Testimonials
WHAT THIS YEAR'S PUPILS SAY
The following testimonials were collected in Spring 2025, midway through the OxNet and Pembroke Scholars programmes. By this point in the academic year, pupils had participated variously in study skills days, seminars, workshops, essay competitions and, for the Heritage-360 cohort, an interdisciplinary conference.
"OxNet has been an utterly invaluable experience. I've been provided with the opportunity to learn amounts of knowledge, and every week, without fail, I am blown away by the intelligence of my peers. I have also had the chance to participate in the Easter Essay competition, which has taught me the importance of planning, research, and even how to write a bibliography, providing me with skills which will prove invaluable at university and allowing me to receive direct feedback from specialists in my subject. Furthermore, not only has OxNet provided invaluable academic support, but it has also been truly enjoyable, providing me with the opportunity to explore my subject of interest beyond the confines of my school curriculum! Subject Leads are keen to provide as much support as possible, and will foster any interests you have, offering to provide further reading recommendations, answer questions, and generally, guide you in your exploration. I feel honoured to have been granted such an exceptional opportunity, and hope that future students will enjoy it as much as I have!"
​Lúa (OxNet English 2025)
"For me the best part about participating in the OxNet Languages course was the encouragement to think laterally and to always question an interpretation. I came to realise that the formulation of questions was necessary, and perhaps of greater value than attempting to give an answer. Using the contextual knowledge from our reading, and combined with discussion from the seminars, I was amazed at how quickly we were able to comment, at some length, about a particular theme that could easily have been overlooked. The texts that we studied and the questions posed introduced me to some of the philosophical concepts underpinning them, such as arguments concerning the nature of truth. This made me more aware of the links that languages have with other subjects, such as history and science."
​Aidan (OxNet Languages 2025)
"I enjoyed every seminar! Each one was fascinating, covering various complex themes such as differentiating between autofictional and autobiographical novels, as well as how biculturalism (and multi-identities) can be depicted in writing. I felt actively challenged to think critically and to engage with the texts in depth; more like an undergraduate at university, and less like a secondary student. Figuring out how to articulate my ideas in an academic setting was a challenging, yet rewarding, experience. As cliché as it may sound, I've gained more confidence and learned to be unafraid of taking the initiative — and that in itself is invaluable!"
​Kinga (OxNet Languages 2025)
"I have found OxNet to be a very welcoming programme that allowed me to participate in extracurricular activities that I may not have felt confident to look into myself & it also enabled me to meet like-minded people. I also felt challenged & capable to explore new concepts."
​Cerys (OxNet Science 2025)
"I have found OxNet both challenging and exciting during my time on the course. I have learned how to manage a workload with lots of (sometimes difficult) reading in order to understand new concepts. The seminars were particularly enjoyable, learning about topics in a way that felt new and invigorating, especially when we engaged in group debates and discussions. I feel that I have broadened my horizons academically, especially when writing the undergraduate-style essay, and I have enjoyed working with both the lecturers and the other pupils on the programme."
​Matteo (OxNet Social Science 2025)
"I'm usually one to dislike the unknown, and things I'm unsure about - which normally drives my eagerness to learn and understand, yet OxNet has challenged that to a great extent as we are told to "be open in being pleasantly confused". The openness of the tutors; their support, along with the interesting (but challenging) seminars made me comfortable with this confusion, but also so much more interested in finding out an answer! The difference between school learning and these seminars is tangible - it allows pupils to be curious and autonomous in their learning, thus building true knowledge and understanding."
​Martina (OxNet Philosophy & World Religions 2025)
"I'd say that my experience with OxNet has been very intriguing so far. There's so much to learn that I haven't previously even thought about, and it's refreshing to hear so many different perspectives and interpretations. I really enjoy the lectures as it's a chance for us to have serious, intellectual and in-depth conversations about difficult or controversial topics which is not an opportunity I often have in day-to-day life."
​Wiktoria (OxNet Philosophy & World Religions 2025)
"I have loved the seminar series and I have found the reading extremely interesting, especially for the one about ‘Jihad and Violence in Modern Islam’. The seminar series has made me more aware of the world around me and has massively improved my knowledge of the religious world as a whole."
​Adarah (OxNet Philosophy & World Religions 2025)
"It was great to take part in a conference-style day with a variety of academic speakers, who covered a range of topics I would not currently experience in school, or would have originally considered exploring independently. I particularly liked the talk on ‘Climate Change and Social Justice’ which linked with, and built upon, subjects I am currently studying. It was also interesting how speakers tailored their specific areas/interests to our regional context."
​Thomas (OxNet Heritage-360 2025)
"Pembroke Scholars has not only allowed me to think more analytically but it has enabled me to approach my studies at school with a more academic outlook. Through the online sessions, especially the Tutorial workshop, Pembroke Scholars has given me confidence to apply to highly competitive universities as it gave me an insight into the academia beyond A levels."
​Rosanna (Pembroke Scholars 2025)
"I have loved my time on OxNet. I’ve learnt how to take writing in context and link it to everyday life, I’ve learnt how to find information in a given text and finally how to formulate my ideas in a passionate and enthusiastic debate in our weekly seminars. I feel that I have grown in confidence in my own knowledge and skill in organising this knowledge in a concise and interesting way as well as making lots of like-minded friends along the way!"
​Alice (OxNet Humanities 2025)
"The seminars have been inspiring and insightful, particularly in the breadth of material covered which has allowed me to sample new areas of academic research. The highlight had to be the opportunity to have academic discussions with Oxford lecturers, such as atavism in gothic literature. My confidence in comprehending complex texts has been improved and I am grateful for the opportunity."
​Ryan (OxNet Humanities 2025)
