Oxbridge Super 16

Cardinal Newman College is celebrating an outstanding year of Oxbridge success, with 16 students receiving offers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge — a reflection of both exceptional student dedication and the College’s sustained commitment to academic excellence.

As the Lancashire hub for the University of Cambridge’s HE+ Programme, the College plays a leading role in preparing the region’s most academically able students to make competitive applications to the UK’s most prestigious universities. The programme forms part of a comprehensive Oxbridge preparation pathway designed to stretch and inspire high achievers.

Students benefit from a wide range of tailored support, including visits from representatives of University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, residential trips during open days, specialist workshops for admissions tests, mock interviews, and detailed guidance on crafting personal statements. This provision sits within the College’s wider Newman Honours Programme, which supports students in fulfilling their academic potential.

The number of offers received this year demonstrates that success at Oxbridge is by no means limited to students in the South of England. Cardinal Newman College continues to show that Lancashire more than holds its own nationally. With the right support and ambition, students from the region are proving they are just as capable and deserving of places at world-class institutions as their peers anywhere in the country.

Behind each offer lies an extraordinary level of commitment. Students have not only excelled in their A-Level studies but have also gone well beyond the curriculum, pursuing wider reading and super-curricular activities to deepen their subject knowledge. They have embraced rigorous preparation for admissions tests and interviews, building confidence and resilience along the way.

For those holding conditional offers, the focus now turns to achieving the required A* and A grades this summer. Teachers will continue to provide extensive support to ensure students are fully prepared to meet the challenge.

Dan Taylor, Assistant Principal for High Achieving Students, said: “At Cardinal Newman College we are very proud of these students who have gained places at these world-class universities. They have shown great effort and determination in succeeding against stiff competition from the UK and across the globe, which bodes well for their future achievements.”

Principal Nick Burnham added: “We couldn’t be prouder of our students. The hard work and determination that has gone into them receiving these offers is incredible and a testament not only to their commitment but also to that of our staff, who never tire of supporting students at every level to achieve their full potential.”

This latest success story reinforces Cardinal Newman College’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence, where talent is nurtured, ambition is encouraged, and students are empowered to compete — and succeed — on a national and global stage.