"It seems the Russell Group not only consider teaching to not have been disrupted, despite having almost a year of remote or blended learning, but also that the general distress caused by living in a pandemic is not enough to require special circumstances."
"For finalists, the University will instead be introducing a rescaling policy across courses, comparing cohort achievement to marks in pre-pandemic years and scaling where necessary."
“Our hospitals are fuller than they were in March and April last year. We are doing all that we can to care for our patients with COVID but, if people do not stick to the national lockdown rules, we are likely to see cases rise even more and the pressure on our hospitals and our staff will increase further.”
"We want to help the Government and the people of the UK beat COVID-19 because the quicker we’re vaccinated, the more lives we save, the more jobs we save, the more businesses we save, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes to see that happen.”
"“The pandemic continues to provide us with significant challenges, but please rest assured that supporting your academic success is a key priority for everyone at the University."
Balliol, for example, “will have very tough criteria for agreeing any applications, given the importance of minimising the further spread of the virus in Oxford.”
"Normally as part of the scholarship students are required to complete at least 25 hours of volunteering across the academic year. These can be in either community projects in Oxford or as part of outreach events for the University."
"Students will still be able to return to university under the previous exemptions outlined. All other students will be advised not to travel back until mid-February, with all teaching taking place online until at least then. "
In an email to students, Balliol College confirmed that "the University has removed the usual student “residency requirement” for the whole of the Term"....
"In line with Government guidance, only very specific groups of taught students will be permitted to return to Oxford from 4 January. All other taught students are advised not to travel back to university until at least 25 January, with all teaching taking place online until at least that point."
