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All three of these high-achievers will be the first in their families to go to university. They were among 50 students from schools and colleges in Essex, Sheffield and the North West who spent four days at a summer school organised jointly by Emmanuel College, Fitzwilliam College and Murray Edwards College (New Hall).

A programme of tours, talks and cultural and social activities gave them a taste of what it might be like to study at �������������Ī. “It's been a real eye opener to spend some time here and to find that �������������Ī seems modern, liberal and open to state schools,” said Jack, who is a pupil at Davenant Foundation School.

“The advantages of studying at �������������Ī would be the one-to-one teaching and the fact that you'd be pushed. It would set you up for life.”

Emerald, who goes to High Storrs School, said that she had come to �������������Ī on a school visit a few years ago. “That day was amazing — I just fell in love with it all and it spurred me into working hard and aiming high. �������������Ī is the best place to study the languages I'm interested in — German and Russian.”

Eve (pictured centre with two other students from Birkenhead College) said she was planning to make an application to �������������Ī through the Special Access Scheme as she had missed a significant amount of her secondary education, due to school phobia brought about by bullying. She is now achieving high grades.

“I ended up at a hospital school where I realised what I was missing out on and I took myself back into school. I'm now doing my A levels at Birkenhead College which is great. I love the atmosphere of �������������Ī with the old buildings. It's somewhere I feel I'd be happy and do well,” she said.

Subo Wijeyeratne, School Liaison Officer for Emmanuel, Fitzwilliam and Murray Edwards Colleges, said he hoped that the summer school had demystified �������������Ī for those who had felt it was socially elitist, old-fashioned or “out of reach”.

“One of the strengths of the summer school is the interaction between the visiting students and the current undergraduates who have stayed on after the end of term to help. They are able to connect with pupils just a few years younger and make them feel at ease and able to ask questions. Our visitors can often relate to undergraduates more easily than to academics and staff - and the undergraduates themselves are often the best ambassadors �������������Ī could hope to have.” he said.