This month, Kent proudly welcomed 55 Year 10 students (aged 15 and 16) for a three-day residential summer school, an inspiring introduction to university life. Delivered by the Outreach team and supported by academic schools and student ambassadors, this annual event is designed for students from local schools, particularly those who may face barriers to accessing higher education.
‘The aim is to convey as much of a university experience as possible, to give young people who, due to systemic barriers, may not have previously considered that higher education was for them,’ explained Claire Allison, Head of Outreach and Widening Participation.
Participants are immersed in every aspect of student life, from academic workshops and seminars to social events and independent living. The packed timetable began with icebreakers and a campus tour, followed by a range of hands-on sessions, including The Maths Behind Game Shows, Film Production, Blackout Poetry, and BioBlitz Bingo. Students then collaborated on a group creative project, which culminated in a showcase for their parents and carers on the final day.
Of course, university is as much about community as it is about study. Evenings featured society taster sessions, a lively quiz night at Woody’s—our popular campus sports café—and a formal dinner followed by a disco at the Sports Pavilion. Outreach staff and ambassadors joined the dancefloor fun before ensuring everyone was safely back in halls for lights out at 11pm.
Participants were also encouraged to practice independence and budgeting: while breakfasts and dinners were provided, each participant received a KentOne card with a set allowance to spend on lunches, giving them a taste of real campus life.
‘Most of the students arrive feeling a bit nervous or unsure what to expect. By the end of the summer school we see a real transformation in their confidence and the belief that university can be for them,’ Outreach Officer Nicola Ballantine said. ‘A large key to the success of the Year 10 Summer School is the connection that our Ambassadors build with the students over the course of the week.’
This year, one of those Ambassadors, Owen Craycraft, was once a Year 10 Summer School participant himself. Owen who is now a Kent Computing student, returned to the same programme he experienced as a teenager as a Kent ambassador, paying it forward to the next generation as well as gaining valuable experience for his CV. These ambassadors work on a variety of residentials throughout the summer months, such as the ‘’Ambition to Succeed’ Year 12 programme currently being enjoyed on campus this week by 60 students from local schools and colleges. Providing young people with a taster of university life is evidenced as being really impactful in supporting their progression to Higher Education, by developing both their sense of belonging and confidence, and broadening their academic horizons.
One participant summed up the impact of the experience perfectly:
‘I didn’t want to go to uni —I wanted to go straight into an apprenticeship. But I came here, and after the tours, and after the seminars and everything, I felt comfortable. When we learnt about breaking barriers, I took that all in because it helped me. It showed you the perspective of breaking barriers in life, in general. And that was really good.’
From new friendships to newfound aspirations, Kent’s Summer School continues to open doors —and minds—for young people across our region.
