News release: Breaking the mould for local youngsters

Abstract

Teachers Elaine Lane and Michael Gregson have gone back to the classroom as part of
an innovative new scheme to encourage their own students to enter higher education.
Elaine, who teaches at Whitehaven School and Michael, a lecturer at the Lakes College
have been awarded Excellence Fellowship Awards, funded by the Department for
Education and Skills. They will each be spending a term away from their pupils at the
University of Central Lancashire Cumbria Campus, completing projects designed to
help break down the barriers preventing local youngsters from non-traditional
backgrounds to go to university.
The University of Central Lancashire has received £60,000 from the DfES to fund the
scholarships and currently has four Excellence Fellows working with staff at the
University and with local education institutions in Cumbria and Lancashire. All four
Fellows will be talking about their research at a special event taking place at the
Cumbria Campus, Newton Rigg on Thursday 12 June.
Michael, who is researching into the barriers preventing pupils from lower socioeconomic
groups applying to university, says: "Progression to University nationally is
approximately 34% of those taking A Level type courses; in West Cumbria the% is
approximately 19%; we need to find out why this is and do something about it".
11 June2003
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Note for Editors: The Excellence Fellowship Seminar will be taking place on
Thursday 12 June 2003 at the Cumbria Campus, Newton Rigg from l.OOpm to
3.30pm. Please contact Pam Culley, Media & Public Relations, University of Central
Lancashire, tel: 01772 894425, for details of photo opportunities and for further
information.