Tuesday 30 March 2021

TAP Waverley School Partnership Launch

Keble College is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new partnership with the education charity The Access Project and Waverley School in Birmingham, following on from our highly successful programme with Colmers school in Rendal, which began three years ago.

The initiative is grounded in the local community, and is part of Keble’s wide-reaching efforts to help students from the West Midlands make successful applications and transition to leading Universities.

The partnership is based on an intensive programme of support for students starting in Year 10. The Access Project offers bright young students from disadvantaged backgrounds free weekly tuition in the subjects they need most help with, along with expert guidance through the university application process. An ever-growing number of Keble students and alumni are participating as volunteer tutors, while The Access Project’s specialised Oxbridge programme organises visits and tailored support for students in collaboration with Keble.

The virtual launch event, with representatives from Keble, The Access Project, and Waverley School.

The virtual launch was attended by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, along with representatives from the school, charity, and College. Keble Warden Sir Jonathan Phillips remarked: “We’re committed to making a success of our relationship with the Access Project. Extending it to embrace the partnership with Waverley School is clear evidence of that commitment.”

Current Keble student and JCR President Japji Gaba, who also attended the launch, told Waverley School pupils: “For someone like myself from an ethnic-minority, first-generation university student, and working-class background, it’s testament to the fact that if you believe in yourself and have confidence…if you put in the work, there’s no reason you can’t do it…once you get into Oxford you make leaps and bounds.”