Taste of university life for Shropshire pupils after Government cash boost
Shropshire pupils will be given a taste of university life thanks to a share of £22 million in Government money announced today.
Harper Adams already works with Wolverhampton, Keele and Staffordshire universities to help young people learn about further education.
Over the past 18 months they have involved primary school pupils in campus visits and subject tasters.
They will now share in the additional cash from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to expand into secondary schools, and work with older learners wishing to continue or return to study.
Lorraine Westwood, of Harper Adams University, said: "As a specialist university in the heart of Shropshire, drawing students from all over the country, we constantly face the challenge of trying to help busy teachers understand more about the career opportunities available in the land-based and food sectors.
"Via our involvement in these two networks we hope to make this information and access to our resources more readily available to schools and their pupils."
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said: "This is excellent news for Harper Adams, Newport and Shropshire as a whole.
"The Government is rightly investing in education and in this first class university and widening opportunity for all."
The Explore University scheme involves more than 200 higher education institutions around the country.
The extra money will be used to reach 4,300 secondary schools and colleges, and each group of universities will receive £120,000 to establish a single point of contact to help teachers and careers advisers.
