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̽��ֱ��students – who will be making their university applications this year - got a taste of what life might be like studying at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge. They enjoyed tours of several Colleges and had sessions where they could pick up tips on how to write personal statements and how best to prepare for admissions interviews and tests.

̽��ֱ��students are all academically gifted and were selected by Aimhigher to come on the residential course. It is hoped that many of them will make an application to Cambridge. ̽��ֱ��deadline for applying is 15 October.

̽��ֱ��sixth-formers also had the chance to benefit from the wisdom of current and past students. ̽��ֱ��newly-appointed Schools Liaison Officer for Christ’s, Jesus and Homerton Colleges is Ed Sharpe – a recent Cambridge graduate who was educated at a state school.

This is the first residential event he has organised since taking up his new role and he is delighted everything has gone smoothly. “It’s great to see everyone developing a much better understanding of what Cambridge is really like and getting really enthusiastic about applying.”

Recently the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge has been able to announce a marked increase in the number of successful state school pupils in the latest admissions round – from 55 per cent to 59 per cent of the intake. ̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� spends more than £3 million every year on a range of outreach and widening-participation activities.

Dr Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions for the Colleges and a former Admissions Tutor at Jesus College, gave a number of talks during the two-day event and spent several hours with students giving advice in special personal statement ‘clinics’.

He is delighted by the progress that has been made in encouraging bright students from any background to consider Cambridge – but says it is vitally important to keep building on success:

“We believe that the work we’ve been doing now for many years in terms of summer schools and outreach visits is beginning to bear fruit. Our latest figures combined with efforts such as this residential event will encourage able state school or college students to go for it and apply to us this October – after all, you can only be considered if you apply!”

Pictured above are pupils from four schools in Gateshead (Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School, Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Whickham School and Sports College and Hookergate School) and two in Sunderland (St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and St Anthony’s RC Girls School).

̽��ֱ��trip was free of charge for all participants with costs covered by Jesus College and Aimhigher Tyne and Wear. Vivienne Cunneen, Gateshead Progression Consultant, who helped to plan the trip and accompanied the students along with teachers, said: " ̽��ֱ��educational standards, quality of delivery and support, facilities, the beautiful setting and buildings, indeed the entire educational heritage on offer at Cambridge collectively are incredibly inspiring to anyone interested in learning."

"We see students return to the North East from the Cambridge trip with increased confidence, motivation, inspiration and aspirations with many of them making applications."