LJMU welcomed almost five hundred Year 11 pupils to its Future Focus Days as part of the university’s sustained widening access programme, giving young people an insight into the opportunities higher education can offer.   

The outreach team have been working with 17 schools in the Liverpool City Region to provide pupils from under-represented backgrounds the opportunity to experience first-hand what life at university is like. Pupils interacted with LJMU between Year 9 to 11, taking part in a series of on campus and in school activities, developing their knowledge and understanding in order to help them make informed decisions about their future.

Catherine Shillito, Widening Participation Account Manager said:"The LJMU Future Focus days have been running for almost ten years now and give Year 11 pupils the opportunity to try out a number of subject based taster sessions prior to making key decisions surrounding their Level 3 options. Crucial to the success of these events is the input of our own student body here at LJMU. Student Advocates do an excellent job in raising aspirations and acting as effective role models for school pupils, passionately representing their subject to prospective students. Outreach with schools in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the city region is crucial in supporting social mobility and providing equality of opportunity for all."  

Anya Koermer, Careers Manager, Deyes High School said:
“LJMU has supported many of our students over a number of years, the outreach programme has opened the eyes of our widening participation pupils to the many possibilities within higher education whilst ensuring our pupils are given the skills and information to make informed decisions about their future. We value that John Moores is genuinely interested in supporting us and our students and the team always have the flexibility to support us in raising the aspirations of all our pupils".

LJMU runs a number of widening participation initiatives to support the objectives committed to in the institutional Access and Participation Plan, informed by Office for Students guidance. Access All Areas, Step Up and Skills for U are new sustained access programmes, which will see the outreach team, student advocates and faculty staff continue to work with pupils from the schools engaged in the future focus days. 

If you would like further information or be involved in LJMU Outreach Team’s activities, please call 0151 904 6384/6385 or email: outreach@ljmu.ac.uk