Latest news from the Widening Participation Office

wp-activity The University campus was particularly busy during November and December as it played host to over 70 Primary and over 150 Secondary school pupils.

The pupils were invited to the University by the Widening Participation Office as a significant element of its activities includes working collaboratively with local schools and colleges. School pupils who met our widening participation criteria were identified by teachers from our collaborating schools and colleges and encouraged to take part in aspiration and attainment raising initiatives.

Over 15 schools from B&NES, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire attended 4 subject specific taster days, two STEM Challenge Days and a Campus Visit. For the first time, the parents and guardians of the primary school pupils also attended an event. A separate session was held especially for them with the express purpose of dispelling any pre-conceived barriers to participation.

Year 10 and 12 pupils were exposed to a mixture of activities at these taster events. With an emphasis on having fun, they participated in ‘hands on’ activities relating to Engineering, Social Sciences, Sports Sciences and Maths. Students also got the opportunity to interact with University lecturers such as Aydin Nassehi, Caroline Hickman and James Betts and, where appropriate, work in laboratories using state of the art equipment and tools. Future career pathways were also explored during the Maths workshop which was run by Patt Cobb and Kevin Lord of the Further Maths Support Organisation.

Julie Hogan, Assistant Principal at Yate International Academy (Woodlands Primary Phase) said:

“I wanted to reaffirm what a great day we all had. Both children and parents thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were talking very positively about the experience. Thank you so much for a very well organised day; your ambassadors were lovely. I'd also like to share with you that the visit to the University of Bath has had a profound effect on one of our children. He has turned from being negative about learning to believing that if he wishes to do well in life and go to university then he needs to focus on his studies. It has been inspiring to see.”

Gemma Palmer and Lauren Curtis are currently pulling together the Spring Term Taster Day programme and we continue to develop additional collaborations with other local schools, colleges and Universities including Exeter, Bristol and Oxford.

Annette Hayton, Head of Widening Participation added,

"The Widening Participation and Learning Partnerships Office teams have been very busy over the last few months getting our section up and running as well as recruiting the team. I am pleased to say that we have recently appointed the new Widening Participation Programmes Manager, another Outreach Officer and some additional admin support which will enable us to increase our activities".

Please refer below for the latest developments within the WPO.

If you would like further information regarding any aspect of our widening participation delivery please email Annette Hayton in the Widening Participation Office on arh39@bath.ac.uk.