A Glimpse Into University Life For Schoolchildren

Published on: 28 Aug, 2014
Updated on: 29 Aug, 2014

By Anna Valentina

The University of Surrey has shown younger students what higher education life looks like.

Forty-three prospective Year 7 pupils of Reigate School spent a day in the university campus and the Surrey Sports Park. They took part in various group activities, ranging from numeracy-linked campus tours to fencing and rock climbing. They also had a chance to learn about the programme of university studies and career opportunities.

The younger students had a chance to improve their team-building, interpersonal and academic skills.

The whole event was organised by the Department of Widening Participation & Outreach (WPO) at the University of Surrey. According to WPO co-ordinator Jane de la Rosa this day of activities gave children the chance to enhance their literacy and numeracy, confidence, team-building and interpersonal skills, which should help them with the transition from primary to secondary school.

The youngsters took part in various activities at the Surrey Sports Park.

It was the third event of this type that the WPO team has supported this summer – Esher High School students have also visited the campus as part of the programme, and WPO student ambassadors have helped deliver literacy work with The Beacon School’s Transition Summer School.

As part of a government funded scheme, secondary schools can bid for funding to run summer school activities over the holidays for selected pupils moving up from primary school, and the WPO team has collaborated with a number of schools to support the delivery of these activities with schools from the University of Surrey Schools Consortium. It is part of their work to raise the aspirations and attainment of students from groups currently under-represented in higher education.