Varsity Academy Launch Night

On the evening of Tuesday 22 November, Oldham Sixth Form College (OSFC) held a launch event for its exciting new initiative - the Varsity Academy. The Varsity Academy is an outreach programme that will see 200 of the most able Year 10 students in Oldham engage in ‘stretch and challenge’ activities in preparation for their future studies at sixth form and at university. The 200 students have been selected by 10 of Oldham’s schools and academies, with 20 from each institution. 

Over the course of the Varsity Academy programme, the students will visit OSFC once per term, with 4 visits between November 2022 and November 2023. On each visit, the students will have 4 sessions - in Science, Maths, English and Humanities. During the year, they will also engage in online lectures, tutorials and competitions. In addition, the Varsity Academy is proud to be linked to the prestigious OxNet project, established by Pembroke College (Oxford University) and will be receiving extra support from Oxford academics. The Varsity programme will culminate in a graduation ceremony in November 2023, at which the efforts of the 200 students will be celebrated.

Dr Richard Lee, Assistant Principal at OSFC, and founder of the Varsity Academy, said:

Throughout our 30 year history, OSFC has established a reputation for offering outstanding support to all our students, including the most able. We have specific programmes, like our Oxbridge Group and Aspiring Medics’ and Lawyers’ Programmes, to help them reach their aspirations. Nevertheless, research suggests that it is never too early for students to work at developing higher level knowledge and skills, or to begin thinking about their future progression routes. The Varsity Academy is our way of contributing to this process and we are really grateful for the schools’ wholehearted support in establishing the project. We cannot wait to start working with these amazing students!’.