Over the next couple of months hundreds of sixth formers will be sampling student life at Cambridge University at summer schools run by Cambridge Admissions Office (CAO) and by individual Colleges. These events aim to encourage more applications from state schools and from groups under-represented at the university.

For the first time, we’re organising diary-writing competitions for participants in some of these summer schools. Students are being invited to submit 800-word accounts of their time in Cambridge, complete with hopes and fears, highs and lows. Authors of the best diaries will win prizes and have their work published on the university website.

The first wave of summer schools students is here already. A residential programme organised jointly by Emmanuel and Fitzwilliam Colleges started yesterday - and today marks the beginning of a summer school run by Corpus Christi College for pupils at schools in Northern Ireland.
Also arriving today are students taking part in the Further Education Summer School organised by CAO.

At a welcome dinner, held last night for those taking part in the Fitzwilliam and Emmanuel Summer School, a dozen or more students said they were keen to have a bash at writing diaries once they got home. Their packed programme of academic sessions and social events will keep them thoroughly busy in the meantime.

Budding diarists include the six students in the picture: (back row) Ieva Lismane from Hounslow Manor School, Chelsea Gibson from Barrow Sixth Form College in Cumbria, Murad Chaudry from St Mark’s School in Hounslow, (front row), Emma Wilson-Black from William Morris Sixth Form in Hammersmith, and Kavita Hansla from The Heathland School in Hounslow.

We look forward to hearing from them and many others over the next few weeks!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.