Oswestry students explore university life

As a hub school, The Marches in Oswestry will pass on information, advice and guidance from St John's College, University of Cambridge, within Shropshire.

Students will also be given the opportunity to visit the university and take part in a taster event, designed specifically for their needs and requirements. The most recent residential visit took place last week with 14 Year 10 and 12 students taking up places on the trip.

Year 12 student Eleanor Budgen-Strawbridge said: "I found the college very picturesque and welcoming. Talks and tours helped me to understand the college system that exists at Cambridge and Oxford and what life is like for an undergraduate here. I am definitely going to be applying to Cambridge."

Claire Buckle, head of sixth form at The Marches, said she hopes the link will inspire and encourage more pupils to aim for top universities.

She said: "We are very grateful to Cambridge University for providing us with the opportunity to visit and we anticipate this being a very helpful and informative trip for our Year 10 and 12 students. We are very excited about this developing partnership between The Marches and Cambridge University and the benefits it will bring."

Younger students at the school have also been learning about university when five of the highest performing Year 9 students spent a day at the University of Manchester.

The trip was part of the Department for Education's annual Future Scholars Award, which is designed to celebrate the success of high performing Year 9 students.

George Purcell, Maddison Jones, Ben Clarke, Emily Patterson and Grace Aldwinkle were given the opportunity to take part in a range of interactive workshops and a campus tour during their trip.

Emily Patterson said: "I really enjoyed the day. I have never been to a university before so it's been great to see what life at university would be like."