Last Wednesday we attended a talk at The Abbey Senior School, delivered by James Davies-Warner, the admissions tutor of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The talk brought together various students and their parents from numerous schools across Reading as we learned about the road ahead to top universities. It was an excellent opportunity to hear from an individual with key insights on how to build a competitive application and the unique style of education that students at Oxbridge receive.

After a brief overview of what student life at Oxbridge looks like, each stage of the application process was explained thoroughly. He offered practical and interactive advice on interview preparation and admissions tests, and emphasised how highly tutors value students with motivation for their subject. Also, lots of super-curricular opportunities were presented to us to explore further.

Anoushka: One of my most valuable takeaways was his suggestion to take our learning beyond the classroom and think critically in order to really engage with the courses we will apply for. It ended on a warm note, with Mr Davies-Warner advising us all to do what we love and pursue our passions!

Avika: A core insight that I gained from the event was during a conversation I had with Mr Davies-Warner after the talk. He gave me specific examples of how I can strengthen my understanding of my subject, which were really useful to hear from someone as knowledgeable as he is. He also wished me luck on my future endeavours.

Anoushka and Avika, Lower VI