Eleven A Level students from Gower College Swansea have been offered conditional places to study at either Oxford or Cambridge University in 2026.
The students are all following the College’s GCS Honours programme at the Gorseinon Campus, which aims to provide the best possible preparation for students aiming to progress to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities. They are:
Alex Blake (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) offered a place at St John's College, Cambridge to study History
Caitlin Scotti (formerly Ysgol Bro Dinefwr) offered a place at St John's College, Cambridge to study Land Economy
Catrin Chowdhury (formerly Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr) offered a place at St Catherine's College, Oxford to study Modern Languages
Cleo Jones (formerly Pontardulais Comprehensive School) offered a place at St John's College, Cambridge to study Education
Cosima Wohlschegel (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) offered a place at New College, Oxford to study Biology
Eve Barron (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) offered a place at St John's College, Cambridge to study Medicine
Harrison Williams (formerly Pontardulais Comprehensive School) offered a place at Brasenose College, Oxford to study History and Politics
Kaitlin O'Mahoney (formerly St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre) offered a place at Newnham College, Cambridge to study Land Economy
Nisha Wattananavin (International student) offered a place at Trinity Hall, Cambridge to study Land Economy
Poppy Harry-Thomas (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) offered a place at St John's College, Cambridge to study Modern and Medieval Languages
Samantha Nowak (formerly Gowerton School) offered a place at St John's College, Oxford to study Chinese
“This really is fantastic news and I’d like to extend my congratulations to all the students, their lecturers and the GCS Honours team,” says Principal, Paul Kift. “It’s great to see that so many different comprehensive schools are represented on this list and I’m delighted that the range of subjects these students are going on to pursue are so varied - from biology and Chinese to land economy and education - this really represents a diverse range of future career pathways. I’m also pleased that one of our International students has been offered a place at Cambridge.
“All that remains now is for me to wish them all the very best for their exam results in August.”
“We have a strong track record for getting students into top universities so this success demonstrates the consistency and strength of our provision and the dedication of our teaching and support staff,” adds CEO, Kelly Fountain. “This is something we should all be incredibly proud of.”
In 2025, Gower College Swansea was named by the Daily Mail as one of the top UK state schools / colleges for getting young people into Cambridge and Oxford universities, appearing on a list of the Top 30 educational organisations bridging the gap for state school students to access elite universities.
The College’s GCS Honours Programme incorporates weekly tutorials, preparation interviews with Oxbridge alumni and local academic professionals, an aptitude test and assessment preparation for relevant subjects.
Learners who wish to apply to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary science attend additional sessions which prepare them for admissions tests and competitive interviews. They also have opportunities to hear from guest speakers from a range of employers and university courses.
The College has also integrated the Seren Academy, a Welsh Government initiative dedicated to helping Wales’ brightest learners achieve their full academic potential in Wales, the UK, and overseas, into its GCS Honours programme. Available to all academically able learners in Year 12 and Year 13, the Seren Academy offers interactive sessions and unique study experiences to support ongoing learning and expert guidance to help young people make informed decisions about applying to leading universities.
Gower College Swansea is also proud to be part of the Step Up initiative, which is coordinated by New College, Oxford. The Step Up team support students by attending the Gorseinon campus to talk through the application and personal statement process and providing opportunities for our learners to visit Oxford.