Future focus for Greater Manchester students

Activities explore higher education options

The future is now for Greater Manchester students who took part in a series of higher education events with UCEN Manchester.

Working in partnership with Greater Manchester Higher, a collaborative network that helps people access higher education, schools and colleges were invited to Openshaw campus to take part in activities focusing on future choices and accessing higher education.

Year 8 and 9 pupils from All Saints Catholic College in Dukinfield took part in a GCSE Choices Day to encourage school pupils to think about the decisions they may make during their educational journey and how their GCSE choices could inform their future.

Pupils took part in workshops and activities, including options quizzes and designing their own university society, enjoyed a drama performance from 2Engage and spoke to current university students about their experiences of studying at degree level.

David Riley, Head of Year 8 at All Saints Catholic College, said:

Our pupils are currently doing their GCSE options so events like these are a really helpful way to support them in making choices based on evidence. It also gives them great insight into their future pathways.

Students from Loreto College, Manchester Enterprise Academy and Great Ashton Academy also took part in an Enterprise Skills day with former The Apprentice contestant Adam Corbally.

The inspirational speaker and entrepreneur hosted UCEN Manchester’s Enterprise Project at the Openshaw Campus offering specialist advice to young entrepreneurs. He challenged up to 100 students to create a product idea, develop a brief and pitch to a board of ‘Dragons Den’ style judges.

Sophie Heaton, Higher Education Outreach Officer for UCEN Manchester, said: “These events are our way of showing pupils and students how accessible higher education actually is and to encourage them to start thinking about their future sooner.

“A lot of pupils might come from backgrounds where no one in their family or community has been to university or studied at a higher level so this is a way of breaking down any barriers that may be stopping them from reaching their full potential.”

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