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As part of Norfolk County Council's CU offer, we made early contact with the Outreach Office at the University of East Anglia (UEA), with whom we now have an on-going relationship. The UEA Outreach Office had good existing relations with many local schools, but their staff members were most interested in extending their links with KS2 schools. They were most attracted to the idea of a special Graduation day, and together we planned a whole day of activities that would culminate in the ceremony.
Monday 15 June was the chosen day, which was just after a number of students had left campus following their finals, but when a dozen or so UEA Student Ambassadors could be engaged for the day to host the children.
Most of the schools involved enthusiastically chose to attend, and we had almost 100 children arrive for the day. They all took part in a campus trail with the Student Ambassadors that introduced them to the university and gave them chances to chat to the students about campus life and higher education. After an early lunch they then attended either an aspirational collage session or made goo in one of the science labs. Both proved popular, and the children were fully engaged and excited when we came to the ceremony.
NCC had hired 24 gowns for the occasion, which were passed around the groups, and each child had a special photo taken (available to view in a secure location) as well as school group photos with caps aloft. Local press (EDP, Evening News) and TV (Anglia TV) responded enthusiastically to the occasion via NCC’s press office, and the resultant coverage was most positive, with the children’s obvious interest in university life and possibilities being the key message.
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