We have just recruited a group of Challenge Ambassadors from Years 7, 8 and 9.  Their role is to help promote Challenge Enrichment Activities to their peers.  Recently they were invited to an Academic Detectives workshop presented by Dan Pugh-Bevan who is Schools Liaison Office at St Peter’s College, Oxford.

Here is some feedback from two of the participants:

Being a Challenge Ambassador and meeting Dan was a real eye opener about life at Oxford University.  I realised once he told his story that Oxford really is within reach.  The problems that Dan set us were intricate and interesting and engaged parts of my brain that I don’t usually use.  The session has given me great hope for the future and I am looking forward to more sessions with Dan in the future.
Olivia 8C

The Oxford talk that I was lucky enough to be a part of was absolutely amazing!  Dan really inspired me to reach for the stars.  I feel very fortunate I got to be a part of this, and I hope I can one day make it into Oxford University.  The activity boosted my English skills and I am now very confident in scan reading and annotating.  This is really going to help me in year 9 and throughout the rest of my life because I want to be a journalist.  Now I really know how important my GCSEs are.  I am looking forward to sharing what I learnt with the rest of my form and friends! 
Jasia 8C

Dan also met with the Challenge Reps from each Faculty and recommended several websites, such as OXPLORE:

https://oxplore.org/

 OXPLORE poses 'Big Questions' for discussion.  The questions are randomly generated.

Here are a few examples:

• Can war be a good thing?
• Should we eat animals?
• Is falling in love bad for you?
• Should you have to be British to live in Britain?
• Do you make your own luck?

Do have a look!

Dan will be visiting us again in next term to speak to Year 9 about GCSEs, meet the Challenge Ambassadors and to deliver a training session for staff.

Ms Robinson
Challenge Coordinator