Andrew Craig came to Balliol in 1971 for his undergraduate degree in Engineering Science. He supports students through the Area of Greatest Need Fund and the Balliol Teacher Scholarships.
I can still remember when my teacher, Mr Evans, suggested both engineering and Balliol to me. He guided me to a subject that I did not know existed, and I certainly had no idea about Oxbridge or university in general. When I visited Oxford for the first time for my interview, while it was tough, I felt this was a place I could call home.
I want school pupils today to benefit from the same knowledgeable guidance that put me on the right path so many years ago. That is why I am proud to support Balliol’s pioneering Teacher Scholarship programme, which works with teachers in disadvantaged schools, providing training and materials that support pupils from age 11 upwards and encouraging lasting change in those schools.
Students today can access information about university much more easily than I could back then, but there is still no substitute for the advice of a great teacher who knows you well. Already the College can see the benefits of the programme: after two years working with Balliol, the first school to take part has seen applications from its pupils to Russell Group universities rise from 0% to 40% of pupils.
From Mr Evans at school to Dr Alastair Howatson (Emeritus Fellow) at Balliol, inspirational teachers have had such a positive impact on my life. I want to do my part to give school pupils today the same opportunity.
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