BCU workshops at Fairfax – Young students at had an insight into life beyond school when they took part in a day of fun workshops run by an outreach team ‘BCU Accelerate’ from Birmingham City University (BCU).
BCU has been partnered with Fairfax since January 2023, and running all kinds of enrichment events, trips and residentials to get school-age children thinking about their future and career prospects.
On Friday, April 19, Year 7 students were given an introduction to what university life entails – through videos, quizzes and games.
They were split into competitive teams named after courses offered by BCU, such as criminology, art and design, health sciences, stage management and policing.
BCU’s Outreach Assistant, Catherine Aldridge-Nadin, said: “We have actual university students volunteering with the schools, which is really important.
“We want the children to see anyone can go to university, no matter their background.
“Research says it’s beneficial to introduce younger children to their higher education options, as it gives them a greater understanding, and more time to think about their future.”
BCU is part of the Widening Participation initiative – the nationwide effort of universities to reach out to pockets of the population who rarely go to university.
BCU workshops at Fairfax introduce younger students to the idea of higher education
Fairfax Careers Advisor, Pauline Knowles, said: “BCU have been great – they’ve been so innovative. It’s wonderful to see them encouraging students of all backgrounds to consider university as an option. The children have been very engaged.”
Pauline also said introducing children to the concept of higher education at a younger age is helpful.
She said: “Some students make it to Year 11 and have no idea what they want to do, because the idea hasn’t been introduced to them.
“With outreach programmes like BCU’s, I’ve been seeing a difference. Students know more clearly what they want to do.
“It gives them motivation, a sense of purpose and a better attitude at school, because they know what they need to achieve to reach their dream job.
“It also helps them decide whether to move to college or stay at sixth form – rather than just staying with what they know, they can make an informed decision based on their future.
“Events like these BCU workshops at Fairfax really help sow that seed, which we hope will grow over the next few years.”