Living the Higher Life

High school and college students from all over the North West are descending upon Edge Hill in droves to sample a taste of university life.

The institution has been inundated with requests for students to attend their hugely successful residential schools that take place between February and November.

The schools allow 13 to 19-year-olds ? thinking about progressing on to university ? to experience campus life first hand, by immersing themselves in a higher education environment, practicing new study skills, attending lectures and getting to grips with student life.

Bill Johnson, Edge Hill?s Widening Participation and Access Co-ordinator, said: "Our residential events have really taken off over the last few years ? we?ve gone from just one event in 2002 to 15 this year, and from 50 students to 800.

"From Blackburn down to Warrington, Salford across into Liverpool, more and more students are asking to come onto our campus for either a day, overnight or a full week. I think the fact that our facilities are concentrated on one safe and secure campus is a real selling point ? not least for parents."

Such success coincides with Edge Hill?s commitment to encourage more and more young people from a variety of backgrounds into higher education, in line with the Government?s focus on raising aspirations and attainment levels.

"We now employ a team of full-time members of staff whose sole remit is to attract young people from under-represented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education," added Bill. "It?s very fulfilling from our perspective to be able to guide someone towards university who would not normally consider it to be an option.

"It?s about identifying potential and helping them to realise it."

Along with the scholarly activities, a number of the residential schools feature discos, film and quiz nights, bowling and other social events.

"As we all know, university isn?t all work and no play so we show students both sides of the experience. If they go away having made lots of new friends and with a clear idea of the benefits of higher education, then we?ve done our job."