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Whether you contact us directly as a student or for the benefit of your pupils, son or daughter, Insight Education is committed to helping you prepare thoroughly for the Oxbridge application and interview process. We can be contacted:
  • by phone or facsimile 9:00am – 9:00pm seven days a week on: +44(0)20 8777 0485
  • by mobile on: +44(0)7986 656170
  • by letter to: Insight Education, 211 Hawes Lane, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 9AG, United Kingdom

You may also contact us via the details given in our profiles below:

Joyce Connell MA (Oxon), MSc
Director of Insight Education

Mobile: +44(0)7986 656170
Tel No & Fax:+44(0)20 8777 0485
Email: jconnell@insight-ed.co.uk
Education: Langley Park School for Girls, Bromley, with A levels in History, English Literature, Music (1997); Worcester College, Oxford University with a MA (Oxon) in Modern History (2000); Birkbeck College, University of London, with a MSc in Public Policy and Management (2004).

Background: As an Oxford undergraduate she was involved in the Oxford Target Schools Campaign (a university access scheme initiative), participated in sport for both university and college and drew membership of various student societies. Since graduating from Oxford, Joyce has undertaken a variety of posts in the Civil Service. Whilst working, she completed a masters degree in Public Policy and Management which afforded her the opportunity to research and compare (amongst other areas) state and private educational provision, and, more specifically, write a comparative dissertation which explored education policy at home and abroad. In addition to work and study, she has acquired substantial experience in coaching sport and mentoring sixth form students successfully through the Oxbridge admissions process since leaving university.

On Oxbridge student life: "Three memorable and enjoyable years at Oxford enabled me to experience a work hard; play hard’ culture in the true sense of the phrase. The challenge of organising my time to simultaneously cope with a challenging academic workload and social and sporting commitments was the best preparation for the world of work I could have received”.

On the OMS: “Establishing of theOMS springs from a genuine desire to see bright students from a similar state sector background as myself attain their aspirations of entering into Oxbridge to benefit and enjoy academic and social learning of a unique kind..”

Interests: Education, Tennis, Classical Music, Surrealist Art, voluntary activities as part of the National Mentoring Consortium and as a Community School Governor.

Achievements: Represented Civil Service in women’s tennis doubles in the Barbados Challenge 2006, twice-awarded Oxford University Hockey Blue (1998 and 1999), qualified hockey coach, county representation in hockey, netball and tennis.

Elfi Pallis BA (Hons)
OMS Head Advisor

Mobile: +44(0)7833964738
Tel No: 020 7372 7248
Email: epallis@insight-ed.co.uk

Career: Elfi is the author of Oxbridge Entrance: the real rules (www.tellbooks.com), a much praised guide which has already helped thousands of students to negotiate the Oxbridge maze. Her inspiration for writing it sprang from the volunteer mentoring she undertook for many years at Saturday workshops for outstanding pupils. This led to Elfi editing the London quarterly of the National Association for Gifted Children and to the discovery that workshop children from state schools rarely progressed to Oxford or Cambridge. The reason tended to be poor knowledge about the universities and their admissions process, as well as poor preparation. So, after two years of research, interviews and talks with academics, she launched a book designed to remedy this.

Background: Elfi was educated at British, American and continental schools. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Goldsmiths College (University of London) before undertaking academic research for SOAS and the Royal Institute of International Affairs. In her subsequent career as an investigative journalist and producer, she focused increasingly on education. BBC reports she produced dealt with South African schools, Palestinian education and Vienna’s university life.

Elifi has lived in London since 1971 and writes political novels in her spare time. She also writes on education for, amongst others, The Guardian, The Times Educational Supplement (TES) and The Independent. She is also the mother of an Oxford honours graduate.

On Oxbridge and the OMS: “Oxbridge success requires students, parents and teachers to take a proactive, clued-up approach and the OMS has found the right way to develop this. While providing crucial information, it also helps them explore what the universities can offer an individual student in educational, career and social terms”.

Gareth Fitzgerald, MA (Oxon), MPhil

OMS Advisor

 

Mobile: +44(0)7967349689

Email: gfitzgerald@insight-ed.co.uk

Education:  Colfe's School, Lewisham, with A-levels in Ancient History, Economics and English literature (2000); St Catherine’s College, Oxford with an MA (Oxon) in PPE (2003); currently studying at University College London where, having achieved an MPhil, he is now in the middle of a PhD on a fellowship from the Royal Institute of Philosophy.

 

Background: Whilst at Oxford Gareth pursued his interests in business, interning at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Corporate Finance, represented St. Catherine's in sport and won a grant for his travels abroad.  After graduating from Oxford, Gareth chose to pursue a career in academia.  He has taught at undergraduate level and to sixth-formers at selective and non-selective schools. He is soon to start a teaching post with local authorities in London directed at children in care.  He voluntarily returns to his old school to play a major part in their Oxbridge application process.

 

On Oxbridge Life:  “The things I remember most clearly about Oxford are the excitement of meeting the bright, inquisitive and spirited people that would become my friends and tutors, and the vast number of opportunities that were made available to us. The experience of going to Oxford or Cambridge and the advantages it offers are a one-off – so give it your best shot!”

 

On the OMS:  "The OMS provides the means by which deserving candidates can get where they ought to be. The holistic programme of preparation gives students the best possible chance to make the right choices and to show their full potential at interview."

 

Interests: Politics, literature, clever arguments, countryside breaks and retreats, cricket and rugby.

 

Achievements: Jacobsen fellowship from the Royal Institute of Philosophy.  Awarded the Philip Fothergill Scholarship for academic achievement in PPE whilst at Oxford.  County representation in rugby and cricket.  Winning success in school debating competitions.

Tom Marsh M.Eng (Oxon)
Oxford Graduate in Engineering Science
Education: Dover Grammar School for Boys, with A-Levels in Pure Maths, Mechanics, Physics, Chemistry and General Studies, (1998), followed by St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University with an M.Eng (Hons) in Engineering Science (2002).

Background: Since Graduating from Oxford Tom has been tutoring in Maths and Physics from Basic Skills up to University level with considerable success. Whilst living in Birmingham, he gave talks to a number of youth groups from disadvantaged backgrounds about his passion of recording music using computer programs and writing harmony structures, vocal line and instrumental melodies to songs. Since moving to London Tom has been teaching a challenging but very rewarding series of summer classes in mathematics for Ealing Local Educational Authority to children of various ages and backgrounds who haeve been removed from their schools for disruptive behaviour.

On Oxbridge student life: “The toughest, but most rewarding time of my life. In addition to working hard on my subject, I made some great friends and enjoyed the student social life offered by college. Oxford gave me a new perspective on life and what could be achieved with commitment and hard work."

On the OMS: “Coming from a state school I was sent to Oxford and merely told to "give it my best shot"! When I arrived I found that many of the other candidates from Private Schools had been gearing up for the interviews for months! OMS can give an opportunity to students to bridge this disparity and give everyone an equal chance to experience such a unique education system, and have the best start to their working life.”

Interests: Music including playing in 3 bands, writing and production in a project studio, DJ-ing, attending band concerts. Other interests include keeping fit, (running, cycling, circuit training), table tennis and pool.

University Achievements: Awarded the Maurice Lubbock Prize for achieving the top first class degree in Engineering Science 2002 Finals examinations.