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Doncaster Pupils Aimhigher with Interactive Roadshow

From 26 May pupils from seven schools and colleges will be given advice and guidance on applying to university at the Aimhigher roadshow - the largest of its kind in Europe - continues its tour of England.

Aimhigher is a national Government-funded campaign designed to reach out to young people with little or no family experience of higher education. It involves mentoring, summer schools, open days and visits to universities.

This week's roadshow is designed with young people in mind and uses the latest technology, such as DVDs, plasma screens, laptops and interactive voting systems to get its message across and make learning about university a fun experience.

It is hosted by a recent graduate, who can give first hand knowledge of the application procedure and life at university.  Throughout the day they are available to answer questions and provide support to anyone keen to apply but unsure where to start. This approach has had an impressive success rate in the past, with feedback from the 2008/9 tour revealing a 39 per cent positive shift in students' attitudes towards Higher Education following their roadshow experience.

Roadshow facilitator Sarah Whitehead, originally from Leeds and a graduate of Loughborough University, explains:

"The aim of the roadshow is to raise aspirations and provide young people with information about Higher Education. Many of the young people I meet are unaware of all the options available to them. The roadshow takes students outside of the classroom environment and provides them with an informative, fast-paced presentation focusing on the different routes into Higher Education and the flexibility that university can offer.

I include aspects of my personal experience when speaking to the pupils and because I am close to their age they seem to find it easier to speak to me and they aren't afraid to ask me the questions that they really want answering. Speaking to them on their level reiterates the fact that university can be an option for them all, regardless of their background.

The high-tech vehicle really impresses the students. They love the bean bags and the environment, which seems to make them feel relaxed and they open up more as a result. It really is a great resource that can positively influence young people's futures."

This year's tour is expected to reach more than 700 young people nationwide every day during term time, and will continue to expand and grow over the next two years.

It forms an important part of the wider Aimhigher programme, showing young people the benefits a higher education can bring: including enhanced career opportunities with a wide range of courses, and an average of £100,000 more in earnings over a lifetime.

May 2010

The schools and colleges participating in the event are:

Hungerhill School, Hall Cross School, Don Valley School, Mexborough School, Danum School Technology College, Campsmount Technology College and Sir Thomas Wharton Community College