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Education: Cambridge invite for gifted Leeds students
IT'S AN EXCELLENT SCHEME': Annette Hall, principal of Leeds West Academy.
Susan Press reports on a scheme improving access to Oxbridge.
A scheme designed to break down barriers to academic aspirations is being pioneered at Leeds West Academy.
Talented students at the new £30million school, which was built on the site of the old Intake High School in Rodley, travelled to Cambridge University this week to find out more about their chances of a place there. They were taking part in a ‘Shadowing’ Scheme organised by CUSU - Cambridge University Students Union.
Under the initiative, sixth-formers get a taste of college life and are able to take part in lectures, seminars and other social events.
They also get a chance to spend a couple of nights in a traditional College and learn more about the Cambridge lifestyle.
Priority for places is given to young people with a strong academic track record from schools where sending students to Cambridge or Oxford is rare.
Students from families with little experience of Higher Education are also targeted.
Leeds West Academy headteacher Annette Hall, who joined the school under its old name, has helped transform its exam results in recent years.
In 2011, 44 per cent of students achieved the benchmark 5 A -C grades with English and Maths and even better results are expected this year.
She said: “This is the first year we have taken part in the scheme, which is an absolutely excellent one.
“The reason why we took it forward was because we thought it would be particularly helpful for our Scholarship Group, which consists of about 10 A Level students who are particularly gifted,
“What it’s really about is breaking down the barriers to achievement and the idea many of our students might have which is a Cambridge education is not possibly for them.
“Our country has some of the top universities in the world and we need to de-mystify places like Oxford and Cambridge.
“What we focus on is enabling our students to reach the highest academic standards and schemes like this are very helpful in us do that.”
The lucky group sampling Cambridge life included Sophie Inman and Imran Hussain.
Both 16 and living with their families in Bramley, they were very impressed with what they saw.
Sophie, who stayed at Magdalen College, is hoping to study English Literature.
She said: “The students made me feel very welcome and the whole thing was totally different to the stereotype I had expected. It gave me a real insight into what Cambridge was like and has really given me an incentive to work hard.”
During her stay, Sophie was taken to the theatre, took part in a student supervision (seminar) and was able to discuss her plans with undergraduates.
Imran Hussain, who hopes to become a lawyer and study Politics, Psychology and Sociology, stayed at Pembroke College.
He said: “My family didn’t know anything about Cambridge University before I went. I found it really interesting as it dispelled a lot of myths like everyone being pretentious or unfriendly.
It has really given me the confidence to apply which I would not have had if I had not taken part.
“Before I went, I was a bit daunted by the academic side of things, but the teachers and lecturers are really down to earth.”
Four other Leeds West students also benefited from the scheme, which is now in its 12th year.
Gifted Academy students are also given special bursaries and expert guidance in applying to the Russell Group of universities, which includes Oxbridge as well as Northern universities like the University of Leeds.
Cambridge University Students Union spokesman Taz Rasul said: “We know bright students can be put off by misconceptions about what it’s like here. The shadowing scheme is designed to give them a chance to try out things for themselves.” Next year’s Shadowing Scheme is open for application from October 2012 at www.applytocambridge.com.
Schools and youth organisations can find out more about CUSU’s outreach work at: www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/prospective/
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horseoutside
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 09:08 PMIts Magdalene College in Cambridge, and Magdalen College in Oxford.
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