Cambridge Study Day

On Monday, 24 March, my class and I embarked on an enlightening journey to the University of Cambridge, eager to immerse ourselves in big debates, lively philosophical discussions and the adventures of life at Cambridge.

The morning was packed with engaging lectures that ranged from essay-writing skills and the validity of religious experience to our consciousness and the role of Christianity in a multi-faith society. I initially thought that I would come away from these lectures with more knowledge and fewer questions; ironically, with each passing hour, I found myself asking even more.

We were delighted to have had our lectures delivered by Libby Ahluwalia: teacher, syllabus developer, examiner trainer and author of several acclaimed GCSE and A-level textbooks - an extraordinary woman. With her tips and step-by-step methods, we were able to gain an insight into how to really achieve the top A/A* grades.

Now, despite the purpose of this journey being an exploration of our intellectual potential, the day wasn’t all about deep thinking. It’s not really a Cambridge trip if you don’t end it in the true Cambridge style, so we finished the day in the most Cambridge way possible: a classic punting trip along the river! As we glided past historic colleges, it was almost as if we were undergoing the equivalent of a religious experience, soaking in the beauty of the city. Unfortunately, our group of students were not the most experienced at punting, so we had to get some help from the teachers. Being a former graduate herself, Ms Nelson was our saviour that day, and guided us back in time to the deck.

It was a day of learning, exploration and plenty of fun - one that left us pondering, even long after we had left Cambridge behind.