Pupils have the vision

Year 9 students from Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton schools were invited to attend the Vision Conference, organised by the University and Aimhigher Black Country.

The conference ran over two days and was attended by 22 schools.

The event started with a lively production by Impact Theatre, followed by a session run by Positively Mad, a leading education service providerwho ran an ‘Exam Busting’ session showing students some exam techniques to help them with their revision. Interactive workshops run by University staff, covering a range of topics from British Sign Language to Video & Film, were also held throughout the two days.

Bryan Fryer, Education Guidance Officer for Schools and Colleges Partnerships at the University, said: “The Vision Conference offers young people in the Black Country an opportunity to take part in fun learning activities and to see what university life is really like. It gives young people the chance to make a better informed choice about their own future.”

Natalie Latham, Schools Co-ordinator for Aimhigher, said: “The Vision Conference is a fantastic opportunity for what is most probably many young peoples first experience of University. The conference is designed to portray higher education as a realistic, worthwhile and enjoyable option for all students.”

This was the fifth year of the collaboration as part of Aimhigher, which is a national government programme to raise the aspirations of young people who are capable of attending university but may not have considered it as a real option.

The activities funded by Aimhigher Black Country aimed to show the pupils what they can achieve and broaden their horizons. The conference on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 January was part of a wider programme of activities, including residential visits to universities.

For further information please contact Bryan Fryer 01902 321029

Picture: Students from Moseley Park School, Northicote School, Smestow School and Highfields School preparing and producing a news broadcast

Further information