The students were incredibly busy yesterday, completing a full morning of the academic curriculum, followed by expert-led interactive Insight Masterclasses. The most attended workshop was CSI Forensic Analysis, always a popular choice with ORA pupils. The students assembled in the Long Gallery, where they were greeted with a mock case file detailing a suicide – or so they thought. After being taught a wide variety of real life techniques used by detectives, such as finger print sampling and DNA testing, the students clubbed together to figure out a perpetrator and furthermore, a killer.

Hollywood was brought to Yarnton Manor as students learnt the innovation behind big film production. Students had to prepare all aspects of a film, ready to pitch their ideas to potential investors and their peers. This included budgeting, casting, marketing and most importantly a detailed plot summary. Students conveyed their concepts to the rest of the class with superb confidence, both in delivery and in their ideas. Some future Hollywood directors could very well be walking amongst us.

The final workshop was creative writing, an opportunity for the students to broaden their minds and their creative capabilities. Students were encouraged to articulate their journey in Oxford thus far, including as much descriptive detail as possible throughout. After completion, each individual had to stand and dictate their short story to the rest of the class. All stories maintained remarkable fluidity, holding the audience’s attention with ease.

Following a busy day of academic excellence, the students enjoyed some well-deserved free time around the Manor before joining in some outdoor activities led by the counsellors in the sunny English afternoon. Post dinner, the students unwound in the cinema room to a film before bed time. The students have spotted the mid-session party at Cherwell Boathouse on their timetables for tomorrow evening, everyone is incredibly excited.