Pupils from five Havant schools were in Leigh Park on Friday to receive an Oxbridge masterclass from outreach officers of Oxford and Cambridge universities.
The first Havant Oxbridge Schools Conference was organised by local MP Alan Mak to help boost the aspirations of students across the constituency and get them aiming for a top university.
Students were given advice on A-level choices, university subjects and university life during the half-day conference at Park Community School in Leigh Park. In total 70 pupils from Crookhorn College, Park Community School, Warblington School, Hayling College and Purbook Park School were at the event.
Mr Mak said he organised the event as a way of boosting the uptake of students from the Havant area aspiring to go to top universities.
He said: “Supporting local schools and helping our young people is a top priority for me. It was a really enjoyable event and I hope that all the students were able to take away valuable information that will help them get into a top university.
“No university or opportunity should be closed to local young people. I was the first in my family to go to university. As local MP, I'm committed to widening opportunities for local students with practical steps like my Oxbridge and Universities Conference, and my Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair which returns in 2017.”
The Oxbridge Schools Conference is the first of its kind in the constituency and Mr Mak added that he now plans on turning the event into an annual fixture. Mr Mak studied Law as a Cambridge undergraduate and obtained his post-graduate legal diploma in Oxford.
Chris Anders, headteacher of Park Community School, said: “The students and I both found the information helpful but more importantly inspirational as we heard about the benefits of a top university education. The speakers stressed the importance of not limiting one’s ambition but of aspiring high and giving an application to Oxford and Cambridge a chance by getting on and making the application having prepared well in advance.”
Picture: Alan Mak with local pupils at the first Havant Oxbridge Schools Conference