Pembroke Launches New Outreach Programme 'Target One Cheshire'

NEWS |

On 6th February 2018 Pembroke College launched the 'Target One Cheshire' project at Knutsford Multi-Academy Trust. This is a four year programme which aims to provide state school students, parents and teachers in Cheshire with information and guidance about the University of Oxford, with Knutsford acting as a base for engagement with many schools in the region. The aim of 'Target One Cheshire' is to increase the growing number of students from non-selective state schools in Cheshire making successful applications to Oxford, Cambridge and other prestigious Russell Group universities.

The event was split into two phases. During the day, teachers and year 9 students from local state schools were invited to Knutsford to hear about the programme and engage with the team responsible for this, in particular Peter Claus (Access Fellow at Pembroke College) and Kirsty Simpson (Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Officer at Pembroke College).  In the evening, two sessions were held for teachers, students and parents from the East Cheshire locality to hear presentations about 'Target One Cheshire' and discuss the programme further.  The local links for the service are Sarah Kirkham, Head of Sixth Form at Knutsford Academy, and Adam Greenstein (governor at Knutsford Academy and consultant at the University of Manchester).

The 'Target One Cheshire' programme includes a specially created brochure which highlights the numerous outreach activities delivered by the University of Oxford. This brochure aims to encourage students to engage with these activities throughout their time at school in explore their chosen subjects and improve their academic skills.

A total of 610 students, parents and teachers (including those from the host school, Knutsford Academy) attended the sessions during the day, demonstrating the extent to which those involved in state sector education in East Cheshire feel that information and guidance from Oxbridge is needed.  The schools attending were Knutsford Academy, Lymm High School, Malbank School, Falibroome, Sandbach High, Eaton Bank, Poynton High School, Sandbach School, Wilmslow High School and Tarporley High School.

Future events planned for ‘Target One Cheshire’ include a teachers’ event and an application workshop for year 12s.  It is already apparent from the high attendance at yesterday’s events that 'Target One Cheshire' is already breaking down barriers and misconceptions and that there is enormous interest in the area in encouraging students to apply for Oxbridge.  Pembroke College has been particularly praised for their active initiative in offering this support and it can only be that the links will grow stronger and its reputation increase even further across the life of 'Target One Cheshire'. Their work will also increase the number of state school applicants applying to this college.