Education and Skills Secretary Alan Johnson visited Selwyn College yesterday to see one of the University of Cambridge's many Widening Participation schemes for himself.

40 students from various schools in Leeds are attending a three-day series of courses, tours, workshops and activities to find out just what life in a Cambridge College is like.

Mr Johnson ate lunch with the students in Selwyn College Dining Hall where he heard first hand what they thought.

Since 2000 each of the Cambridge colleges has taken responsibility for working on behalf of the University with education partners in a given region of the UK.

Selwyn College has focused its outreach efforts on state schools and colleges in the Leeds area, working with St John’s College Oxford.

Each March, a one-day event is held at Leeds United Football Club aimed at Year 12 students and their advisers, attracting more than 200 each time.

Around 40 of those who show the strongest motivation to apply then join the Residential Summer School.

The residential visits involve Fellows and current students and cover such topics as preparing for an application, study at Cambridge, student life at Cambridge and an exploration of the college system.

The fundamental aim is less to recruit than to raise aspirations, alter preconceptions about Cambridge, and encourage students to apply if they are suitably qualified.

Mr Johnson said: “Widening access to higher education is a key priority. It is vital that pupils from all backgrounds realise at an early age that university is an option for them as long as they get the grades they need in the right subjects for their chosen degree. Schools, colleges and universities working together can do great things to raise the aspirations and attainment levels of our young people. Summer schools and other outreach efforts like this one at Selwyn College are playing a vital role in our efforts to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds aim higher and achieve their full potential.

“When I spoke to the students from the 13 Yorkshire state schools taking part in this week’s summer school at the college, I certainly got the impression that they had enjoyed their taste of university life – I hope it has encouraged them to aim for the whole university experience.”

The Selwyn College Summer School is part of an annual programme of hundreds of widening participation events run by the colleges and the central University.

Since it began in 2000 the number of applications to Cambridge has risen steadily from around 11,000 to more than 14,000 each year. In the same period the proportion of maintained sector applications has also risen, along with the proportion of maintained sector students at the University.


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