Yesterday the students staying at Balliol College excelled academically, across all courses. The Business and Enterprise programme took part in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitching competition, aiming to gain investment for products they have invented in the previous weeks from a panel of venture capitalists. The panel consisted of the tutors from the Business programme and Programme Director, Stephen Flavin, who was particularly impressed with the students’ progress over the past week. The Medical School Preparation students ventured out to visit King’s College in London, where they participated in the SaIL Centre of simulated and interactive learning. The faculty boasts state of the art patient simulations including a mock six-bed ward, operating theatre, surgical simulation room and a home environment – everything the students will encounter as doctor or consultant. The student’s learnt the method for taking blood, listening to heartbeats through stethoscopes and performing CPR on sophisticated life-size manikins.

On return to Balliol, the students took part in the highly awaited ORA Talent Show. The students have been rehearsing all week in anticipation to wow both the judges and their peers. Steven Flavin judged the Talent Show, describing it as “one of the best demonstrations of talent I’ve seen in my time with ORA”. A variety of different performances took place including; singing, comedy, piano playing and dancing. The winner is to be announced at the Graduation Ceremony on Friday.