Following the publication of the Gatsby
benchmarks in 2014, schools have increasingly
sought to work with partners from the world
of higher education to inform and educate
their students on the fantastic opportunities
available.
Higher education providers receive multiple
requests on a daily basis from partners in
schools for events on site with the school, and
also on site at universities. Owing to the volume
of requests, allied to staffing and logistical
arrangements, recruitment and outreach teams
will often have to prioritise events to ensure that
they are delivering a good return on investment.
On university websites you will find email
addresses for recruitment and outreach teams
that will be ready and willing to listen to your
requests – or you can also use the free event
request service on UniTasterDays.com. I would
always recommend planning in advance to
secure attendance to your event – waiting until
the last minute may result in disappointment.
The more lead time you can give, the more
chance of securing the experts!
• The year group(s) that will be attending.
• The approximate number of students or
parents that will be in attendance.
• The service required from the higher
education institution (e.g. attendance at
a careers fair, delivery of a presentation, a
workshop, mock interviews, attendance at
a parents evening, etc.).
• The time of the session(s) and if this is to
be repeated, how many times?
• What IT facilities will be available,
particularly for workshops and
presentations.
• Will car parking be provided?
• For longer events, will refreshments or
lunch be provided for university staff in
attendance?
It is also crucial to consider the timing of the
event! Does the event need to last all day, or
can it be shortened into a more concise event?
If parents are to attend, are they going to attend
immediately after the end of the school day
or is there going to be a gap before a parental
session?
• The year group(s) that will be attending.
• The approximate number of students that
will be in attendance.
• What activities you require from the
university.
• The time of the planned arrival and
departure.
The best relationships between schools and
universities evolve over years, often with
activities repeated on an annual basis. This is
built upon an ever-strengthening relationship
and the knowledge of activities that are
mutually beneficial for the school, the students
and/or parents involved, and the university.
In my experience, Key Stage 3 students in particular can often be poorly prepared for careers fair events. You may therefore wish to build short presentations into the programme where colleges, universities, training providers and others can provide some event context and the types of questions students could ask. This will enable students to benefit more from the experts in attendance.