Representatives from Oxford and Cambridge were in Hackney this week to encourage more students from the area to apply and bust the myths that may put them off from doing so.

Over 160 school pupils from across the borough attended an event at The City Academy, Hackney on Monday 20 February 2012 to meet staff and students from Oxford and Cambridge and find out more about the courses on offer.

Historically, few students from the borough have gone to Oxford and Cambridge despite the dramatic improvements in exam results across the board. Hackney is the most improved borough in the country at post-16 for the past five years and GCSEs results are above the national average.

It is thought students may have been put off from applying because of outdated stereotypes about the institutions. The Hackney schools and Oxford and Cambridge partnership aims to tackle those misconceptions head on.

Over the last ten years, applications to Oxford from state school students have increased 35%. The majority of students at Cambridge come from state schools, and increasingly so. In recent years the University has admitted more state school students than at any point since the early 1980s. Last year, seven students from Mossbourne Community Academy got places at Cambridge University.

Clapton Girls’ Academy student Le My Dang, who achieved the best GCSE results in Hackney last year with 12 A*s, attended the event along with other pupils from her school. Speaking at the event, she said: “It’s been great to learn more about the courses as it’s sometimes hard to get a good idea from just reading course information online or in the prospectus, it’s been insightful to speak to current students to get their views.”



Stoke Newington School student, Jake Morgan Stead, said: “I’ve got more of an understanding now about the admissions process – you worry about whether you need to get straight A*s to get in or whether going to a state school would hold you back. None of my family went to Oxford or Cambridge so I’m unsure of what they are looking for and you hear a lot about the interview process so it’s good to hear more about all of that this evening to know what I’m aiming for.”

Attendees heard from representatives from Oxford and Cambridge before listening to talks on subject choices and admissions guidance. There was also the opportunity to speak to current staff and students from the Arts and Sciences departments.

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, said:

“Hackney has a large pool of young talent and we want our brightest pupils to know that a place at a top university is a genuine option for them. I hope that this event has encouraged pupils to aim high and to achieve their full potential wherever their ambitions may lie."

Richard Hardie, Chair of The Learning Trust, added: “We now have some of the best schools in the country in Hackney so it’s right that our premier universities should be doing what they can to tap into the talent in our borough. I’m delighted at our partnership with Oxford and Cambridge and the help we received from Hackney schools, and particularly Mossbourne, in organising the event and look forward to seeing many more of our pupils joining their distinguished alumni.”

Dr Patricia Fara, Senior Tutor at Clare College, Cambridge, said: "Our approach is very clear -- we want to find the best and the brightest students, wherever they come from. We're looking for achievement in the past, enthusiasm in the present and potential for the future."

In advance of the event Sir Neil Chalmers, the Warden of Wadham College in Oxford, said: “Working with schools and colleges to support bright students thinking about applying to Oxford is incredibly important - we want to encourage anyone with the ability and potential to succeed at Oxford, no matter where they come from or what school they attend. Central to this work is addressing some of the myths about Oxford and Cambridge, and working with students and teachers to understand what the application and admissions process is about through outreach work like the programme Wadham is undertaking in Hackney. We already have some great success stories from Hackney's state schools at Oxford, and we hope through events like this and our continuing partnership with local schools we will get even more."

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