Oxford University launches free online platform for UK teachers to support academic enrichment

The project is the latest access and outreach initiative from Oxford University, which has expanded its programmes to engage pupils earlier on in their educational journey, from the age of 11. The move is in response to research that identifiedwhat is known as the 'leaky pipeline';which shows that children from backgrounds of socio-economic disadvantage who were high attainersatKey Stage 2are less likely to remain high attainers at GCSE and beyond.

The platformbuilds on the success of Oxford's outreach website Oxplore: Home of Big Questions, which launched in 2017 with students in mind. The new platform responds to requests from teachers for a resource designed for their own dedicated use,in and out of the classroom.

As a former science teacher, I know how important it is to help students build academic confidence and develop critical thinking skills from an early age. Over the past few years, we've worked closely with schools and teachers to understand how Oxford can best support their work.

These new online resources are a direct result of that collaboration. They're designed to be easy to access and use, and we hope they'll inspire discussion, spark creativity, and encourage students to explore new topics in fresh and engaging ways.

Dr Samina Khan, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach at the University of Oxford

The ready-to-use OxploreChallenge sessions are designed to build students' key skills through the exploration of interesting questions covering a wide range of disciplines. They have been created to be flexible and fit around the needs of teachersandcan be delivered as a one-off 45-minute session, or a series of four 10-minute sessions within the school day, or at lunch and after school clubs.

Much of the content has been developed out ofthe Oxplore-Raising Attainment in Schools (RAIS) project- a six-year collaboration between Oxford andThe Challenge Academy Trust(TCAT)in Warrington, aimed at developingkey skillsand wideningaccess to higher education and especially to selective universities.

OxploreChallenges are currently available for pupils aged 11-14 (Key Stage 3). Examples of 45-minute OxploreChallengesinclude:

Can you build a shelter on the moon?A 45-minute session, challenging Year 7 and 8 pupils to create blueprints for a moon base that could support research scientists living on the lunar surface.

Can you speak more than one kind of English? A 45-minute session, where Year 7 and 8 pupils learn about dialect and different forms of English and are challenged to write a short play script featuring words that are unique to their region.

10-minute Oxplore Challengesare a series of four bite-sized 10-minute activities in which Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils are challenged to brainstorm their responses to a question, identifyand select key pieces of evidence and present them as a structured argument. Questions include: 'Can money buy happiness?'; 'Should footballers earn more than nurses?';and 'Can we live without laws?'

The OxploreTeach platform also includesContinuous Professional Development and Learning (CPDL) materials for teachers to help them support pupils in developing key skills. It hasbeen created with thebusy timetables of teachers in mind, allowingusers to work on part or all ofthe modules, and return to them to suit individual schedules.

Find out more here: Landing Page | Oxplore Teach.