Classics lecturer makes return trip to her old school

Dr Katharine Earnshaw left the school in 1998 and until recently had been working as a Fellow in Classics at St John’s College, Oxford.

She talked to students about how to make successful applications for the most challenging courses to the top ranked universities in the country.

Dr Earnshaw, who grew up in St Annes, has just taken up a new post as lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at Exeter University, one of the highest ranked universities in the Russell Group, which covers more than 20 higher educational establishments around the country.

Drawing on her experience of working in both universities, she described to students what they should include in their applications and what admissions tutors are looking for.

Dr Earnshaw worked with a group of year 12 students aspiring to places at Oxford or Cambridge and others hoping foir places at Russell Group universities.

Additionally, she worked with gifted students from years 9 and 10, while she was shown round school by teachers who had helped support her while she was a student at the school.

Headmaster Philip Wood said: “It was an honour and a pleasure to meet Katharine and we are so grateful that she was able to give up so much time to inspire and support our students.

“I hope that her successful career shows our students that with hard work and talent, they too can achieve great things. The practical advice she was able to give our year 12 students will be of great help to them as they compete for courses in our country’s most competitive universities.”