Day at University was a spark of aspiration for Northampton primary students

The University of Northampton fanned the flames of aspiration for around 300 Northamptonshire primary school children during the Ignite Your Future experience day this week.

The day included working with UON Student Ambassadors, a tour of the beautiful Waterside Campus, visiting the Faculty of Art Science and Technology (FAST) Degree show and experiencing workshops with academics and students.

Third year English Literature students Imogen Booker and Sharon White helped children explore the concept of monsters and what the literary device tells us about ourselves and human nature.

Barrister and Senior Law Lecturer Dominic Carrington, and Lynsey Ward, Solicitor and Associate Law Lecturer ran through the different types of lawyers, solicitors and barristers and the skills they need to gather information, advocate for their clients and to be persuasive in negotiations.

Sharon White and Imogen Booker, UON Third Year English Literature students explore the idea of monsters with Northampton primary school children.

Selena Smyth, year six teacher from Cedar Road Primary School, said: “They’ve been creating monsters in the English workshop, they had great fun with that, and we’ve just done some filming in the Creative TV and Film session which they were all thoroughly engaged with, it provided for them on every level.

“I know for many of them this will increase their aspiration because even at this age they start to think ‘what am I going to do, oh I’d really like to have a go at that,’ and it helps them to make good choices in education and in life.”

Carly Daniel, Technician Manager for Arts and Culture at UON, ran the Creative TV and Film experience. She said: “We been running a practical exercise in the TV studio where they’re working in small film crew groups to interview each other trying all the different roles, some of them are on the camera, some of them are looking at sound and some of them are being interviewed, it’s just about getting them to explore working as a team to create a film.

“It’s been really positive, they’ve been really engaged and really excited, very animated and willing to volunteer and try different things which has been lovely.”

10-year-old Summer from Briar Hill Primary School said: “It’s an awesome university, really big, full of opportunities. I want to become a teacher and I’d feel lucky if I came here.”

Natasha Mycawka, UON Schools Engagement Manager said: “Today we have ignited the spark in many of our visitors. It is very valuable and meaningful running Ignite Your Future for year sixes because they’re just about to transition into secondary school. They’ll be making decisions over the next few years about their future and seeing the reality of university life today will help them make those decisions.”

To find out more and how to get your school involved with the University, visit our Schools Engagement webpage.