Category Archives: Teachers

Events and Competitions, Multilingualism, Portuguese, Teachers, Translation

Stephen Spender Prize 2025

Leave a comment

Calling MFL, EAL and English teachers! Bring creative translation into the classroom this summer with the Stephen Spender Prize 2025!

The Stephen Spender Prize is an annual competition for poetry in translation that celebrates the creativity of young people across the UK and Ireland – and their teachers! The Prize has categories schools, teachers and individual young people, which welcome translations from all languages, as well as a special ‘Spotlight‘ strand that each year focuses on a different widely spoken home or heritage language.

Open for entries 1 May to 31 July | Free entry for all young people and teachers in the UK and Ireland!

Whether you’re an MLF, EAL or English teacher, and whatever the languages taught and spoken in your school community, the prize is a perfect way to engage students of all ages this summer term.

Teachers can register here to receive classroom inspiration and activity ideas throughout the prize window, and you can follow all the latest news on our website and social media channels below.

Ready to start planning and working on your entries? Visit our Guide for Teachers page for all the key information about the prize at a glance, and explore our Stephen Spender Prize Resources hub for Teaching Resources and Student Resources to guide you and your pupils through every step of entering the prize.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at prize@stephen-spender.org. We hope that many of you and your students will get involved this year!

Website: www.stephen-spender.org | X: @StephenSpender| Facebook: @StephenSpenderTrust | Instagram: @stephenspendertrust | Bluesky: @stephenspender.bsky.social

Events and Competitions, Teachers

Oxford Admissions Webinar series

Leave a comment

St Hilda’s College is embarking on a webinar series for state school students that will look in detail at the Oxford admissions process and is aimed at students at different stages in their applications.

People punting on the River Cherwell, St Hilda’s College

Whilst information about the University of Oxford will be given, please note that the first and last talks will also focus on university in general and how to make informed decisions about the future.

The series involves a number of different online sessions, as follows:

Wednesday 18th June (16:00-16:45)- ‘How to choose a course and a university’

Thursday 19th June (19:00-20:00)- ‘An overview of the Oxford admissions process (for teachers)’

Wednesday 9th July 2025 (16:00-16:45)- ‘An overview of the Oxford admissions process (for students)’

Wednesday 16th July (16:00-16:45)- UCAS personal statement

These are all aimed at state school students (Years 10-13) and/or teachers, depending on the talk.

More information and the registration forms can be found here:
St Hilda’s College Outreach Webinars | St Hilda’s College Oxford

Please direct any questions towards outreach@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk.

Applying to study modern languages, Events and Competitions, Studying at Oxford, Teachers

Oxford Admissions webinars

Leave a comment

Keble College is running online sessions to provide information and guidance on aspects of the Oxford admissions process during the summer term. These offer opportunities to receive up-to-date advice and guidance on applying to Oxford, and have questions answered by University staff. All sessions are open to Year 12 (or equivalent) currently attending a UK state school or college, and/or those supporting a prospective student in this category.

Keble College and the Beecroft Building from University Parks

Please see the tables below for this year’s webinar schedule for prospective students and those supporting them.

Admissions Webinar Schedule: Summer 2025

Webinars for prospective students
Please note: sessions with the same title are duplicates

DateTimeSession
Tuesday 27th May2pmOxford Explained
Tuesday 27th May4pmSuper-Curricular Activities
Wednesday 28th May2pmPersonal Statements (new format)
Thursday 29th May2pmPreparing for Oxford Interviews
Monday 23rd June7pmOxford Explained
Tuesday 24th June7pmPersonal Statements (new format)
Thursday 26th June7pmAdmissions Tests at Oxford
Monday 28th July2pmSuper-Curricular Activities
Tuesday 29th July2pmPersonal Statements (new format)
Wednesday 30th July2pmAdmissions Tests at Oxford
Thursday 31st July2pmPreparing for Oxford Interviews

Register here for Admissions Webinars for prospective students

Parent, Carer & Supporter Webinars

DateTime
Thursday 29th May7pm
Tuesday 8th July7pm
Thursday 31st July7pm

Register here for Admissions Webinars for parents, carers and supporters

Registration is open until 8am on the day of each webinar. You will be sent joining details after this time, regardless of when you register.

Any questions can be directed to outreach@keble.ox.ac.uk.

Events and Competitions, Teachers

Free Online CPD Programme for Teachers

Leave a comment

Exclusively for state schoolteachers and colleagues with responsibility for progression, join Trinity College for its programme which aims to provide up-to-date practical information and guidance relating to the Oxford application process and the purpose of each stage, for example, the admissions tests and interviews. ​ 

Trinity also has the broader aim of providing teachers and colleagues with guidance that will help them to support their pupils in all higher education applications, as well as those who may have the potential to apply to Oxford. 

They particularly welcome colleagues from non-selective state schools who have little or no experience of the University of Oxford, pupil progression to the Russell Group or Higher Education in general.

The programme takes place online and is made up of six 1.5hr live sessions each taking place after the school day. Whilst the programme begins in January each year, teachers are encouraged to join at any point or just for those sessions they would find most helpful. As part of this programme, a free Teacher Enrichment Residential (details below) is offered, which is also completely optional. 

A completion certificate is offered for those attending all six online sessions, however there is no requirement to do so. Colleagues are welcome to register and then join for just the preferred sessions. 

Teacher CPD programme of sessions in 2025: 

SessionTitleDate
S1  Introduction to OxfordMonday 13th January 16:15 or Thursday 16th January 17:00
S2  Enrichment and raising attainmentMonday 3rd February 16:15 or Thursday 6th February 17:00
S3Personal StatementsMonday 31st March 16:15 or Thursday 3rd April at 17:00
S4Oxford Admissions TestsMonday 12th May 16:15 or Thursday 15th May 17:00
S5Teacher Reference WritingMonday 9th June 16:15 or Thursday 12th June 17:00
S6Oxford Academic InterviewsMonday 16th June 16:15 or Thursday 16th October 16:15
ResidentialTeacher enrichment: fully funded 3-night residential for colleagues to explore any particular topic of personal interest in their subject area or some aspect of their teaching practice or pedagogy, using the University of Oxford’s library collections.Easter Vacation 2026 date TBC

SIGN UP HERE and the team at Trinity will be in touch closer to January 13th with joining details. 

If you have already taken part in this programme, you are very welcome to sign up for refresher support. 

Please could you also share this email with other school colleagues who may like to take part and, of course, do not hesitate to get in touch with the Hannah Rolley (Head of Access, Trinity College) hannah.rolley@trinity.ox.ac.uk should you have any questions.