Oxford tutors and current students in the subject that you are thinking of studying, as well as exploring an Oxford college.

As a student on the Inspire Programme you have priority booking on these Study Days, and you can indicate which subject you would like to attend on your application form.

STUDY DAYS 2023

STUDY DAYS INCLUDE:

• Live lectures in your subject by Oxford academics

• The chance to meet Oxford students who are currently studying your subject

• Admissions guidance tailored to your subject

• The opportunity to explore St John’s and have lunch in our Dining Hall!

YEAR 12 INSPIRE STUDENT

“I really enjoyed talking with tutors and students about what they enjoy most about Oxford and how enriching it is both academically and socially”

YEAR 12: RESIDENTIAL SUMMER SCHOOL

Our Residential Summer School is an exciting opportunity to see what student life is like here at St John’s College!

The Inspire Summer School is all about experiencing what university has to offer, academically and socially. Year 12s will have the chance to live like Oxford University students, explore the beautiful city of Oxford, and take part in some extraordinary activities like punting, academic taster sessions, and a formal dinner in the St John’s Hall! Students will have the opportunity to take part in academic taster sessions delivered by Oxford tutors, and visit some of the University of Oxford’s amazing museums.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL:

• Overnight accommodation at St John’s College

• Full catering, including an evening BBQ and a formal dinner in Hall

• Inspiring academic taster sessions delivered by Oxford tutors

• Meeting other like-minded students from different schools

• Tours of Oxford city with current students

• Visits to Oxford’s world-class museums and galleries

• Punting, croquet, and more!

CAN’T MAKE THE RESIDENTIAL SUMMER SCHOOL?

You can still take part in our Virtual Summer School, which offers academic lectures, skills sessions and careers advice. This summer school is accessible online and is designed to fit around your busy summer schedules.

“It was an amazing experience and an outstanding summer school!”

INSPIRE YEAR 13

The Inspire Programme will continue to support you as you enter Year 13.

You will still receive new Academic Taster Lectures, and our university application advice will focus on helping you to navigate the university admissions process, and developing your study skills ready for the upcoming revision period. You will also have access to our MovingtoUniversityresources which cover a range of topics from time management to cooking on a budget!

In this final year of the Inspire Programme, you will have access to:

“The example interview was great, as it removed all of my preconceived (and incorrect) notions about what an Oxford interview would be like”

ACADEMIC TASTER LECTURES

In year 13, you’ll get access to even more great Acdemic Taster Lectures to build you interests and skills ahead of university

UNIVERSITY APPLICATION ADVICE

The university application advice offered when you are in Year 13 will focus on helping you to navigate the process and include, for example, sessions on how to prepare for and what to expect in an admissions interview.

STUDY SKILLS SESSIONS

Our study skills resources will get you feeling confident for your upcoming exams, and ready to meet the rigour of university study. Study Skills Sessions include:

• How to make a good argument

• Critical Thinking

• Notetaking for Lectures

…and much more!

MOVING TO UNIVERSITY RESOURCES

Moving to university is an exciting time, but it is not unusual to feel apprehensive too. To help you feel prepared for your next steps we have created an online hub of resources that will help your transition from college to university. The Moving to University Hub includes videos and resources in a range of topics, alongside lots of helpful advice from current students, too!

Topics include:

• Cooking at Uni

• Living on a Budget

• Your First Week

• Time Management

• Revision Skills

… and much more!

You’ll be able to access this content from Year 13, and it will remain available throughout your university experience!

WHO TAKES PART IN THE INSPIRE PROGRAMME?

The Inspire Programme is available to students in Year 12 at non-selective state schools from the selected local authorities indicated.

If you are not sure whether your sixth form or college is in an eligible region, please email us at inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk .

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Students should be predicted AAB at A-Level or equivalent.

We accept applicants on a caseby-case basis. If you feel you have experienced exceptional circumstances which mean you haven’t been predicted grades that reflect your true potential, please email us at inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk

HOW TO APPLY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much does it cost?

All elements of the programme are free.

Am I eligible to join the Inspire Programme?

For a full description of our eligibility criteria, see page 14. If you’re still not sure, then send us an email at inspire@sjc.ox.ac. uk and we’d be happy to help.

Will it get in way of my school work?

We recognise how important your A-Level studies are, and we would always encourage you to prioritise your studies. All parts of the programme are flexible, and you can determine which parts of the programme you would like to take part in.

What kind of help does St John’s offer for me to take part in the Inspire Programme?

Inspire Travel Awards and Digital Assistance Awards are available for eligible participants to ensure that everyone is able to get the most out of the Inspire Programme.

Do I get to visit the University of Oxford?

Yes, you can take part in Study Days and Subject Exploration Days, the Inspire Research Project, the Residential Summer Schools and the Open Days, all of which are in-person events held at St John’s College.

Will I get to meet undergraduate students from the University of Oxford?

Undergraduate students will be present at the in-person events.

Do I have to reapply for Year 13 if I already enrolled in Year 12?

When you apply in Year 12, you are automatically enrolled on the programme for two years and will be registered for the Year 13 programme the following year.

Can I join if I am already in Year 13, but did not take part in Year 12?

Yes, you can! To sign up, contact us at inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk.

Do I need my school’s permission to take part in the Inspire Programme?

No, registration is carried out by the student.

Do I need my parent or carer’s permission to take part in this Inspire Programme?

We will ask you to provide confirmation that your parents/guardians consent to you taking part in the programme.

If you have any questions about the Inspire 12 & 13 Programme, or any of the other Inspire Programmes we run here at St John’s, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk

DR. PETROS SPANOU

Inspire 12 & 13 Project Lead

Email/Teams: petros.spanou@sjc.ox.ac.uk Call: 01825 277355

LUCY RUSSELL

Inspire 12 & 13 Programme Coordinator Email/Teams: lucy.russell@sjc.ox.ac.uk Call: 01825 277355

St John’s College Oxford

You are also welcome to call our programme leads during their weekly drop-in hours: 15.30 - 17.00 every Tuesday

“As part of the Inspire 12 & 13 Programme, you will have the opportunity to explore new subjects and those you love, learn about the university application process and particpate in wonderful activities that help to build your CV. We are here to support and inspire you as you embark on this exciting journey.”

“The Inspire 12 and 13 Programme is a fantastic opportunity to help you prepare for university and I look forward to welcoming you onto the Programme.”