Access Team

Dr Sandra Campbell

Fellow for Access & Outreach and Tutor in Physiology

I have greatly enjoyed working in higher education for the last 20 years. In my current position as Supernumerary Fellow and Tutor in Physiology for St John’s, I am involved in many aspects of College life including those that relate to the students directly (teaching, welfare, discipline, presidential collections, admissions, schools liaison), and those that contribute to the effective running of the college (various committees, interviewing for JRF, alumni interactions admissions, and as Dean for Degrees). I am currently the lead tutor in Biomedical sciences, and I have a substantial role as a Medical tutor. I also contribute to the teaching of the Experimental Psychology students.

Katie Inwood

Schools Partnership Coordinator and Inspire 9, 10 & 11 Programme Lead

I am the School Partnership Coordinator, responsible for the Inspire Scholars Programme for Years 9, 10 and 11, and the Inspire Critical Thinking programme. This is a pioneering sustained-contact programme designed to assist schools and parents and carers in supporting students to reach their full academic potential. This particular programme works with students from non-selective state schools in our link regions.

Before joining the Access and Outreach team, I taught History at a non-selective secondary school in Maidenhead, and enjoyed developing and teaching a curriculum that centred on diverse histories and historical scholarship. I was also the More Able Coordinator and Assistant Head of Sixth Form. I hope that my experience as a teacher can help to build a stronger bond with our Inspire Teacher Leads and enhance their professional development.

I qualified in Secondary History at the Institute of Education, University College London in 2015. Prior to this I completed a Master’s degree and an undergraduate degree in History at Lancaster University.

Petros Spanou

Access Associate

As Access Associate I run the college in-bound school visits, as well as the Offer-Holder Days. Originally from Cyprus, I studied for an undergraduate degree in Modern History at the University of St Andrews, before reading for a Master’s degree in British and European History (1500-present) at New College, Oxford. I then completed my DPhil (PhD) in History at Balliol College, Oxford. I am committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment, and over the past decade I have developed a passion for Access & Outreach work. Since September 2021, I have been working as an Outreach tutor at Oxford’s Faculty of History. I was also a History tutor for Opportunity Oxford, a Postgraduate tutor for Pembroke College’s OxNet Programme, a Study Skills tutor and History tutor for Lincoln College’s Study Days, and a Graduate Outreach tutor at Balliol College. I was also Balliol’s Junior Dean between September 2021 and August 2022.

During my DPhil I taught classes and tutorials to History undergraduates. I am also an Access Associate at St John’s College, delivering access visits from schools in the college’s link regions.

Jenna Ilett

Project Lead for the Year 12 & 13 Inspire Programme

I am responsible for managing the online elements of the Y12 and 13 Inspire Programmes, as well as in-person events including subject-specific study days. I am also responsible for the transition of our programme materials to a new Virtual Learning Environment.

I have had various education-based roles including working as a Psychology tutor, as a Library Assistant for a secondary school, and as an English teacher in Switzerland, before I moved to Oxford to work for the Bodleian Libraries.

I graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of Southampton in 2021.

Samantha Ponting

Digital & Marketing Access Lead

As the Digital & Marketing Access Lead for the Access Team, it’s my job to design and produce visually exciting graphics that will inspire and attract students from all backgrounds to attend events at St John’s College. 

Communication has always been at the core of my career, which began with a degree in Graphic Design. After university, I travelled to Hong Kong to take up my first design role. This helped to kick start my commercial career and taught me how to stretch and challenge myself. 

I worked for over 20 years in design agencies abroad and in the UK, before moving into the education sector. I have first-hand experience of state school students attending Oxford colleges, where they’ve thrived academically and personally. This has helped me really appreciate the critical role outreach events play in engaging students who might not otherwise have considered Oxford as an option. 

I want to see talented pupils, whatever their backgrounds, believe in themselves and access all the educational and life opportunities available to them. So, I’m excited to be using my experience and skills to engage, inspire and encourage students to explore their higher education choices.

Megan Bruton

Access Officer

My role is to build relationships with non-selective state schools, to help inspire and empower students to access Higher Education. I co-ordinate and deliver Access Visits at St John’s College, where students are able to experience talks, workshops, and tours, to support them in their knowledge of Higher Education, and Oxford specifically.

I work closely with secondary schools and sixth forms in our link areas in the South East, as well as with primary schools in Oxfordshire. Working with schools is incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to meet so many brilliant students and members of staff. I am committed to ensuring that the University is a representative, welcoming, and forward-thinking institution. Crucial to this is the prioritisation of access and outreach.

Prior to taking up this role, I worked on other access programmes run by the University, such as UNIQ and OxNet, and benefitted from access programmes myself, whilst an applicant.

I graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford, in 2024.

Sophia de Medeiros

Educational Content Support Officer

I joined the SJC Access team at the start of 2025 after finishing my undergraduate degree in Classics at St John’s College, Oxford. During my time as a student, I regularly worked for the access team as a student ambassador, giving tours of the college, helping out at Open Days, and answering your questions about life at university! I’m very excited to be working as a more integral part of the team, since access work is something I really value and enjoy. On the weekend, I also work for the Classics Faculty’s outreach department as a teaching assistant supporting GCSE Latin lessons for state school students on the OxLAT programme.

As Educational Content Support Officer, I proofread, edit, commission, and occasionally write materials that we publish on our Inspire programmes.

I also have the pleasure of looking over a lot of the submissions we receive in return, such as Superchallenge essays and posters!