Hartlepool students experience life at top universities

Hartlepool Sixth Form College’s Honours Prgramme, is about raising the aspirations of its students and helping them aim for the best universities.

As part of the programme young people have been visiting universities, including Cambridge, Edinburgh and Nottingham.

Ben Robinson, director of school liaison, progression and transition, at the college, said: “More students than ever have been accepted onto prestigious university programmes, these include the Sutton Trust Summer School Programme, which allows students to study for up to two weeks at a Russell Group institution.

“The Honours Programme is to give students a competitive edge when it comes to applying to the most prestigious universities in the country.

“Students have been visited by four of the five top universities in the country, as rated by the Times Good University Guide, 2016, and worked closely with local Russell Group universities, such as Durham and Newcastle.

“The college has hosted visitors from St Andrew’s, the London School of Economics and both Oxford and Cambridge.”

Mr Robinson said students committed to studying medicine have been part of the pre-professional courses scheme and all of the college’s honours students are encouraged to secure work experience to support their university applications.

Another programme launched at the college this academic year is the RAY, Raising Aspirations Youth, programme, aimed at stretching and challenging youngsters across the town in a way that is both highly academic and lots of fun.

Mr Robinson said: “We hope to help them develop the skills they need to succeed to the very best of their academic ability. The first year of the RAY programme has been an overwhelming success.”

He said the college welcomed 90 Year 9 students from High Tunstall College of Science, Northfield School & Sports College, Manor Community Academy, St Hild’s Church of England School and Wellfield Community School, to take part in the programme.