What is the OMS? What is included?
The Oxbridge Mentoring Scheme is designed to help students gain broader subject knowledge, an understanding of how to answer Oxbridge-style questions and the self-confidence to be prepared for any interview scenario. It includes:
- Academic mock interviews with written feedback
- Recommendations for subject-related reading
- Advice on course and college choices
- UCAS personal statement brainstorming and critical review
- Preparation for entrance tests
- Practice in answering Oxbridge interview questions
How much does the Insight Outreach OMS cost?
The OMS is free for all students accepted onto the programme. This is thanks to volunteer Oxford and Cambridge students and graduates who want to mentor dedicated students.
What is Oxbridge?
Oxbridge is a shortening of the words Oxford and Cambridge, and is word used to mean either of these two universities.
How is the OMS different to other initiatives that exist?
The OMS is a mini-syllabus of support, replicating the Oxford and Cambridge style tutorial and supervision systems. Also, our mentors are trained to deliver and use study frameworks through online mentoring classes. OMS elements interlink with each other and are underpinned by simple structures that enable students to consolidate their learning. The OMS process develops critical reasoning and creative problem-solving skills so that students can prepare themselves for Oxbridge entrance tests and interviews. Our mentors guide students through what can sometimes feel like a bewildering application process, but empower them to take charge of their own learning.
How will the OMS be delivered to students?
The OMS is run by a dedicated team of enthusiastic volunteer mentors, all of whom are Oxbridge educated and trained to deliver our unique programme. Tutorials will be delivered via an online teaching platform meaning that geography is no obstacle.
When are OMS tutorials held?
The OMS programme is designed to run flexibly around the schedules of the students and tutors. This means they usually run during evenings or at the weekend, though this isn’t always the case. Tutors and students mutually decide on times which work for them.
Our school has its own in-house programme and we want to avoid conflicting information. How can we achieve this?
Insight Outreach is committed to supporting teachers, not replacing them. The bespoke nature of the OMS programme means that Insight Outreach can work alongside a school’s existing programme, supplementing it with support as appropriate.
We support the OMS but want to retain control of the UCAS process. Is this possible?
Ultimately OMS students will be in control of the UCAS process and are encouraged to seek wider advice from a variety of sources. Insight Outreach runs UCAS brainstorming and critical review sessions to support students in writing high calibre, academic statements that will enable them to compete for places at Oxford and Cambridge and other top UK universities.
Is Insight Outreach a charity?
Yes, as of June 2018, Insight Outreach is a registered charity. Our charity number is 1178862.
How is the OMS funded?
Insight Outreach’s legal form (a 'Charitable Incorporated Organisation') enables us to create partnerships to generate income. Insight Education is not only our parent company who assisted in creating our charity; it is also the trading arm of Insight Outreach, funding OMS operations. Our hope is to help turn IO into a self-funding organisation by attracting corporate sponsorship and grant-funding, as well as through fundraising events and initiatives and selling educational products.