Hundreds of Students Attend Magdalene’s Largest Liverpool Outreach Event

A key feature of Magdalene’s outreach calendar, the Liverpool Event has previously been held at Goodison Park and the Museum of Liverpool. These events are well remembered by teachers and students from across the region.

For the first time, the 2025 event took place at the historic St George’s Hall, a landmark in Liverpool city centre, providing a stunning setting. More than 500 pupils and 80 teachers attended, representing 35 schools across Merseyside and North Wales. Magdalene has built strong relationships with schools in these areas through the University’s Area Links Scheme, which enables Colleges to develop long-term partnerships and offer tailored support based on the specific needs of their students.

For the first time, Magdalene collaborated with local charity Aspire Liverpool, led by city councillor Harry Doyle. Aspire Liverpool works with secondary schools across the city, offering guidance, mentoring, and academic preparation for students aiming to secure places at competitive universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Attendees were welcomed by Dr Sergio Bacallado (Admissions Tutor for Outreach and Fellow in Mathematics) and Dr Hannah Critchlow (Outreach Fellow in Sciences), who introduced Magdalene College and outlined the purpose of the event. Dr Critchlow shared her own journey to Cambridge, having attended a state school where applying to top universities was uncommon, and spoke about how the opportunities available to her at Cambridge shaped her career.

Pupils attended two taster lectures based on undergraduate courses at Cambridge. Professor Franklin Aigbirhio delivered an engaging presentation titled Seeing Human Biochemistry with Medical Imaging, drawing on his work at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. He explored how medical imaging is advancing scientific research, with pupils contributing enthusiastically by answering questions about clinical imaging and radioactive isotopes from their GCSE Science studies.

The second taster lecture, Did Eva Actually See the Grape? Translation and Multilingualism as the Oxygen of Cultures, was led by Professor Hugo Azerad, Mr Felipe Schuery, and Professor Amira Bennison. The session examined translations of texts from French, Portuguese, and Arabic, exploring how form, meaning, and context influence interpretation. Professor Azerad also discussed the history and politics of multilingualism and the presence of foreign languages in daily life. Several students from North Wales, including Welsh-language speakers from Welsh-medium schools, contributed to the discussion.

Meanwhile, teachers attended two dedicated sessions: an introduction to Aspire Liverpool with Harry Doyle and a workshop on supporting students with Cambridge applications, led by Magdalene’s Schools Liaison Officer, Tess Bottomley. Many teachers welcomed the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and access further resources to support their students.

Pupils and teachers later joined a session on student life at Cambridge, presented by five Magdalene Student Ambassadors, some of whom were from Merseyside. They shared advice on moving away from home, making friends, and managing studies. They also spoke about their academic experiences and their involvement in clubs and societies. Pupils asked insightful questions about time management, budgeting, and College life.

The final session of the day gave attendees the opportunity to meet Magdalene Fellows and Student Ambassadors. Aspire Liverpool also invited several local apprenticeship and work experience providers, including Springpod, Classics for All, and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, to showcase alternative pathways. Magdalene Fellows spoke to prospective applicants about A Level choices, course content, and study abroad opportunities.

Feedback from pupils and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing a newfound interest in applying to Cambridge. Teachers praised the Student Ambassadors, noting that their pupils appreciated hearing from students with similar backgrounds and gaining confidence that Cambridge is within their reach.

Dr Sergio Bacallado, Admissions Tutor for Outreach and Fellow in Mathematics, reflected on the event:

“The event was, without a doubt, a resounding success. The energy and engagement from the students were palpable, and I have no doubt that it will have a profound and lasting impact on their aspirations. To see their eyes light up as they engaged with the sessions was a privilege. The participation of so many Fellows speaks volumes about our College’s commitment to access and widening participation. It is this sort of direct engagement that truly breaks down barriers and demonstrates that Cambridge is a place where everyone can thrive.”

Teachers also shared their thoughts:

“Our staff said that it was an invaluable opportunity for the students.” – Teacher, Liverpool

“It was very beneficial to give the secondary school students a taster of what lectures and university life are like and for them to hear that studying at Oxbridge is an achievable ambition. The venue was beautiful, too, and added much to the tone of the event.” – Teacher, North Wales

We look forward to continuing our outreach work in Liverpool over the coming months and years!