Philosophy workshops and university admissions advice for sixth-form students
University admissions tutors are not looking for exam machines who can memorise facts. They are looking for students who can think — who can construct an argument in their own unique voice, adapt it in response to new information, and think critically in novel contexts. These sessions are designed to develop exactly these skills.
I work with sixth-form students to hone the intellectual skills that make successful applicants stand out — not by drilling interview scripts, but through genuine critical thinking, using philosophical issues as training grounds.
"Quote from school"Head of Sixth Form, School Name
Each afternoon combines two complementary sessions, running back-to-back. The philosophy workshop comes first — engaging students in substantive, critical discussion on a contested topic. The admissions coaching follows naturally from it, grounded in the kind of thinking students have just practised.
A 90-minute workshop built around a live, contested philosophical question. Students work through arguments, challenge assumptions, and learn to think clearly under pressure — skills that transfer directly to academic interviews, personal statements, and university-level study.
A focused session on what admissions tutors are actually looking for — how to approach a personal statement with intellectual confidence, and how to demonstrate the kind of thinking that stands out in a competitive field.
The workshop begins with a case study — a philosophical question or scenario designed to generate substantive disagreement in the room. From there, students are guided through the philosophical arguments, counter-examples and thought-experiments that bear on it, learning to identify assumptions, construct positions, and engage with objections. These are not lectures. Students will argue, move, disagree with each other and me. The aim is not consensus or enlightenment, but an ability to argue and hold uncertainty without retreating blindly to authority or 'common sense'.
The workshop is built around a live, contested question. This could be:
No prior knowledge of philosophy is assumed or required. The session is suitable for Year 12 and Year 13 students regardless of their intended degree subject — philosophy, law, medicine, PPE, and history students alike find it directly relevant. The thinking skills developed are not discipline-specific: they are the skills that distinguish perceptive and capable candidates in any field.
The second half of the afternoon turns to university admissions directly. Drawing on the discussion students have just had, we look at how to bring that quality of critical thinking alive within a personal statement, how to seek out opportunities that will set you apart, and balance confidence with epistemic humility both on the page and in interview contexts.
Sessions run for approximately three hours and can be tailored to the specific priorities of your school or cohort. I am available to travel across the UK.
I hold an Enhanced DBS certificate and Disclosure Scotland PVG membership.
If you would like to find out more, please feel free to get in touch.