Paulet students experienced a day full of excitement, inspiration and aspiration when they hosted nine different universities who helped them explore their future, broaden their horizons and aim higher.
Staffordshire University, Wolverhampton University, Keele University, University of Derby, University of Chester, Harper Adams University, Birmingham City University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Newman University sent their student ambassadors and representatives.
The day began with ‘2engage’ doing an amazing performance to our Year 8 and Year 9 students on making choices. The performance focused on the huge array of options available to them; not only in Year 9 but when they get into Year 11 and beyond. Using humour and pure elegance they managed to get across the importance of making a well-informed decision.
Selected students from Year 9 then had an amazing opportunity to attend a workshop by ‘2engage’ which helped the students increase their educational awareness and find out new approaches of surviving school. Ed and Phil from ‘2engage’ helped illustrate and explore barriers to attainment which our students found extremely useful as real solutions were presented to overcome these barriers.
Whilst all the above was happening our Year 10 and 11 students received an introduction to higher education from the various institutions involved. The students learnt about the various different courses available to choose from and how students manage their finances at university. All of the sessions were truly inspirational and our students gained immensely from them.
The team from ‘2engage’ did another performance for us to our Year 10, 11 and 12 students. They were shown progression routes in education from GCSE to university and they learnt that that university is much more than just academic studies and understood the various support networks available.
When our visitors were leaving, they told us that “The students were amazing – you have a great atmosphere at your school”. A student ambassador from Staffordshire University said “I have done various different events but this one is the only which will be memorable as I enjoyed it so much.”
Parents were then invited to our ‘Commit to Success’ evening which followed. Parents listened to our head teacher, Mr McArthur, and deputy headteacher, Mrs Deer, who spoke to the parents about our Commit to Success Programme featuring after school and weekend study classes and additional individual support available to our students. ‘2engage’ then performed for the parents clearly showing how higher education is easily accessible and dispelling the myths about higher education. Ed, Phil, Hayley and Louise (2engage) spoke to the parents at the end of the performance and said “We tour the whole country and when we do our performances to parents we rarely have more than 9 parents. We are very happy to see so many parents. It’s clear that Paulet has an outstanding relationship with their parents.”
Paulet thanks all those involved making the day a huge success.