We are incredibly proud to announce that nine Carmel College students have received offers to study at Oxbridge in September 2026!
The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are among the most prestigious and highly ranked universities in the UK. With demanding entry requirements, an extensive application process and rigorous interviews, securing an Oxbridge offer is a remarkable achievement. These offers are a testament to our students’ dedication and hard work, as well as the exceptional academic support provided at Carmel College.
Oxford Offers
Stephen Higginson (Wade Deacon High School) – Law at New College
Kofi Holden (The Liverpool Blue Coat School) – Biomedical Science at St John’s College
Tobias McWilliams (St Gregory’s Catholic High School) – Mathematics and Statistics at Christ Church College
Stephen Pennington (De La Salle School) – Engineering at Hertford College
Libby Pye (St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School) – Classics at St Christchurch College
Matthew Sharma (Tower College) – Engineering at Oriel College
Stephen Higginson said: “The High Achievers+ Programme at Carmel has provided me with useful and relevant opportunities, including a residential to Oxford university, which helped to open my eyes what was possible after leaving college.”
Stephen Pennington commented: “I felt very happy to receive my offer, I’m really excited to study at Oxford as I think their style of teaching will suit me well and the level of understanding that is developed in your area of study is extremely high.”
Libby Pye said “The staff have been so supportive throughout my time at Carmel. Being a part of the High Achiever’s Programme allowed me to explore my options after Carmel to better suit my interests.”
Matthew Sharma said: “I was absolutely delighted to receive an offer from Oxford, as it has always been the university I aspired to attend, and it was incredibly rewarding to see my hard work throughout the admissions process pay off. I am very grateful to Carmel College for its guidance and support, particularly for coordinating the subject-specific mock interviews, which were the most valuable preparation for the interview stage.”
Cambridge Offers
Ava Boylan (Archbishop Blanch High School) – Classics at Peterhouse College
Isla Ebbrell (Rainhill High School) – English Literature at Newnham College
Anais Wood (The Prescot School) – Medicine at Newnham College
Ava Boylan said: “I was really excited to receive the offer because prior to Carmel I didn’t think I was the type of person who could go to a university like Cambridge, but my teachers gave me the confidence to apply.”
Isa Ebbrell commented: “It felt amazing to see all my hard work pay off. I’m very grateful to my English teacher and all the staff that have supported me in the application process”.
Anais Wood thanked her amazing teachers saying: “My time at Carmel has continually pushed me to be the best version of myself – both academically and personally. I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore ambitious higher education and the offers of work experience Carmel has given me.”
This success is driven by our High Achievers+ Programme, which challenges and supports gifted, highly motivated students as they prepare for entry to leading universities and ambitious future careers. Students follow a tailored pathway that includes the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), specialist tutor groups, and personalised one-to-one guidance for Oxbridge, Russell Group and Sutton 30 applications. Through the Super Curriculum, students also develop advanced academic skills that strengthen their university applications and long-term career prospects. The High Achievers+ Programme continues to go from strength to strength, providing students with the best possible opportunities to succeed.
Head of the HA+ Programme, Dan Saunders said: “The HA+ team are all really proud of the success of our students who will be progressing onto Oxbridge. They have been working hard for many months with support from the fantastic HA+ Co-ordinators and subject staff. Congratulations!”
Well done to all of our students holding offers and thank you to everyone who has supported them in this fantastic achievement.
Visit the High Achievers+ Programme web page to find out more about the support and opportunities available at Carmel College.