Darlington students set their sights on higher education

Students at a Darlington school are already thinking about higher education thanks to their involvement with the University.

And as Teesside prepares to open its new University campus in Darlington, children at Corporation Road Primary School are looking ahead to the future with raised aspirations.

The partnership with the University came about following a scheme developed by Darlington Council called Embedding the Link, which involved children from Darlington schools creating cartoon characters and producing a DVD focusing on the careers they hoped to pursue.

Through this, Corporation Road School became involved in the University’s successful Meteor and Summer University schemes, which aim to raise the aspirations of children who otherwise might not have considered higher education.

And now the working partnership between the school and University has been praised in Corporation Road School’s Ofsted report.

The Ofsted report highlights the success of initiatives which allow pupils to work with Teesside to explore future careers and develop skills in information and communication technology (ICT), meaning that pupils are equipped satisfactorily for their future economic well-being. The report also praises the ‘well-planned enrichment activities’ including visits to the University and opportunities to get involved in enterprise activities and learn about the wider world.

Crucial in raising aspirations Ann Pringleton, Deputy Head Teacher, Corporation Road Primary School, said: ‘The opportunity for the children to work with Teesside University has been crucial in raising their aspirations as they now see going into higher education as an option open to them.

‘Visiting the University, meeting students and lecturers, being allowed to access facilities and gaining an insight into the career opportunities open to them has resulted in children aspiring to be doctors, lawyers, hairdressers and vets. More importantly, the children see university as attainable, an option open to them, if they want to pursue it.’ Corporation Road Primary School pupil Shanice Pudge, 10, said: ‘Before we visited Teesside University, some of the children said they wanted to be footballers, singers or models, but now they want to go to study to be lawyers, teachers and doctors.’

Joe Bulmer, from the University’s Schools & Colleges Partnerships team, added: ‘The University’s work with schools strives to help break down barriers to higher education and raise the aspirations of young people.’

Teesside University’s new £13m campus, which is due to open in Darlington this summer, has been funded by the University, One North East, via Tees Valley Unlimited and Darlington Council and is closely supported by Darlington College.

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