"Studying isn't only about books and libraries"

Bethany, Nisha, Kulshoma, Lara, Jessica, Amy, Julia, Adeline, Georgia, Ellie and Matt’s mission? To spend a day in Cambridge exploring student life, and then report their findings to the rest of the year in a special assembly.

“Yesterday we organised ourselves into three teams” explained Bethany. “Studying, Accommodation, and Socialising. Students from Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin universities answered our questions and talked to us about our different topics. Next week we’ll present in assembly.”

“Today, some of us are designing the presentation and some of us are deciding what to say,” said Nisha.

“We took hundreds of photos yesterday,” Julia said. “Now we’re looking through them to decide which ones are good.”

“We’re looking for funny pictures and the ones which best describe the topic,” added Adeline.

“Like the picture of the fire station,” said Julia. “One of the students told us he’d burnt his cereal. So we took a picture of a fire station, just in case any of us sets fire to something while we learn to cook.”

“We’re designing the presentation to fit with the script,” said Ellie. “The photos need to be relevant to the subject, linked to what Matt and the others are saying, so that it looks good when we present it to the rest of the year.”

“We’re each doing a paragraph on what we found out and how it works,” said Matt. “I’m talking about how much rooms cost, and what you get for your money. I don’t like being on stage so I’m not looking forward to it – I think Ellie ought to take my place.”

Jessica will be the first speaker when the group report their findings. “I’m writing my script today,” she said. “We’ve got three script groups, one for each theme.

“We found out lots that we wouldn’t have known about before. Talking to the undergraduates was the best, they told us real stuff – they’re not putting a show on.  

“We found out where students like to study,” added Lara. “They can choose what fits them personally. I thought the libraries at both universities were really peaceful, for me they would be a great place to study.”

“University students are much more independent in how they study,” said Amy. “There’s no pressure – teachers won’t come and look for you if you don’t come to class. It’s really down to you.”

Kulshoma is also presenting, on the topic of socialising. “I am feeling confident – we are practising the script today.”

Matt Diston, HE Partnership Co-ordinator for the University of Cambridge, and  Laura Scarle, Outreach and Recruitment Officer for Anglia Ruskin University, guided the students in their research.

“Although the Manor is right here in Cambridge,” explains Matt, “just like any school there are many students that have little or no experience of higher education in their families. This project gave them an opportunity to find out for themselves what the student experience could be like, and they’ve all done brilliantly – producing a fantastic presentation to share with others back at school.”

The Day in the Life programme is run jointly by Cambridge’s two universities. Marc Rothera, Outreach & Recruitment Manager for Anglia Ruskin University, explained its benefits: “The project helps students begin to understand the diversity of university provision available to them. It highlights the importance of good research and decision making, and gives them a great chance to develop skills that will benefit them both in their education and as they move on into the world of work.”

Nick Bedford, Director of Information, Advice and Guidance at The Manor Community College, is looking forward to seeing the final presentation.

“On our doorstep we have these two massive resources – Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge. I thought this would be a great opportunity for our students.

“I can tell them as much as I like, but I’m their teacher. It’s a different relationship with someone just a few years older than them. Talking to the undergraduates reinforces the messages we’re trying to give them in school and helps them see and hear for themselves what’s available to them.

“The barrier here isn’t physical. We need as many ins as we can get to HE. Matt and Laura’s work is massively valuable. They’ve got the expertise to show our students straight to where they need to go.”

“It’s all too easy to lose your focus in 6th form,” Nick added. “I know myself that it was only the prize of getting to university at the end of 6th form that kept me going. I hope that experiences like Day in the Life will give them something to really push for.”

“After doing “A Day in the Life” I’m really looking forward to going to university now,” said Jessica.

Adeline also felt inspired by the challenge. “It makes me excited about university – to be independent, and to have that freedom.”