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22 Jun 2010 11:12:09
Youngsters from Barnfield West Academy took their first steps towards university when they visited the Luton campus as part of an initiative with Aimhigher.
A total of 84 year-9 students toured the library, lecture rooms and study pods, learned about the range of courses on offer and what life is like for students who come to the University of Bedfordshire.
To make the visit more interactive, the pupils were asked to design a University-themed T shirt featuring a personalised logo and slogan and create a computer-generated Tamagotchi student that had to confront numerous challenges.
Mark Cronin, Barnfield West Academy assistant principal, said the event was an eye opener for many children. When the pupils went into a lecture theatre, for example, they started to sit boy next to girl as they would at school until they were told they could sit where they like.
“Children at that age are still quite naïve,” said Mark. “But they were very interested in what they saw and asked a lot of questions, which is very encouraging. The message from the day is that there is a place for everyone at university.”
Pam Chandler, career connection manager at the Academy added: “I think a lot of children will have known that there was a university here but this visit has given them an insight into the life of the student and the attributes needed by them to go to university. And having a university of this quality on their doorstep is obviously very attractive.”
Pupil Dayne, 14, who is aiming for a degree in media or filmmaking said: “The university is not as scary as I thought it would be and I like it that you are treated more like an adult at university.”
Tyler, 13, said he hoped to study teaching at university when he is older. “It was interesting to see the lecture theatres, the pods, and where the students study. I would definitely like to come to this University.”
Aimhigher encourages young people to think about the benefits and opportunities stemming from higher education, especially young people from families with no tradition of higher education.
