The College is pleased to announce that it will be renewing its partnership with The Access Project for a further three years. The Access Project is a charity that brings a strategic and evidence-based approach to widening access and participation in Higher Education. Thanks to the support of Old Members, the College first partnered with the charity in 2022 to help develop its programme with schools in the North West of England.
The College’s Governing Body has voted to renew this important programme for another three years, starting from the academic year 2025-26. Queen’s looks forward to building on this partnership as part of its commitment to promoting widening access, supporting talented individuals from all backgrounds, and serving the public good—all of which speak to its founding ethos.
Tutor for Outreach and Access and Fellow in Biology Professor Lindsay Turnbull said:
I am delighted to be renewing our partnership with The Access Project. The programme brings much-needed opportunities to talented young people from under-resourced backgrounds and supports their journey to a top university. In March 2025, I was having dinner with a group of year 12s from Cumbria and Lancashire who had travelled down to take part in taster sessions and to see Queen’s, so I have seen for myself how excited students are about the programme.
Our commitment to identify and support talented youngsters from the North West of England is undimmed and I extend my thanks to all those in the Queen’s community who have supported this initiative.
The College’s Schools Liaison, Outreach and Recruitment Officer Molly Lockwood added:
Having visited our partner schools in Darwen and West Cumbria, I have seen the impact of The Access Project’s programme on the culture of the schools and aspirations of the participants. I am thrilled that, through the renewal of our partnership with The Access Project, we can continue to support talented students from the North West in building their university readiness.
Commenting on the partnership’s extensive set of ongoing programmes and aspirational objectives, CEO of The Access Project Anna Searle said:
We are delighted to continue our partnership with The Queen’s College, Oxford, working with schools across Cumbria and Lancashire. Thanks to your support, The Access Project will provide mentoring, skills coaching, and tuition to help students from under-resourced backgrounds raise their aspirations and access top universities.
Photo: event in the Upper Library at The Queen’s College, Oxford (The Access Project).
