Students were settled in by Tuesday morning, and ready for another busy day of lessons. With introductory formalities out of the way, classes began to focus on the detail of their subjects as students were given their first assignments of their stay. 

Academic work was finished by lunchtime, and students either made use of the well-stocked cafe in Eddie’s or ventured into town to get their own lunch in the city centre. Everybody made sure they were back in good time for the afternoon’s first activity: the eagerly anticipated Oxford Royale Masterclasses which promised to be both fun and illuminating.

There were three Masterclasses on offer. Some students were taught how to use team building games and comedy skills to break down barriers between people; others heard from expert Robert Bullard about how to write a book, we hope for publications in the near future; while the third group participated in a frenetic stock market challenge, pitting their minds against the markets to try and turn £15,000 starting capital into a great deal more, which many did in a busy few days of simulated trading.

All of the Masterclasses were received well and our students were grateful to have been able to choose from such a broad range of expertise, from comedy to finance. These Masterclasses presented a fantastic opportunity for students to develop skills outside of the classroom.

Many then took the opportunity to venture into town and explore more of the city. When students returned to college, there were more activities in the evening, including the classic British summer game of rounders, and a crash-course in Texas Hold ‘Em poker, in which students learned to manage their money and read their opponents’ body language, the key skills of one of the world’s great card games. No money changed hands luckily as this was a friendly game, but plenty of chips were moving as all involved got stuck in.