Online events and activities
Click through the topic areas below for more information about our online events and activities.
To enquire about availability and to book any of these virtual activities for your school, please contact us via our Education Liaison email address.
Aspire to HE – Years 8 and 9
The Aspire to HE virtual event gives pupils the chance to investigate what university is like. Pupils will be guided by current EHU undergraduate students and staff through different activities which focus on the benefits of Higher Education, the different courses available, as well as understanding how their Key Stage 4 options are linked to Higher Education.
Please note that the event programme will be delivered via our virtual platform, Blackboard Collaborate, and will be a mix of both live and pre-recorded content with downloadable resources.
The dates of the 2020/21 first academic term’s Aspire to HE virtual events are as follows:
Wednesday 4th November 2020 (10am to 2.15pm)
Wednesday 9th December 2020 (10am to 2.15pm)
Schools who sign up to the event and are unable to attend the live components will be able to download recordings of those sessions (following the event day) until the end of the relevant month.
Please note, there are a limited number of places per school (30 pupils) with each event having a capacity of 150 pupils per day. We would request that students participating in the events meet one or more of our WP criteria.
To discuss this event further or for more information please contact educationliaison@edgehill.ac.uk.
StudySMART (formerly HE Futures) – Years 10 and 11
During the StudySMART virtual event, pupils will be guided by current EHU undergraduate students and staff through different activities which focus on the benefits of Higher Education, the different courses available, as well as understanding how to best support their current level of study through applying different learning techniques and using SMART targets.
Please note that the event programme will be delivered via our virtual platform, Blackboard Collaborate, and will be a mix of both live and pre-recorded content with downloadable resources.
The dates of the 2020/21 first academic term’s StudySMART virtual events are as follows:
Wednesday 2nd December 2020 (10am to 2.15pm)
Wednesday 16th December 2020 (10am to 2.15pm)
Schools who sign up to the event and are unable to attend the live components will be able to download recordings of those sessions (following the event day) until the end of the relevant month.
Please note, there are a limited number of places per school (30 pupils) with each event having a capacity of 150 pupils per day. We would request that students participating in the events meet one or more of our WP criteria.
To discuss this event further or for more information please contact educationliaison@edgehill.ac.uk.
Edge into Action programme – Years 9 to 11
The ‘Edge into Action’ programme gives students (from Year 9 to Year 11) the opportunity to identify and research a social or scientific topic area. The programme also encourages the students to develop specific skills that will be useful for the future, such as teamwork, leadership and critical thinking amongst others.
This programme takes place over the academic year (over approximately five to six months). Participating students will be invited to attend a virtual launch event on our online platform, where they will be given an overview of the programme, as well as workshops which will help prepare them for taking part in the project (e.g. conducting research, project planning, etc.)
It will be the responsibility of the students to conduct their project over the course of the academic year, with a pre-determined ‘check-in’ point being established during the programme for students to report back on what they have completed so far and to participate in a ‘Presentation Skills’ workshop.
Students will then be invited to attend a celebration event at the end of the programme where they will present their project to an assembled judging panel who will decide on a winning project out of all of the participating schools, as well as providing feedback to each group.
The programme event dates for the 2020/21 Edge into Action programme are as follows:
2020/21 Launch Event: 23rd October 2020
2020/21 Celebration Event: 21st May 2021
There are a limited number of places per school (10 pupils per group). However, schools can book up to 2 groups (based on availability of spaces when booking onto the programme). Students participating in the programme must meet one or more of our WP criteria.
Please note that for the first term of the academic year, the programme will be delivered via our virtual platform, Blackboard Collaborate, and will be a mix of both live and pre-recorded content with downloadable resources.
To discuss this programme further or for more information please contact educationliaison@edgehill.ac.uk.
EHU Literacy Challenge
The EHU Literacy Challenge is a monthly activity delivered to participating schools via newsletter and is designed to support the development of students’ literacy skills, as well as support them to find out information about subjects available to study at HE level.
Aimed at students in Key Stages 3 and 4, participating schools will receive a subject themed challenge each month for the academic year (from October to May 2021) which focuses on an aspect of literacy, as well as it’s importance to a particular subject area of study at HE level.
In addition to the monthly challenges, students will be encouraged to submit a piece of descriptive extended writing towards the end of the academic year which is influenced by their monthly subject themed answers.
Schools participating in the challenge will receive a link to downloadable resources for them to use for each monthly challenge. Resources will include powerpoint slides, downloadable worksheets, and other materials. The literacy challenge activities can be delivered according to schools’ preference and can be adapted to suit delivery in tutor or form times, as starter activities for lessons, or for use in after school extra-curricular activities.
To discuss participating in this activity or for more information, please contact educationliaison@edgehill.ac.uk.
HE Futures Plus programme
The HE Futures Plus programme is a sustained Widening Participation initiative which supports students from Year 9 through to Year 11 to find out more information about Higher Education and raise aspirations, whilst actively encouraging students to start planning to achieve their long term aims.
The programme includes the delivery of workshops and events which focus upon both the development of skills in the participating students, their plans for the future, and their knowledge of Higher Education. Eligible participating schools also receive priority access to some of our other pre-16 activities (Edge into Action), as well as support with parent and carer events.
To be eligible for the programme, schools will need to meet our Widening Participation criteria. Upon joining the programme, schools will then need to identify students meeting our WP criteria to join the programme. As HE Futures Plus is a sustained, progressive programme that is designed for students to build upon their knowledge year upon year, the same students should participate in the programme throughout.
If you would like to discuss the programme in more detail or identify if your school is eligible to participate, please contact our Widening Participation Officer, Anna Wooley.
Other Useful Resources
Webpages:
We have a host of useful and relevant videos and blogs available to watch around student life, course content and campus tours on our Edge Hill University YouTube channel.
As well as the Student Recruitment team’s virtual offer, our Faculty of Education has developed a dedicated ‘Links to Learning’ hub of resources to support engagement and learning over the coming months. The resources have been pooled from various sources and cover a wide range of different subject areas for students of all ages.
Students can also access our dedicated Your Future guide which provides guidance about Higher Education and also how GCSE and A Level/BTEC option choices relate to degree level study.
Virtual Session resources:
If you have attended or are planning to attend our Introduction to Higher Education and University virtual session, you may wish to read our Your Future Guide. The guide expands on the online sessions and provides guidance about Higher Education and also how GCSE and A Level/BTEC option choices relate to degree level study.
If you have attended or are going to attend our Your Future session, take a look at our careers resource sheet here.
If you have or are attending our Wellbeing and Moving Forward virtual workshop, you may wish to download our time management resource activity.
Online Safety Guidance
Edge Hill University’s Student Recruitment team understands the importance of young people being able to use the internet for education and personal development. This includes social media platforms, learning platforms, games and apps. We aim to support children and young people in making use of these in our work.
As such, we have developed guidance which aims to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people when using the internet, social media or mobile devices to access our virtual activities or content.
To find out more, please use the following links:
Online Safety Guidance
Online Safety – Code of Conduct for Young People
Online Safety – Information for Parents, Carers and Supporters
