gavin 2 Students from the six academies within the Kent Academies Network met at Tonbridge to be transported up to Cambridge and, as ever, they were excited to spend time with each other and their mentors, and to make the most of their opportunity to strengthen the group dynamics that the APP seeks to create.

Each cohort took part in a different first activity, with the year 12 working on personal statements and the process of searching for and applying to Universities with the Queens’ College admissions department, year 11 discussing revision techniques and how to prepare for their upcoming GCSEs, and the 2016 cohort working with their mentors on a task relating to the work they had completed since the November day event – a University style piece of research on a topic of their choice.mentors

Partnerships and our mentors are key to the success of the AAF and the APP and it was therefore great that the second session saw another year group (year 11 this time) benefit from the expertise of Queens’ College with a focus on A-Level choices. PhD student Gavin, one of our original mentors, introduced the year 12 to the idea of academic reading while the year 10, on their first visit to Cambridge, enjoyed a tour of the town.

david reynoldsThe keynote speaker for the afternoon was David Reynolds, a Professor of International History and a Fellow of Christ’s College. Having studied at both Cambridge and Harvard, David specialises in American History, Modern British History and Modern European History. He spoke very well on his current work, relating to the Cold War and a re-imagining of British identity, and also gave an insight in to the work of an academic, and reflected on his ideas about the importance of students approaching their application to University and their time at University in a balanced manner. The informal nature of the talk was appreciated by all, and our students were superbly attentive, and very impressive in their willingness to interact. The AAF would like to thank David for his time, and for delivering such a fantastic session.

The final activity of the day was mentor time, with the relations between mentor and student invaluable to the work we do, and the goals mentors continually set and assess with their mentees a key way in which progress can be mapped out and maintained.

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