Youngsters in Communities First Areas Get Taste of University Life

Children in Communities First areas in Wrexham had the chance to visit universities in North Wales and Chester in an effort to fire up their interest in Higher Education.

The visits were organised by learning officers in the Communities First clusters in Caia Park and Hightown and the Urban Villages, in conjunction with North Denbighshire Communities First.

The aim of the project is to encourage children from Communities First areas to think about their future career options, raise their aspirations and quash the idea that higher education is not meant for them.

It also helps parents find out more about how they can support their child to aim for university.

During visits to University of Chester and Bangor University, pupils learnt about academic life and also had the chance to visit on-campus facilities, giving them a taste of the university experience.

They also attended ‘graduation’ style events, where they were presented with their very own mortarboards.

The spring event saw the University of Chester host a visit from 29 pupils from Gwenfro Primary School and six parents.

They also attended interactive sessions learning about the different types of study offered at the University, led by student ambassadors and university staff.

Sean Williamson, Outreach Manager at the University of Chester, said: “It was a great opportunity for us to welcome pupils and parents from Gwenfro Primary School to the University of Chester, and we’re delighted to hear so many of the group enjoyed the visit.

“We wish all the pupils well in their next step into Secondary School, and we hope to see them all in the future.”

Also paying visits to the University of Chester were pupils from schools at Brynteg and Penycae, while Ysgol Bodhyfryd and Ysgol Min Y Ddol visited Bangor University.

Anna McDonald, of Bangor University, said: “We were very happy to welcome both pupils and their parents to Bangor University recently. During their visit, pupils and their parents experienced what university life is really like.

“The day also helped to raise their aspirations and gave them a better understanding of higher education, and how going to university can create many opportunities and open more doors .
“We wish them all the best in the next stage of their education.”

Thomas Evison, Year 5 and 6 teacher at Min Y Ddol, said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and that was obvious with all of them flat out on the bus on the way home! I’m sure it has inspired most of the children to think about University and that was great to see.”

The Communities First programme is a flagship Welsh Government Scheme which aims to tackle poverty and support some of the most vulnerable people living in deprived areas.

Across Wales programme has 52 Communities First Clusters – with several areas of Wrexham taking part in the scheme.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “We at Wrexham Council want every child in Wrexham to set high ambitions for themselves and to fulfil their aspirations – no child, regardless of the economic background of their home, should rule themselves out of Higher Education by default.”

Cllr Michael Williams, Lead Member for Education, added: “Children should never feel that Higher Education is not for them purely because of status alone – if they feel it could help them in their future careers, there should be no obstacle preventing them from reaching university.

“Education is all about getting children where they want to go, be that professional training, apprenticeships or Higher Education – as such, it is vital that children from Communities First areas be shown that they have just as much of a chance of getting to university as anyone else.”