Support for Students

Academic Support

Teaching at the Academy is outstanding. Our teaching staff are trained using an intensive research-led approach. This, combined with the strong academic background of our teaching staff, allows our students to make excellent progress in lessons. Our staff go above and beyond to ensure that students reach their potential. Students who are struggling with a particular concept are given additional support outside of lessons by their subject teacher and those who are excelling are invited to extension group discussion sessions. We have recently increased teaching time for every A-Level subject by 25% in order to allow students to take maximum advantage of the guidance and support our expert teaching staff provide for them. 

UCAS

Our students tell us that their reason for choosing to study at Ashcroft was that they knew we would give them the best possible preparation for life after Sixth Form. Students studying in our Sixth Form typically wish to progress to the universities of Oxford or Cambridge, Russell Group universities, or to other competitive university courses. Through clear guidance and tailored Oxbridge support programme, we have enabled over twenty students to progress to Oxford and Cambridge in recent years. In 2025, approaching 70% of Year 13 progressed to Russell Group universities or to study medicine, engineering or architecture at competitive universities. In addition, a record number of 10 students went on to study Medicine or Dentistry in 2025 at top medical schools such as Imperial College London, Brighton and Sussex and King’s College London. 

Our focus is enabling students to achieve their ambition, and they are supported in doing so throughout their time in Sixth Form - from their very first day. Our close relationships with universities, detailed knowledge of the application process and analysis of offer rates mean that our students are provided with personalised guidance on the most suitable institutions to apply to and are able to prepare highly competitive applications. In 2025, Ashcroft Sixth Form had a 100% offer rate from 21 universities and offer rates substantially above the national average for other competitive universities such as Exeter, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester and Warwick.  Students receive timetabled Higher Education Guidance lessons alongside personal advice from both our pastoral and academic staff. Alongside this, our careers officer assists students in making the most of the work experience, mentoring and summer school programmes available to them. 

Each year, we welcome a new and ambitious group of Year 12 students into the Sixth Form. They each arrive with their own unique aspirations and therefore the way we support students is tailored to each individual. What is common amongst all students, however, is their openness to embrace the enthusiasm and expertise that our teaching staff offer. 

Applications for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science and to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge

We are delighted that so many former Ashcroft Technology Academy students have been accepted to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities. In 2025, 10% of Year 13 went on to study Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science, or at Oxford or Cambridge. A record number of 10 students went on to study Medicine or Dentistry at top medical schools such as Imperial College London, Brighton and Sussex and King’s College London.  

We offer a tailored Oxbridge programme of support, which gives our students the knowledge, understanding and confidence required to secure a place at either institution. Guidance for Oxbridge applicants is delivered throughout Year 12 and when students enter Year 13 there are weekly sessions between September and December to support students through every step of the application process. With so many teaching staff and former students who have attended Oxford or Cambridge, we are able to provide personal support to each student.  This programme also includes visits to Oxbridge and visits to the Academy by Oxbridge admissions tutors, support with admissions tests and thorough preparation for the interview process. 

Our teachers provide specialist support to students who are applying to study courses related to their curriculum area. This ranges from regular meetings to review and improve personal statements, discussions of recent academic papers, through to clubs and societies such as the Ashcroft Medical Society. In 2025, 10 students went on to study Medicine or Dentistry. This approach fosters in students a deeper understanding of their subjects beyond the confines of exam specifications. Enabling our students to acquire a broad understanding of their subject has proved invaluable in terms of university applications and interviews, aiding them in the pursuit of their ambitions. 

Pastoral Support

During your time in the Sixth Form, you will make important decisions regarding higher education and your future career path. Our dedicated Sixth Form Management Team, including tutors and five Sixth Form Study Coordinators, will support and guide you through this process every step of the way. The Sixth Form Team offers one-to-one academic and pastoral mentoring, as well as holding daily study interventions to support students of a range of abilities.  Our Careers Officer provides students with detailed guidance about the industries they are interested in working within and our Higher Education Guidance lessons allows students to understand how they can successfully progress through qualification and application processes. Our pastoral support extends further, with financial support for those who need it and specialist wellbeing support available to all students.

