Magdalene College and Everton FC are joining forces today (18 March) to encourage more North West students to aim for academic excellence by applying to Cambridge.
Magdalene College and Everton FC are joining forces today (18 March) to encourage more North West students to aim for academic excellence by applying to Cambridge.
The one-day admissions event at Goodison Park has a football theme drawing parallels between aspiring to study at a top university and aspiring to play in the Premiership.
The 350 gifted and talented Year 10 and 11 students (aged 14 to 16) and 50 teachers attending today's event will be given a tour of the stadium, as well as meeting current Magdalene undergraduates, hearing about the Cambridge admissions process and enjoying sample lectures on history and engineering.
In line with the day's soccer theme, the engineering lecture will focus on the physics of football by using a wind tunnel to explain how players bend the ball by applying spin when they kick it.
"It should be a really enjoyable day for them," said Dr Brendan Burchell, Admissions Tutor at Magdalene College. "We wanted to show them just how different university-style teaching is from school, as well as giving them more general information about higher education. Even though these students won't be applying to university for another couple of years, we hope today will give them extra encouragement with their studies and give them the confidence to believe that getting a degree is a realistic goal for them and a good career move."
Everton's Chief Executive, Keith Wyness, said: "Everton Football Club and the University of Cambridge might seem like an unlikely relationship but we pride ourselves on the community initiatives that we are involved with. Evertonians are based all over the country, and beyond, and we are delighted to be linking up with Cambridge to encourage young people to broaden their horizons and ambitions."
Magdalene has close links with local education authorities in the North West and has been working with schools and colleges in the region for the last four years. It also hosts a number of visits to Cambridge each year for groups of gifted and talented students from the North West.
Today's event will be attended by students and teachers from Merseyside, the Wirral, North Wales, Blackpool, Crewe and Cheshire.
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