On the 23rd of February 2023, year 12 students from Woodford County High school, Barking Abbey and Chigwell School took part in an Oxbridge potentials event hosted at Chigwell school, designed to help students who have the ability, drive and interest to attend one of these esteemed universities and gain a better understanding of what applying Oxbridge is like. 

Students were allocated a subject-specific class to be a part of for the majority of the day based on the course they were planning on studying at University. A plethora of subjects were catered for, including medicine, classics, natural sciences and human, social and political sciences (which I was in). In our classes, we were given a piece of work that went beyond our A Level curriculum to discuss and work on together. In my lesson, this work involved answering a number of challenging questions on a well known court case. It encouraged me to voice my own views and justify them with my own political and sociological knowledge. At the end of the day, each class was joined by one of the A level teachers, where we were supported in continuing to share our views as a group in a more in-depth and intellectually challenging discussion. 

The time spent in our subject groups was an especially enriching experience, it gave me an opportunity to think like someone in an Oxbridge interview and become more comfortable in an environment where my knowledge and ability is consistently tested and stretched, both by the teachers and other students. I was able to discover just how much I enjoy being involved in difficult discussions, voicing my beliefs and developing my understanding of sociology and politics (as well as the world as a whole). 

We also had a general talk about Oxbridge from Dr Hugh Monro, the access and outreach officer at Selwyn College, Oxford University. Here we learnt about the courses on offer at Oxford and Cambridge and what the application process looks like. Emphasis was placed on the importance of super curricular activities and the personal statement. 

It is safe to say that thanks to this talk and the day altogether, the sense of panic and overwhelm that I feel about applying has been greatly reduced now that I have a much better understanding of what I need to do in order for me to have the best chance of receiving an offer. Instead of feeling nervous, I am now excited about a process where my intellectual capabilities will constantly be challenged and I can gain far more knowledge around the subject that I love. It isn’t just me who had a positive experience, Lisara, another student who attended the event, said that it was ‘a valuable experience’ that she ‘would take part in again’.

Chigwell school did an amazing job at welcoming the external students and making them feel part of the student body, even if it was just for a day. This event was not just successful in terms of helping everyone with the Oxbridge application process, it also gave way to new friendships and allowed students to connect and socialise with people who they may not have otherwise met. I hope that this event continues throughout the years, since this is something that I believe every student who is aiming for Oxbridge would benefit from and enjoy.