2017 saw the fourth Lumina course and it is now a well-established feature of  Shaftesbury Enterprise (Harrow School’s Philanthropy division). Lumina is a summer course for pupils from maintained schools considering Oxbridge and top Russell Group universities. The 2017 cohort was the largest yet, with nearly 200 pupils from 38 local schools descending on Harrow for a week of academic enrichment and tailored admissions advice. 

The five-day course included:

• talks from admissions tutors from Oxford and Cambridge and current undergraduates designed to demystify the admissions process
• subject-specific tutorials and lectures from external tutors and Harrow masters to give students a taste of what the undergraduate academic experience might be like
• visits to Oxford and Cambridge University colleges
  
• interview practice, which is the part of the course attendees find most beneficial.

Many students have credited Lumina with helping them make a successful university application for the following year. Last year, 104 students secured offers from Russell Group universities, with 23 receiving offers from Oxford and Cambridge. In 2017, we also shared the expertise that Harrow has in gaining places at top universities with a delegation of teachers. We are grateful for the support of John Lyon’s Charity in enabling Harrow to host the event and hope that Lumina continues to leave a lasting legacy in the years to come.