Hi, my name is David Rennie, and I’m the Schools Liaison Officer at Gonville & Caius College. My role here is to help build relationships between the College and schools in our link areas (Norfolk, Hertfordshire and several London Boroughs), helping to inform and encourage talented students from diverse backgrounds to consider Cambridge. Working closely with the Admissions & Outreach Tutor, Dr Chris Scott, and our London Outreach Officer, Gwyneth Hamand, I provide support and guidance to potential students on a variety of topics relating to Cambridge University and higher education more generally. 

I recently graduated from Robinson College, University of Cambridge in Modern & Medieval Languages (French and Italian). Before my studies, I attended a comprehensive school in Portsmouth. Through my own experience here, I have discovered first-hand the fundamental importance of access and outreach work, and the significant difference it makes to prospective students.

My own school had limited exposure to the Oxbridge system, and to access schemes, and I lacked much assurance or confidence that I would secure my place. As such, from the beginning of my time at the university, I was particularly motivated to immerse myself in access and outreach work at college, faculty and university level, seeking to de-mystify the Oxbridge application process and student life.

Within my role as Schools Liaison Officer, I want to give students of all backgrounds the opportunity to learn more about Cambridge and the experience it can offer them, hoping especially to encourage those who might have previously felt that Oxbridge was not for them. There is no such thing as a 'typical' Cambridge student, no need to fit into a certain mould - we are simply looking for people with potential, enthusiastic about their course and who have drive and determination to succeed.

I can host visits to the College – providing college tours, Q&A sessions with undergraduate students, delivering presentations and arranging visits around the city to University departments and museums. Equally, I am also happy to visit schools to deliver talks, presentations or workshops on a variety of topics, including: applying to universities in general, the Cambridge application process, interviews, and student life. Please use this page for further information.

For any more general queries please email schools@cai.cam.ac.uk, or my personalised david.rennie@cai.cam.ac.uk address.

I am keen to reach out to, and build links with, as many schools as possible within Caius’ link areas and am particularly eager to hear from schools who we have never had contact with before, so please do get in touch!