University ‘a natural step’ for SW1 pupils
Share
University ‘a natural step’ for SW1 pupils
https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/university-natural-step-sw1-pupils
Rachel Allard, headteacher, says many local parents send their children to private schools, leaving her with a more challenging intake than the postcode suggests. And with Victoria Station just down the road, the Church of England girls’ comprehensive attracts students from all over London.
Nevertheless, 84 per cent of the students in the mixed sixth form go on to university. “All those who want to go, do so, on the whole,” Mrs Allard said.
“We have quite a lot of students who think about university from the time they enter school. They help teachers to create the expectation that it is the natural next step. It’s not peer pressure, it’s peer encouragement.”
For the students who are the first in their families to contemplate taking a degree, the school has a member of staff involved in the Aimhigher project to offer information and encouragement. However, Mrs Allard said that despite the HEFCE report’s finding that tuition fees were not deterring students, fear of debt incurred by university fees remained a major worry among poor families.
You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get: