Outreach programme takes pupils to London

Local school children have visited University College London (UCL) as part of an LJMU widening access programme.

Access All Areas is an initiative from LJMU’s Outreach team which arranged the first university exchange for year 11 pupils.

Through the programme, LJMU works with local schools, Mosslands and West Derby to give year 9-11 pupils experience of higher education.

Each year, pupils are welcomed on to campus to gain insight into a variety of programmes, delivered by academics from subject areas including Health, Engineering, Policing and Education. The programme then culminates in a university exchange to UCL.

As part of the boys’ visit to UCL they toured the historic campus followed by a hands-on anthropology lecture, giving an insight into university level study. The pupils were introduced to a founding figure from UCL’s past, the skeleton of Jeremy Benham, (1748 – 1832) which is on public display in his original clothing.

Widening access to higher education

Catherine Shillito, from LJMU’s Outreach team, who leads on the programme said: “To see the boys, with whom we have worked regularly since Year 9, conclude the programme in another globally renowned university made for a memorable day.

“A key aim of the programme is for all pupils to realise their own potential and believe, as asserted by both LJMU and UCL, that university is for the many, not the few.

“Access All Areas equips young people with the skills to make an informed choice about university options and this reciprocal exchange model will see pupils engaged in widening access programmes with other UK universities visit LJMU in the future.

“We look forward to continuing to work with programme participants post sixteen and throughout their sixth form education.”