School’s in for summer!

The Sutton Trust’s only Summer School in Scotland will once again run at the University of St Andrews this year.

The school, designed to encourage and support young people in their ambitions to higher education, is in its fifth year at St Andrews. Around 76 pupils from all over Scotland have been selected to participate in the scheme, which runs from Sunday 2-Friday 7 July 2006.

The Summer School is aimed at those who come from backgrounds with traditionally lower entry to higher education. This includes people from families with no history of attending university and those attending schools with low progression rates to higher education.

Jointly funded by the University of St Andrews and the Sutton Trust, the Summer School will offer those attending a taste of what life is really like as a university student. The would-be students (who will be in S6 upon their return to school in August) will study two subjects from a wide range across the University’s schools. Subjects available are Geoscience, Chemistry, Computer Science, Management, Biology, History, Physics, Maths, English, Classics and Psychology. In some cases, there will be lab or fieldwork as well as lectures and, in addition to the core subjects, all participants will be given advice on key skills needed at university, such as essay writing and note taking. The busy timetable is intended to reflect that of a first year undergraduate.

In order to get a complete taste for life as a student, the youngsters will stay in halls of residence, in common with first year students at St Andrews, giving them the opportunity to bond and form friendships as all groups of new students do. Social activities will be provided every evening of the week, and postgraduate and undergraduate students are employed to assist with all aspects of the Summer School.

The Sutton Trust supports several other such events in the UK (with institutions including the universities of Cambridge and Bristol), but St Andrews is the only Scottish institution involved.

Mike Johnson, Education Liaison Officer said, “Interest in the Summer School this year has been such that we have had more applicants than any other previous year. Not only has the number of applicants increased, the standard of applicant was very high, making selection extremely difficult. We are delighted that the Sutton Trust Summer School continues to make a real difference to the lives of pupils throughout the country in a very significant way”.

For further information, please contact Mike Johnson, Education Liaison Officer, Office for Scottish Recruitment and Access, University of St Andrews, St Katharine’s West 16 The Scores,St Andrews,KY16 9AX, 01334 462279 or email access@st- andrews.ac.uk.

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For further information, contact Claire Grainger, Press Officer on 01334 462529, 07730 415 015 or email [email protected] Ref: Sutton trust 2006.doc View the latest University press releases at http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk