This in from Nat on behalf of Ryde Academy. Ed
The Oxford Pathways Taster Days are designed to give academically able Year 10 students the chance to visit Oxford for a taste of what it is like to study there.
The day started with a tour of the city by one of the current Oxford students followed by lunch in the Great Hall.
Afternoon lecture
In the afternoon students attended a lecture on Stories and Storytelling by Dr Matthew Roza. He explained that storytelling is about engaging the listener, keeping people’s interest and bringing a complex message in a form that can be understood. He then showed some famous beginnings and endings of stories and the students had to discuss what made a good story.
Dr Reza said they were the most impressive, most responsive, switched-on group of year 10s he had ever taught. The session ended with a short story writing session.
Making the right choices
The students returned to Corpus Christi for a presentation on the importance of good grades at GCSE and making the right option choice at A level.
This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to see what life is like at Oxford University and they took full advantage of what the taster day had to offer.
Emma Bausch, Pathways Year 10 Coordinator, says,
“The Pathways Programme is an initiative coordinated by the Colleges of the University of Oxford, with support from the Sutton Trust.
“We provide information, advice and guidance on higher education and Oxford to academically able students, and staff members, in non-selective state schools with little history of student progression to Oxford. All of our events are run in Oxford, and are free to attend.
“We are glad that some of Ryde Academy’s year 10 students were able to join us and hope they attend next year’s Year 11 event, Investigating Options”
