The Queen's College Record 2020

ADMISSIONS
Jon Doye
Tutor for Admissions
Outreach by the colleges is one of the prime means
by which the University seeks to reach its admissions
objectives. The success of these outreach endeavours
is reflected in the increasing percentages of Oxford’s
UK intake that are from the state sector and
disadvantaged backgrounds (these trends can be seen
in the University’s Admissions Statistical Report that is
published annually). Although the data at the college
level can vary more from year to year, it is noteworthy
that the Queen’s 2020 intake had a record proportion
from state schools.
This year the University’s new Access and Participation
Plan was submitted to the Office for Students with
particular targets to further increase the numbers of students from disadvantaged
backgrounds at Oxford. One of the flagship programmes to help achieve this is
Opportunity Oxford, a scheme to help better prepare offer holders from underrepresented
backgrounds to flourish at Oxford. The first cohort on the programme
have just started at Oxford, including two students at Queen’s. A foundation year
programme (Foundation Oxford) is also in the advanced stages of development.
Reports and College Activities
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic have had a significant impact on admissions:
firstly, as already mentioned by the Provost, through the challenges arising from the
A-level grading fiasco. It will also mean that in the upcoming admissions exercise all
interviews will take place remotely.
College Record 2020 | The Queen’s College 41