We were delighted to launch our first Academic Enrichment talk for the year with an engaging and interactive session led by Lucy Nottingham from UEA Outreach: How to Write a Stand-Out Personal Statement.

Using the UEA Personal Statement Workbook, Lucy introduced a range of practical prompts to help pupils reflect on their experiences and present their strengths effectively. Pupils explored how to use a timeline to identify key achievements, employment, work experience and other valuable activities, before considering how to structure these ideas into a clear and compelling personal statement.

Lucy’s key message was simple but powerful: be yourself. The session encouraged pupils to write authentically, demonstrate their academic interests and showcase the experiences and qualities that make them distinctive. It was an inspiring and informative start to our Enrichment Series, equipping pupils with greater confidence and practical strategies for the next stage of their university applications.