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When a group of year-6 pupils from primary schools in Hackney, East London, spent the day in Cambridge last week, their activities were devised and organised by a second year student at the college.

Sam Hinton, who is studying Drama and English with Education Studies, is Homerton's student access officer. He and other Homerton students work closely with the College's Schools Liaison and Higher Education Officer, Selina Hawkins.

To encourage applications from state schools throughout the country, each Cambridge College has a designated “link area”. Homerton works with state schools in South Yorkshire, Doncaster and Rotherham. Over the past academic year, the College has hosted visits from more than 20 schools and around 400 pupils.

̽��ֱ��visit by primary schools in Hackney was set up to celebrate the historic connection between Homerton College and the Homerton district of Hackney. Founded for “the education of young men for the Christian ministry”, the College was located on Homerton High Street until moving to Cambridge in 1894.

Thirty-five pupils from seven Hackney primary schools were given a tour of Cambridge. In Homerton's drama studio, they acted out the adventures of a fictional student “Jo”, leaving home to begin life as a university student. ̽��ֱ��visit ended with a treasure hunt around College grounds.

“A day like this takes pupils into a completely different environment and give them a glimpse of the opportunities that will be open to them if they work hard,” said Sue Holroyd, deputy head of Orchard School where around 70 per cent of pupils receive free school meals.

Sam Hinton, 20, is passionate about educational opportunities. He grew up in Norfolk, went to Burnham Market Primary School and won a scholarship to Norwich School.

“In my first term at Homerton I heard other students on my corridor, who had come from state schools, saying that their teachers had advised them not to apply to Cambridge. That's when I decided to get involved in college access initiatives and do something positive,” he said.

“It's great to be able to work with children as young as ten or eleven, as they are so receptive and open to new ideas. Hopefully, trips like this plant a seed in their minds – a vision of how their own future could turn out.”

In the summer vacation Sam will be teaching English to children in Hong Kong with the Crimson Summer Exchange scheme, which in 2007 is open to 20 students from Cambridge, Harvard and Yale.

He plans to continue working with access schemes, with the incoming student access officer for Homerton, Julie Christie. As for his long term plans, he would love to work in the theatre but says he hasn't ruled out teaching.