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A group of Year 11 students from Attleborough Academy were invited into the University of Oxford as a part of the highly regarded Step-Up Programme organised by New College. This visit marked Step 2 of the programme, which supports high potential students from state schools to exploring the world of university – particularly Oxford.

This visit included an insight into life at New College by current students, academic study and a guided tour giving our students the chance to see accommodation, study spaces and lecture/ tutorial facilities. Accompanined by Mr Nevard and Miss Thorne, the students had a chance to talk to current students in different stages of their university career and different subjects who offered honest and relatable answers to the university experience.

One of the day’s highlights was an engaging academic session led by Dr James Munro, a Mathematics tutor at New College. In a mini-lecture titled ‘Repetition and Chaos’, students were challenged see the link between predictability and chaos; if there were certain things that could be predictable as well as unpredictable. They were asked to pick a decimal number between 0-1, putting that number into an equation and pressing equals until you meet a fixed point. The argument was that within predictability there is an element of unpredictability, we know there is a fixed point (predictable) but how we get there becomes unpredictable based on the number. It was a great introduction into New College and the different ways of teaching, some of the students want to go on to study Mathematics so it was a brilliant opportunity for them to take part an academic discussion between peers and academics.

Students were also treated to a delicious lunch in the college’s medieval great dining hall, enjoying a meal in the same surroundings amongst current students. This was not just a highlight of the day but a chance to experience one of Oxford’s unique traditions in an unforgettable setting.

The visit was organised and hosted by Daniel Powell, Head of Outreach and Communications and Malwina Kozolwska, Outreach and Admissions Officer, both of whom were previous students at New College. They both ensured the experience was welcoming, inspiring, and informative alongside three current New College students. From demystifying the application process to helping students envision themselves in a university environment, the day had a powerful impact.

Our Year 11 students represented Attleborough Academy with maturity and enthusiasm. We are incredibly proud of how they engaged with the experience and hopeful that many will now feel more confident about pursuing top academic pathways in the future.