wyvern:extra
Parents and students sample university life
A new summer school designed for Year 10 students and
their parents was a huge success, attracting participants from schools in
Colchester, Clacton, Harlow and Grays.
Held in August, the weekend summer school aimed to encourage young
people to consider higher education. It included talks on higher
education, a tour of the University, and an exercise where pupils
attempted to do a weekly food shop on a student budget.
During the summer, Essex has hosted over 130 pupils from years 10 to 12
on summer schools, but this was the first to invite parents along too.
Students were, however, able to sleep in a different block to their
parents!
Summer school organiser Nicola Wood said: It was hard to recruit
participants for this summer school because of their preconception that
university would be stuffy and formal. The weekend was really
worthwhile because it completely changed their views as they met
like-minded staff and students, and had great fun, while learning about
university life.
As one student said: I would recommend it to anyone. It really changed
my opinion of university.
The University has already secured Aimhigher funding to run the event again next
year.
Participants in the summer school with organisers
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