Schools Liaison Initiative
Durham students visit the college
The University of Cambridge is committed to admitting students of the highest intellectual potential, irrespective of social, religious or financial considerations.
We hope to encourage all school pupils with the necessary ability, enthusiasm and potential to consider an application to Cambridge. King’s College aims to recruit the students who can most benefit from what we have to offer and we have initiated several schemes with this in mind.
We employ a Schools Liaison Officer (SLO) to organise and undertake visits to schools, as well as co-ordinating visits to the College by school pupils and teachers. We welcome enquiries from any school or college, and we will try our best to work with any school that approaches us. We can provide sessions for students, teachers and other supporters of applications.
One of the most successful initiatives made by the College has been the student-run 'Access Bus' which travels to the North East of England and visits a number of schools in the Easter Vacation. School student feedback on these visits has been very positive.
- Year 12 - School visits to King's or King's visits to Schools
- Year 10 and 11 - King's visits to Schools
- How to request a school visit
- News Stories
Year 12
The English Martyrs Sixth Form, Hartlepool
Visits to King’s College for Gifted and Talented students
We welcome groups of Gifted and Talented students from all over the country in order to show them at close hand what King's College and the University of Cambridge have to offer and provide information about the application process. So far as is possible and subject to vacation periods, our undergraduates are also involved in these events so that visitors can ask questions of students who have been through the process and now study at Cambridge.
A typical timetable might look something like this:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10.00 | Arrival |
| 10.10 | Talk: How Cambridge works. Followed by Q&A. |
| 11.00 | Tour of King's College and Chapel |
| 12.15 | Lunch in the College Hall |
| 13.00 | Talk/workshop: Personal Statements and Interviews |
| 13.45 | Visit to a University Teaching Collection e.g. Zoology |
| 14.30 | Final questions/comments |
| 14.45 | Depart |
Unfortunately we cannot host such visits during our exam period (usually from the end of April to mid June) and our admissions period (October to December).
Please see the Getting to King's page for useful information about arriving by train or coach. The Schools Liaison Officer will provide a risk assessment and ask a member of staff from each school/college to sign a safety agreement prior to the visit.
King's visits to schools and colleges
The Schools Liaison Officer visits schools and colleges to give presentations about the University of Cambridge and King’s, run workshops on the application process and to participate in Higher Education events for individual schools or areas. Teacher training sessions and events for parents can also be arranged.
Year 10 and 11
King's visits to schools and colleges
The Schools Liaison Officer visits schools and colleges to provide advice and guidance for years 10 and 11 about selective universities in general and Cambridge in particular. The idea is to raise aspirations and show students what hard work at school could lead to. Practical advice will also be given about subject choices for A level or IB. The aim is for these visits to be interactive and as such they will often include workshop activities depending on the size of the group.
The SLO will work in conjunction with the school to ensure that each cohort of students is specifically catered to.
How to request a school visit
We welcome requests from schools and colleges, especially if they are able to co-ordinate with other neighbouring institutions so that we can meet a good number of potential applicants. The most efficient way to request a visit is to fill in and return a visit request form (pdf version) so that we have all the information we need.
Kristy (the Admissions & Schools Liaison Officer) will respond to let you know if she is able to work with your group and what will be possible. For visits to King's, a risk assessment and safety agreement (to sign and return) will be provided as well as a timetable and full practical details for the visit.
Kristy does not make, host or even organise visits during the admissions round (late September to early January). She is also unable to host visits to King's during the quiet exam period (end of April to mid-June).
The best way to contact Kristy is always by email: slo [at] kings [dot] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk
Large Local events in our Link areas
Please see our regional events page.
News Stories:
Some examples of the work we do can be seen at these web stories:
- April 2011: King's work with schools: it's a busy time!
- March 2011: Sprowston Community High School: Year 12 visit to King's
- May 2010: Nunthorpe School: Inspiring students to aim high!
- April 2010: King's students tour the North-East
- March 2010: Enfield students visit King's
To find out more, or to become involved, please contact our Admissions & Schools Liaison Officer, Kristy Guneratne: slo [at] kings [dot] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk.
