Alumni returns to give Oxbridge talk to Priory’s Able and Ambitious pupils

A selection of Year 10 and 11 pupils were told to dream big by Class of 2017 pupil Abi Lakeland who went onto study English at Cambridge University.

Abi, now a teacher herself, admitted she didn’t even know about Cambridge University until it was mentioned in an assembly while she was at Priory.

Abi was the first person in her family to go to university, where she studied English, especially inspired by her English teacher Miss Thornton.

“I left Priory in 2017 and attended Cambridge University to study English and achieved a First Class Honours," said Abi.

“I’m an English teacher myself, based down South. I remember, it was an assembly I attended at Priory in Year 10/11 that first made me aware Oxbridge even existed – neither of my parents attended university.

“I was magical, magnificent and marvellous to return to Priory to talk to the pupils.

“I just told them you have to dream big and you can achieve your dreams. You go to a great school and can go onto a great university.

“Cambridge was a magical experience, it is a difficult, challenging environment but you do get your rewards.

“I loved my time at Priory. Art teacher Miss Smith was awesome; Miss Thornton inspired me; Mr Kenrick was my maths teacher and I would never have passed maths without his help and Miss Summers in history was awesome. It’s great to come back as the school hasn’t changed much.”

Mr Taylor, who oversees our ‘Able and Ambitious’ pupils, said: “The Oxbridge visit came about when former pupil Abi got in touch with me saying she wanted to give something back to school because of what school had given her.

“She was the first member of her family to attend university and it just so happens it was Cambridge University which was superb for Abi.

“Abi talked about potential courses Oxbridge offers, life at an Oxbridge university, life in the cities and what’s on offer for students there.

“We initially went with a cohort of 15 Able and Ambitious pupils to attend it but we opened it up to everyone in Year 10 & 11 and had a great response.

“Around 50 pupils got the chance to take in this key information from someone who has lived the life at Cambridge.

“It’s also offering the ambition, giving our pupils something they haven’t thought about. It’s hoped this will inspire them to stretch themselves beyond what they thought they could initially do.

“These talks are all about opening doors and offering opportunities our pupils maybe wouldn’t have thought of before.”