As part of our school Oxbridge Programme, boys from across the school were invited to attend a question-and-answer session on Monday 4 December with four recent Old Bedfordians (OBs) who are currently studying at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Sami Haroon (15-22) who is reading Philosophy and Theology at Oxford, Oscar Calvert (15-22) reading Economics and Management also at Oxford, and both Robert Menhart (17-22) and Reuben Glenville (20-22) who are reading Engineering at Cambridge, are among 25 OBs who are either at Oxbridge currently or have left in the last three years.
The aim of the event was to provide boys who have their sights set on these elite universities with a valuable opportunity to ask questions and to start thinking about their academic ambitions and higher education plans.
The session started with Mr Adrian Finch, who organised the event, posing a series of questions to the group of OBs, exploring everything from how the OBs chose their courses, what it is like to study within the different universities and colleges to what advice could they offer to boys at different stages of their school career.
Lower Sixth Former Fred Dickson, who plans to study History at a top university, attended the session and told us afterwards, “It was great to hear from Oscar Calvert and Sami Haroon because they did the IB, like me, and Sami is studying a similar course to one I’d like to do – so I was really interested in what they had to say.”
The OBs also spoke about how they prepared for their university application and gave some food for thought about the attributes the boys might have or could cultivate that could help them gain a place at one of these universities.
Fred went on to say, “Hearing the OBs talk has given me something to aim for. It made it feel real and something that I hope could be attainable for me. It also made me more determined to work hard since they confirmed how important my predicted grades will be. It was inspiring to be looking to the future like this.”
Head Master James Hodgson explained, “As part of our Oxbridge Programme, it was fantastic to be able to welcome these impressive Old Bedfordians back into school. Their advice and guidance to the boys here currently will be hugely helpful to them as they navigate their paths towards achieving their Oxbridge ambitions. Moreover, as an initiative that brings together staff, boys and Old Bedfordians, opportunities like this really do demonstrate the Bedford School community at its best.”