Teachers from state schools learn how Cambridge really works

The conference, the third event of its kind, was aimed at teachers, careers advisers and “gifted and talented” coordinators from schools wanting to know more about applying to Cambridge. A total of 31 teachers from 28 schools took part, coming from places that ranged from Plymouth to Newcastle. The event was funded by the Sutton Trust.

Hanna Weibye, School Liaison and Access Officer for Pembroke and St Catharine's Colleges, said: “We believe this event and others like it are tremendously important in informing teachers about how Cambridge really works and showing them that Cambridge is accessible to all those with academic potential to flourish here, regardless of background.”

Sessions included talks on the admissions process, interviews, reference writing, pupils' personal statements, as well as a tour of some of the Colleges, the University museums and a number of departments. There was ample opportunity for teachers to put questions to highly experienced members of the University, including Susan Stobbs, Admissions Tutor at Pembroke, and Richard Partington, Senior Tutor at Churchill.

Topics for discussion ranged from whether the admissions process takes applicants' school background and personal circumstances into account through to attitudes towards the IB and access to higher education courses as a preparation for Cambridge courses. It also covered the vital question of student finance with teachers learning about the generous support available to undergraduates through the Cambridge Bursary Scheme.

Tom May, who is in his second year of teaching at Newcastle College, said he welcomed the opportunity to learn more about interviews and how to prepare students for them. “Newcastle College has an ambitious agenda for raising achievement and encouraging more applications to top universities beyond the local area. We want able pupils to look at their options in the widest possible sense,” he said.

An interest in widening participation had prompted Gerald Burn, a lecturer at City College, Plymouth, to make the journey from Devon. “I'm pleased that Cambridge still interviews 90 per cent of applicants and accesses AS unit scores to measure academic potential. We are excited to have a former student starting a degree at Wolfson College this year. It shows our pupils what they can achieve and what the benefits of aiming high can be,” he said.

Selina Hawkins, Schools Liaison Officer for three of the Colleges taking part (Christ's, Homerton and Jesus) said: “We were all thrilled by the response from the teachers – there was a real buzz at all the sessions. I've already had thank-you emails from six of the participants, saying how useful the programme was and how they will be putting what they have learnt into practice.”

The Target Teachers conference was organised by the Schools Liaison Officers working for Christ's, Clare, Downing, Emmanuel, Fitzwilliam, Girton, Homerton, Jesus, King's, Pembroke, and New Hall. Each Cambridge College works with state schools in a designated “college link area” to avoid duplication.

A second Target Teachers event for state schools will be run on April 8 and 9. Applications are welcomed and members of staff interested in taking part are invited to contact Hanna Weibye at AD2@pem.cam.ac.uk or Selina Hawkins at sh360@cam.ac.uk for more information.