Over 100 youngsters from inner-city primary schools in Bristol will experience a taste of university life today [Friday 6 May] when they take part in a special degree graduation ceremony at Bristol University together with parents and teachers.
The seven- and eight-year-olds from Gay Elms, Hareclive, Headley Park and Teyfant Primary Schools have taken part in a project aimed at giving them an early introduction to how inspiring university life can be. The children have worked alongside academic departments observing aspects of University life that they were then asked to record in a ‘University Big Book’.
The project, run jointly by Bristol University and the University of the West of England, has been operating in the Success@ Excellence in Cities Action Zone, an initiative aimed at raising standards in schools across Hartcliffe and Withywood.
Having made their own mortar boards, the children will go to the Tyndall Lecture Theatre, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, where they will be presented with their certificates by Hamish McDonald, Director of Excellence in Cities. Heather Tomlinson, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning, Bristol City Council, will also be present at the ceremony.
Lucy Collins, Schools Liaison Officer at Bristol University and co-ordinator of the event, said: "This particular scheme is part of an ongoing partnership between Bristol University, UWE and Success@ and it is the first time it has led to a formal graduation ceremony.
“We hope the ceremony will be a fantastic event. It’s a great end to a really successful project and we are delighted that so many parents and teachers will be able to watch their children graduate from the programme. It’s important that university and higher education become familiar concepts from an early age and we hope that the project continues to flourish next year.”
Terry Williamson, Director of Success@, said: “Both universities have been very supportive of the schools and the student ambassadors were outstanding in the way they have motivated and worked alongside the pupils.”