News release: Teachers go back to University to encourage students

Abstract

The University of Central Lancashire has been selected to take part in an innovative scheme
allowing teachers to spend time back at University, looking at ways of encouraging their
own students to come into higher education.
Excellence Fellowship A wards will be offered to teachers in areas where there is
traditionally a low take-up in university places, in the hope of giving teachers the
opportunity to spend a term away from their school or further education college, working
on projects that will encourage pupils to aim higher and go to university.
The Government's message is that, by the year 2010, 50 percent of young people should be
entering higher education, and this new initiative will complement much of the current
work being done by the University in knocking down barriers and increasing access to
pupils from low participation neighbourhoods. Over the past four years the University has
worked, with local colleges, in partnership with Education Action Zones in Cumbria on
projects such as the U-Can@UCLan summer school, aimed at 12-16 year olds, and on the
employment of students from the University to go into local schools and to act as role
models to help raise the aspirations of the pupils.
The University has received £60,000 to operate the pilot scheme over the next two years
and is the only University in Cumbria and Lancashire to be selected to participate by the
Department of Education and Skills. Teachers chosen for the award will be expected to
share the benefits of their fellowships with schools and colleges in their local area.
Director for Cumbria Professor Norman Burrow said, "This is great news for Cumbria.
Participation in higher education by young people in Cumbria is lower that almost
anywhere in the country, even though there is quite a lot of opportunity in the county,
particularly at our Cumbria Campus at Newton Rigg. This initiative will help us to reach
young people in a very positive way through their teachers."
7 March 2002
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Note: For further information, please contact Head of External Relations, Lynne
Duckworth on tel: 01772 893852