A delegate of Highfield Leadership Academy pupils visited one of the world’s most prestigious universities to learn about life as an undergraduate student and to inspire them to study at the most competitive institutions.
Year 11 pupils took part in a two-day visit to the University of Oxford, where they explored the world-renowned university and heard first-hand from its students and professors.
The trip was part of the school’s new Elite University Preparation Programme, which is designed to support pupils to prepare for applying to the most competitive universities both in the UK and abroad, whilst raising aspirations about what is possible for their future education.
Beginning with a tour of The Queen’s College, founded in 1341 and one of the oldest educational institutions in the world, the trip also involved a visit to the Pit Rivers Museum, which contains over 600,000 artefacts of historical significance from across the globe.
A practical workshop entitled how to ‘think like an Oxford student’ enabled the pupils to discover the skills and work ethic required to be successful there.
On the second day, pupils were given a window into a day in the life of a student with a taster session with the university’s Department of Chemistry, using all the skills a student requires to complete a ‘poison puzzle’ challenge.
Speaking about the experience, pupil Lacy-May Young said:
“The trip has totally inspired me; it has motivated me to get the best possible grades and increased my confidence.
“Oxford just felt like a nice place, where I would be welcomed. I would love to be accepted on a course here in the future.”
The trip followed the school’s participation in the inaugural Star Academies Oxbridge conference, an online event where pupils from Highfield Leadership Academy and other schools run by Star Academies were joined by leading academics and current students from Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Pupils from Highfield Leadership Academy heard from an Oxford Philosophy professor on how to get a head start in their university preparations, before representatives from Queen’s College Oxford delivered an insightful session on the admissions process. Pupils also posed their burning questions to a panel made up of current students at both Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Anand Patel, Principal at Highfield Leadership Academy, said:
“We want to inspire our pupils to be the best possible versions of themselves. These opportunities with some of the world’s best universities are intended to demystify the process of university application and show that, if you have a passion for a subject, anything is within reach.
“Along with raising aspirations, we will continue to support our pupils to make sure they stand out from the rest when they apply for their universities of choice.”