Academic excellence
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Students excel on our High Achievers’ Programme, which equips them with the skills and knowledge to succeed at university. Each year Priestley students receive more than 400 offers from the Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge - some of the most competitive institutions in the country.
Our Class of 2026 secured hundreds of incredible destinations including:
• Eleanor Pearce- Secured a place studying Dentistry at Cardiff University
• Ringo-Ray Lewis- Secured a place studying Politics & International Affairs at King’s College London
• Caitlin McEvoy- Secured a place studying Geography at University of Durham
High Achievers’ Programme
Anyone aiming for Oxford, Cambridge or a Russell Group university should join the High Achievers’ Programme at Priestley College. Every year it helps dozens of students make competitive applications and secure top university places. Here’s how:
- Weekly sessions to boost academic skills outside of the standard curriculum
- One-to-one support helping you consider degree choices, personal statements and mock interviews
- Trips to universities such as Oxford and Cambridge
- Lecture Series by visiting experts and professionals whose talks will challenge your intellectual curiosity.
- Specialist feedback on university applications
- Additional mentoring and tutorial opportunities
Oxbridge Connections
Priestley is a North West hub for OxNet – a programme run by the University of Oxford and Pembroke College that aims to make higher education more accessible. OxNet is unapologetically academic and together we run a rigorous programme featuring seminars and conferences.
Priestley acts as Pembroke’s North West Centre for Languages, and our languages students benefit from exclusive access to higher education events. Choose Priestley and you will also benefit from our link with Cambridge as we take part in HE+, a year-long programme that includes a residential at the university, academic extension classes, subject masterclasses, information and guidance sessions.
Law, Medicine and Veterinary Careers Our Pre-Law Programme develops your skills in readiness for a career in this field through mooting and debating competitions, insights into the career and help preparing for specialist university entrance tests. Visits to court and from those who make our justice system what it is today.
Prepare for a career in Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary science with the help of Priestley’s MDV course. Hear from guest speakers including practitioners and current medical students as well as former students and visiting university speakers.
Life after Priestley
We are proud of our alumni who have gone on to make a real difference in the world in the most incredible and varied ways. Whether that be joining the vanguard in the fight against malaria, entertaining thousands on the West End stage or playing rugby for Warrington Wolves, they have all pursued their dreams to make them become reality.
Here are just a few of our alumni who have gone on to great things and we truly believe that if you choose Priestley College we can help you achieve your goals as well.
