Joyce Connell MA (Oxon),
MSc
Director of Insight Education
Mobile: +44(0)7941
467694
Tel No:+44(0)20 8777 5574
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.
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Elfi Pallis BA (Hons)
OMS Head Advisor
Mobile: +44(0)7791574866
Tel No: 020 7209 5762
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”. |
