Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the restrictions of lockdown, many young people have missed opportunities to learn from their teachers and higher education outreach staff, therefore most importantly missing out on firsthand experiences of further and higher education. Adapting successfully to online learning was not a reality for all students, as research by The Sutton Trust and The Edge Foundation has shown that those most disadvantaged have had the most barriers to online learning.
With students now back in school there is the opportunity to fill the knowledge gap but be mindful of health and safety restrictions. Furthermore, there is the opportunity to not only continue to support remote learning at home, but also blended classroom delivery as requested by Uni Connect Outreach Hub network of teachers and careers leads.
This autumn AccessHE are pioneering a series of interactive live events, streamed directly into London classrooms. These sessions are designed to help current year 13s and 12s catch up with the HE admissions process and will:
- Meet Gatsby Benchmark 7 from the comfort of your classroom
- Allow live interactions with external speakers without safeguarding concerns
- Provide impartial advice and information for all students considering pathways through higher education in a COVID-secure environment
The sessions will be co-delivered by the AccessHE student advocates , who are student ambassadors from Middlesex University, University of Westminister, Royal Veterinary College, London Metropolitan University, Queen Mary University of London, Urdang Academy, London School of Economics and University of East London.
The student advocates will not only be able to answer questions on topics such as personal statements and how to navigate university choice, but will also be able to represent to prospective students experiences of how universities are currently managing the COVID-19 pandemic. This collaborative effort demonstrates continued support by London higher education providers for schools and young people.
