Last week Laura, an A-level student at Middlesbrough College on Teesside, got up at 4 am to take the train south to Cambridge. She travelled on her own and, despite having never visited the city before, found her way to the Sidgwick site.

Laura was one of around 90 pupils from further education institutions and sixth-form colleges around the country who came to Cambridge last week for an Information Day organised specifically for students from such colleges.

She intends to apply to Cambridge to read English, using the Special Access Scheme.

This university-wide initiative allows a number of students to ask for special consideration if they come from a school and family background with little or no record of higher education, or have had a significantly disrupted school life.

The first event of its kind, the FE Information Day was staged to offer students extra support in completing their applications and preparing for interviews. Many of those who took part in the event came from colleges with limited experience of making applications to Cambridge.

Last year students from further education colleges accounted for just 2 per cent of Cambridge’s undergraduate applications, making them one of the groups under-represented at the University. Pupils from sixth-form colleges accounted for a larger 9 per cent of applications.

The day began with an overview of the application process by Lesley Gannon, Head of Widening Participation at Cambridge Admissions Office. Sue Long spoke about student finance, stressing that no student should be deterred from applying for financial reasons.

Richard Partington, Admissions Director at Sidney Sussex College, supplied practical guidance on writing a personal statement and preparing for interviews, and how to familiarise themselves with aptitude tests used by some colleges.

He emphasised that a personal statement should be “personal” and that Cambridge was looking for evidence of enthusiasm for candidates’ chosen subjects, such as reading round the subject, plus the ability to make connections and think for themselves.

“Revise your AS courses and re-read your essays. Keep abreast with current affairs that might relate to your subject. Practise having an interview with someone you have never met before,” he said.

“You can expect an interview to be a bit of a bumpy ride, but we won’t be trying to trip you up. We don’t expect a polished performance. In fact, we’d rather you just be yourself.”

Caroline Coase, tutor at the College of West Anglia in King’s Lynn, had come with two of her students. “Last year three of our pupils applied to Cambridge and one got a place. She is the first student from our college in 20 years to get into Cambridge and starts her degree in Mathematics this term,” she said.

This success had encouraged other students. “We had been worried that, although she was an exceptional student, her shyness might let her down at interview,” said Ms Coase.

In a tutors-only session the nine teachers who came to the event were reminded by Richard Partington that the application process allowed them to inform admissions tutors of relevant factors, such as acute shyness.

Negin, a student from City and Islington College in London, had been to visit Cambridge several times before and had taken part in a FE Summer School in July. She and her brother arrived in the UK from Iran three years ago, speaking no English. She achieved five As at AS level and is applying to Cambridge to read Maths.

In an hour-long question and answer session, queries came thick and fast.

They ranged from “Does Cambridge expect applicants to take more than three A levels?” (Answer: “In most cases, no. The exceptions are when candidates are encouraged to take Maths and Further Maths”) to “If my GCSE grades are not spectacular but my AS grades are much better, will you take that into account?” (Answer: “Yes, you are showing an upward curve. Keep up the progress!”).

All Cambridge speakers emphasised that many able and well-qualified students are not offered places, simply because there are limits to numbers. “Unsuccessful candidates go on to study at other excellent institutions and have successful careers,” said Ms Gannon, “But, having said that, plenty of people do get in – so please do apply!”

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