Teachers do their homework on Cambridge admissions

Attendees included heads of sixth form, subject teachers, careers advisers and academic mentors from schools and colleges, as well as advisers working for Connexions, the information service for young people. About two thirds of school staff members came from the state sector and a third from independent schools.

Organised by Cambridge Admissions Office, the conference gave participants the opportunity to ask detailed questions about the University's courses, the Cambridge style of learning, and the admissions process – including applicants' personal statements, admissions tests and interviews.

Brendon Fletcher (pictured right), who teaches Maths and Further Maths at Garforth Community College in Leeds, was visiting the University for the first time. “I'm new to the role of helping pupils with their Oxford and Cambridge applications so this is a great chance to find out what Cambridge is looking for and get a flavour of the place itself,” he said.

Questions in subject-based sessions, led by Cambridge admissions tutors, ranged from the flexibility of undergraduate courses through to the availability of support for students with dyslexia or mental health issues.

Dr Rosemary Horrox, Admissions Tutor (Arts) at Fitzwilliam College, said: “The Disability Resource Centre at Cambridge does a wonderful job in supporting students with disabilities. This means that we can take students with academic potential who may need considerable extra support.”

Also on a fact-finding mission for her school was Julie White (pictured left), an academic mentor for sixth-formers at Rastrick High School, near Halifax. “This event gives you a chance to get detailed knowledge of the whole application and interview process – and just what pupils can put on their forms,” she said.

Both teachers said that in terms of making Cambridge accessible to bright state school pupils who might not apply, the most effective strategy was to bring them to the University.

“A day at Cambridge, and the chance to talk to other applicants and current undergraduates from similar backgrounds, works wonders in raising pupils' confidence and making them more positive about applying,” said Brendon Fletcher.

“Many pupils at schools in and around Leeds have contact with people from Cambridge through the outreach initiatives run by Selwyn College – but they also need to see Cambridge for themselves in order to feel that getting a place is a real possibility.”

Honor Ridout, FE Access Officer at Cambridge Admissions Office, said: “It's great to see how committed teachers and HE advisers are to supporting their most academically able students to aim high, and using the conference to find out what they can do help them.”

The annual teachers and high education advisers conference is just one strand in a busy programme of events run for pupils, schools and teachers by the University and Colleges. Dates for 2008 events will be posted by the end of October. To find out more, click the link above right.