Approximately 200 Year Five pupils from the Dorcan Academy’s five primary feeder schools took part in a mock graduation ceremony jointly organised by the Dorcan Academy in Swindon and the University of Bath.
The University works collaboratively with the Dorcan Academy to develop widening participation activities aimed at secondary and, in this case junior pupils, to give them an introduction to university life.
Pupils from the five feeder primary schools took part in the two ‘graduation ceremonies’ on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 March, attended by their parents, staff and pupils from the Dorcan Academy, student ambassadors (current University of Bath undergraduate and postgraduate students) and the University’s Widening Participation outreach team.
Leeanne Hunnex, Key Stage 4 Progression Leader said: “It is important to raise the aspirations and opportunity awareness of all young people, starting in primary school. As such I have worked collaboratively with Lauren Curtis on this project to develop a programme for Year Five students from our feeder primary schools which has gained positive responses from staff and students.”
This ‘graduation’ follows a series of visits, spread over three days, made by the Year Five primary pupils to the University. During their visits pupils worked with student ambassadors and Year Eight and Year Ten pupils from the Dorcan Academy to develop and produce videos which captured their thoughts and views about university life at this formative stage in their education.
The pupils also took part in a tour of the campus including the Library, Sports Training Village, Students’ Union and student accommodation facilities. The financial aspects of University life and the benefits of a University education were also explained to the pupils during their visit.
The primary school pupils spoke to student ambassadors and made videos about university life
Dr Scott Sissons, Head Teacher of the Dorcan Academy added: “We’ve been delighted to work in partnership with the University of Bath to provide pupils from our five feeder schools with the opportunity to visit and consider the opportunities that Higher Education provides.
“In a catchment area where the number of parents having experience of university themselves is less than half the national average and in a town with no university presence, such opportunities are absolutely vital.
“The response of the young people and their parents to this innovative project has been very positive and bodes well for an aspirational future for the young people in the Dorcan catchment area of Swindon.”
This event is an example of the work which is being undertaken by the University’s Widening Participation Office whose outreach officers work closely with local school on initiatives designed to widen participation by encouraging junior school pupils to raise their aspirations and secondary school pupils from under-represented groups to raise their attainment through subject specific interventions.
Head of Widening Participation at the University, Annette Hayton concluded: “There is strong evidence to suggest that we need to raise pupils’ aspirations much earlier, so the University’s outreach team now work with primary aged pupils as well as secondary and sixth form students.
“We appreciate that schools and parents play a key role in the decision making process so therefore it was important for parents to attend the event as well.”