“The idea originated three years ago having seen Alan Bennett’s The History Boys,” recalls Exeter College Reach Academy Project Leader Judith Betney, who was among the students, staff, stakeholders and potential stakeholders celebrating its first birthday last week. The College has already received 140 applications for the 60 places available during the next academic year.

The dream was to be able to offer some of Exeter College’s most gifted and talented students additional opportunities which would stretch them beyond their coursework and, in doing so, help prepare them for entry into some of the UK’s top universities and their future careers.

Having received positive feedback from existing students as to whether they liked the idea, it was not long before work began on making it happen.

Sponsorship came firstly from the Met Office, then other businesses and organisations, and by last September the initial intake of students was signed up and the first ever Reach Academy programme began.

Judith, herself a Durham University graduate, said: “With no other similar initiative to borrow from, it has been a very steep learning curve, yet so much has been achieved. This has been largely thanks to the students themselves, who embraced the Reach Academy’s inception programme with such enthusiasm from the start and fitted its many extra-curricular activities into their already busy lives.”

At Exeter College’s restaurant @34, guests invited to the Reach Academy Partnerships Dinner were treated to talks by Reach Academy students about their experiences as well as a live musical performance, speeches from some of those who have been key to the Academy’s success to date, either as College staff or as sponsors, and a buffet prepared by Exeter College catering students.

Among those speaking on the night was Assistant Principal Anne Oxborough, who said afterwards: “It has been an amazing first year for the Reach Academy. It has received great support from the students and also the many expert speakers who have come to the College to talk to the students or offer master classes. We are now looking forward to the Academy going from strength-to-strength.”

Also attending was Reach Academy student Lukas Mackinder, aged 17, of Alphington, who is currently taking A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Economics, and Critical Thinking at Exeter College.

Before dinner, he was presented with the Simpkins Edwards Essay Writing prize by John Coombs, a partner at the accountancy firm which organised and sponsored the competition for Reach Academy students.
The former West Exe Technology College pupil, who is hoping to read Engineering and Science at Oxford or Cambridge, said: “I think The Reach Academy has greatly improved my chances of being accepted into a competitive university. It has been very useful to meet so many professional people and to receive advice on how to apply to their universities.

“The Reach Academy has provided me with these opportunities, as well as expanding my CV and giving me the chance to visit places that I otherwise wouldn’t have gone to, such as the Houses of Parliament.”

Fellow Reach Academy student Octavia Gale, aged 17, of Newton Abbot, is hoping to read History and Politics, at LSE, York, Oxford, Birmingham or Edinburgh.

Currently studying for A levels in Biology, History, Economics and Geography, the former St Cuthbert Mayne pupil added: “Reach has offered us experiences over the last year that have deepened the understanding of our subjects and sparked interest in others. It has provided us with the opportunity to visit places and meet individuals who have inspired and encouraged us to work hard to progress on to the university of our choice.”

Paul Siely, Senior Partner at Clydesdale Bank’s Exeter Financial Solutions Centre, was among those who found themselves learning about the Reach Academy and what it has to offer for the first time.

Speaking later, he said: “I found it to be a most entertaining and informative night. I was blown away by the enthusiasm and passion that the students have for The Reach Academy. They are clearly all very enthusiastic young people and possess the very qualities that will make them successful: drive, enthusiasm, ambition and a hunger to learn. I will certainly be considering how we may be able to support the Reach Academy in future.”