16-19 Bursary

Getting the most out of your A-levels or the IB Diploma requires a significant commitment in terms of time and energy.  At Ashcroft we offer financial support to sixth form students who need it, in order you allow you to focus on your studies without the distractions:. 

• Free School Meals are provided to students who received them in Year 11. These students also receive additional support in the form of a hardship grant. 

• Students will be provided with copies of all textbooks and materials required to complete the A Level and IB courses. 

• All university preparation programmes, including specialist admissions test preparation and resources, are provided free of charge for all students. 

• Students who receive Free School Meals typically qualify for our discretionary 16 – 19 Bursary. The bursary is paid directly into the bank account of the student every eight weeks. Whilst the bursary amount varies year on year, the total payment is typically around £330 per year. 

Careers and HEG

doing so throughout their time in Sixth Form - from their very first day. Our close relationships with universities, detailed knowledge of the application process and the types of institutions of which our students wish to study at mean that our students are able to prepare highly competitive applications for university courses. Students receive timetabled Higher Education Guidance lessons alongside personal advice from both our pastoral and academic staff. Alongside this, our Careers Advisor assists students in making the most of the work experience, mentoring and summer school programmes available to them. 

The Sixth Form runs a series of careers events, including the highly popular “My Future Day” which takes place each June for Year 12 students. This event provides students with a firsthand experience to meet with employers and universities. The most recent event had over 40 stalls including Barclays, EY, Sky and BAE Systems, as well as Imperial College London, University of Cambridge and the Royal Veterinary College. There are also a host of subject specific careers events. A recent STEM careers event was a particular highlight, with Ashcroft Alumni from over the past two decades returning to speak about how they had developed their careers after leaving the Academy Sixth Form. Aspiring Law students have benefitted from a workshop delivered by a High Court judge and students applying for Medicine, Dentistry and allied healthcare careers are visited by a number of professionals as part of the Ashcroft Medical Society. The opportunities extend across the careers spectrum to ensure all students receive expert guidance on their next steps.  

Scholarships

We offer a number of scholarships worth up to £500 for students to develop knowledge and skills relating to their degree course. The scholarship is used by students to complete a qualification, attend events or to become a member of an academic organisation linked to the subject area they wish to study at university. The rigorous application process for these scholarships is designed to help students develop and showcase their communication skills. For many of our Oxbridge alumni, their scholarship interview during Year 12 was the first stage in their university interview preparation. Students have said that they found the scholarship interview process to be an invaluable experience.  

Examples of Scholarship Awards include:  

2011 - Patrish Zituboh-Zeabie: Art Portfolio Scholarship at the University of Arts, London  

2012 - Albana Janjeva: Fashion Scholarship at Central Saint Martins  

2013 - Kiran Arwani: Medsim Scholarship at Nottingham University  

2014 - Zain Rahim: Summer School - Debating Matters at the University of London  

2015 - Matthew Lucas: Headstart course in Computer Science and Discrete Maths at Warwick university  

2016 - Marcus Jonas: Engineering Scholarship at Cambridge  

2017 - Isaac Baalbolia: Engineering Scholarship at Cambridge. Isaac went on to study Aerospace Engineering at Imperial College London  

2018 - Minnie Greaves: Human Biology Scholarship at King’s College London  

2019 - Leila Archer: Royal Geographical Society membership 

2020 - Lily Scott Phillips: Debate Chamber History Summer School. Lily went on to study History at Cambridge

2021 - Wajiha Haroon: Medicine experience day: ‘Anatomy in a day’.  Safiyya Najami: Central St Martins Portfolio Preparation for Art College 16 to 18 Year Olds Short Course 

2022 - Fanny Matuszewski: Portfolio Preparation Summer School at Central Saint Martins 

2023 - Yassine Kalsoum: Medic Mentor summer school 

2024 - Agatha Gluch: Astrophysics course 

2025 - Ekim Cabuk: 'Inside the Dissection Room' - Medicine Lecture 

2026 - Elisabeth Abraham: Debate Chamber PPE Summer School and Yusra Idris: Premed Project - Cancer and Oncology