On Monday afternoon, a group of Lower Sixth boys went to St Helen’s School for an Oxbridge Symposium. The event was designed to spark academic curiosity, encourage thoughtful discussion, and provide valuable insight into the Oxbridge application process.
Writes Jai E
The afternoon began with subject-specific table discussions based on pre-reading materials. Each table focused on a different discipline, with subject specialists leading conversations and encouraging us to think critically, question assumptions, and explore different viewpoints in depth. It was a fantastic opportunity to push our thinking, engage with complex topics, and exchange ideas with students from the other schools.
The Medicine and Law tables both explored the sensitive and challenging topic of assisted dying, leading to in-depth conversations from both medical and legal perspectives. These discussions encouraged us to really examine the ethical, emotional, and societal implications of the issue. The Engineering group focused on turbine design and practical problem-solving, while the Geography table discussed Ghost Work, a book about changing patterns of work, before moving on to explore climate change. The Chemistry table delved into square planar complexes and ligands, and the Linguistics (MML) table explored the impact of structuralism and post-structuralism on how we understand language and meaning. The Mathematics group tackled challenging and unstructured problems, testing their ability to draw upon any and all areas of mathematics in unfamiliar ways.
Across all subjects, the symposium really encouraged us to think carefully, debate openly, and consider ideas from different angles. Many of us came away with new perspectives and a deeper appreciation of the complexity within our fields.
From my own experience at the Medicine table, I found our discussions at the Symposium particularly valuable and intriguing. Assisted dying is a sensitive and nuanced topic, and it was incredibly useful to explore it in a respectful, open space with others who are equally passionate about medicine. Being challenged by the subject specialists and by other students really made me think more deeply about my own views and helped me develop a more balanced understanding of the issue. I found these conversations genuinely thought-provoking and appreciated the chance to carefully consider different sides of the argument.
In the second part of the afternoon, each group took on a subject-specific challenge. For Medicine, we worked through a clinical case study on Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), identifying symptoms like low oxygen saturation and thinking through the wider physiological impacts. I particularly enjoyed applying knowledge to a realistic scenario which really made us think carefully, test our understanding, and work together to find solutions.
The symposium finished with a useful session on the Oxbridge application process, which provided practical advice and helpful guidance for our next steps towards university applications.
Overall, the symposium was a fantastic experience being challenging, insightful, and a great chance to explore ideas in depth while connecting with others who share similar interests. It left me feeling curious, motivated and grateful to have taken part. Many thanks to St Helen’s for hosting this amazing event and also thank you to Ms Isham for organising the opportunity for us to take part.
