What is the Enhancing Excellence Programme?

Notre Dame's Enhancing Excellence Programme supports and encourages students of high academic potential to apply to Oxford, Cambridge and other world top 30 Universities and/or to Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science degrees.

What happens in Enhancing Excellence?

Throughout lower sixth, students have the opportunity to attend subject area discussion and development groups, engaging in weekly activities to prepare them for the rigorous tests and interviews required by these universities. They become more independent learners supported by the EE SharePoint which provides students with resources to research beyond their A-level curricula by reading, watching online lectures or documentaries, attending residentials and conferences, or engaging in work placements. Usually, a quarter of these students apply to Oxford or Cambridge, and similar numbers apply to Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry. In 2023, our students attended a workshop series with undergraduates and doctors from the University of Leeds Medical School, exploring ethics, situational judgement, and other skills required for a career in medicine with In2Med. They also attended an Oxbridge conference, where a student from Oxford discussed the interview process and life at university, and admissions tutors from Worcester College provided advice on developing an application. Tutors from the University of Cambridge host two annual admissions and interviews conferences at Notre Dame. Our students visit Oxford and Cambridge each year. We have a very successful MEDEV (Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine) programme under the Enhancing Excellence umbrella, including links with a variety of University’s programmes aimed at widening access to Medicine and Dentistry respectively.

How do you join?

You will be invited to join the SharePoint and be able to access the resources from mid-September via email. Invitation to join the programme is dependent on your performance here and your GCSE results. The sign up for Oxbridge and MEDEV groups begins just before the October half term with the groups starting after the break.

What is Cambridge HE+?

This initiative is designed to challenge academically the brightest young people in our inner cities, to raise aspirations and encourage applications to very selective universities.

Run in partnership with the University of Cambridge, the prestigious HE + Programme is designed to academically challenge the brightest young people in our inner cities, to raise aspirations, and encourage applications to very selective universities. Students will: receive advice, guidance and support to help make the best possible application; be prepared for interviews, including through mock interview practice; and attend seminars run by the University of Cambridge. As one of the University of Cambridge’s HE+ institutions, we aim to engage students in a sustained programme, which includes academic extension classes, subject masterclasses, information and guidance sessions.