“The project was a real success, with our students getting a lot out of the residential trip. The students impressed the university staff with their enthusiasm and high quality answers. We hope to plan similar experiences in the future.”
Thomas Reader, Expanding Horizons Leader at Ulverston Victoria High School in Westmorland and Furness, applied for funding to take a target group of learners on a two night residential course at Aberystwyth University to carry out a local fieldwork project. The course will link to the GCSE Geography course these learners are studying.
As well as providing the opportunity to improve geography knowledge and skills, the residential opportunity at a university will give learners a taste of undergraduate life. Those attending will benefit from workshop participation, building their team work skills and confidence, as well as help to improve their outcomes at GCSE.
Trustees appreciated the targeted nature of this bid, in terms of learners and a specific subject area contributing towards a pilot that would then allow the school to decide whether to fund further opportunities (in other subject areas for example) in future. The trustees were impressed by the short, medium and long term impact measures outlined in the bid.
