Friday marked the end of the first week of the programmes here in Cambridge, and there was no better way than to celebrate this than a day of quintessentially Cambridge activities, such as punting and sightseeing!

With the prospect of punting looming, the atmosphere throughout the day was jovial as everyone was excited to head to the river to enjoy an afternoon of relaxation. The morning got off to the usual start with breakfast as a group, before the students set off to study for the rest of the morning.

Throughout their classes this week all of our students have shown great promise and commitment to their programmes. Although they look forward to a weekend of fun activities, they has also independently set time aside to complete their homework. This is not only a testament to their organisational skills but also to how immersive the programmes at ORA are.

Once lessons were over students enjoyed free time in the city. Most of the students took this chance to head into the centre to pick up some souvenirs, have a wander around the shops or take part in punting. Several students returned to college with boxes of sweet treats to take home, we are sure their families will be pleased. Some of our students even watched on to see Cambridge university students graduate – an amusing affair that often includes lots of silly string and flour!

After an afternoon of shopping, eating, punting and enjoying the Cambridge culture, everyone got changed to relax for the evening. It was an informal affair and it was great to see the students bonding before they prepare to face St Edmund’s in the Great Debate on Sunday!