North-East teenagers sign up for a Summer School

Over 100 North-East teenagers will take part in the University of Teesside’s second Excellence in Cities Summer School, from Monday 7 July-Friday 12 July, as part of the Government’s Excellence in Cities initiative. Teesside was one of the first North-East Universities to host the scheme in 2001. The pupils, aged 15 and 16, have recently completed their GCSEs and will come from the Tees Valley, Darlington, Thirsk and Northumberland, and will have access to the University’s facilities throughout the week.

Funding for 88 of the pupils was provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and the University of Teesside funded the remainder. Places are allocated to pupils from homes with no tradition of higher education, where neither parents nor siblings have been to University. One of the pupils' activities is to undertake a group project, designing a course for 2020 AD, focusing on marketing, career opportunities and employability. Other activities include the following debates:

Counterfeit goods: harmless or a threat to society?
The legalisation of drugs - should all drugs which are currently illegal be legalised?

The pupils will also:

Build and design a computer game.
Explore Radiography as a career, based in the School of Health's Radiography laboratories.
Examine the tabloid and broadsheet media, looking at headlines, newspaper history and copywriting
Undertake Computer Aided Manufacturing with the School of Science & Technology's state-of-the art facilities.
Take part in sports, yoga and stress management.

The pupils will also complete a Big-Brother style video, giving their opinions on the Summer School. It won't be all work and no play for the group, as they will also enjoy three Social evenings: a formal dinner, bowling at Teesside Park and a farewell party.

Sharon Young, Schools & Colleges Liaison Officer said: "Our lecturers are looking forward to working with students from across the North-East. The Summer School will offer an exciting and varied week of activities, to raise students' aspirations and motivate them towards further study."

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