Ahead of our Sixth Form Evening tonight we'd like to introduce James Gisby, Director of Teaching & Learning – Oxbridge Adviser.

James will be available in our Sixth Form Centre this evening to chat with you about Sixth Form subjects, the Oxbridge process, applying to university and UCAS.

Our 60 second interview with James:

Why do you enjoy teaching at Seaford?

I enjoy the energy of our students; I am a passionate historian so I love to see this enthusiasm reflected back in the classroom. Also, I love our ethos of striving for personal bests regardless of where you are on the ability spectrum. I am just as proud of our Cs at History A Level as I am about our many A/A*s.

Tell us about your role:

My role is to guide our students through the Oxbridge application process. Alongside their subject mentor, we make sure they are reading the right books, exploring appropriate work experience and extending their knowledge to put them in the best position for success. We stretch students beyond the curriculum and work on interview skills, as this is still a crucial part of the selection process for these courses. We have 18 months to prepare and make sure the students have practised and enhanced their critical thinking to maximise their application form, interview and admissions test.

My favourite part of the role is seeing our students develop a fanatical passion for their subject inside and outside of the classroom. To see them reading, talking and debating higher order concepts of their chosen subjects and getting excited about them reignites my passion for education, especially when we have people applying for History! Really, it is my role to help facilitate their passion, point them in the right direction for further research and help them convey this enthusiasm to others, including a potential interviewer.

We look forward to welcoming everyone this evening.