Head start to higher education

Higher education was something Lizzie Webb hadn’t even considered as a student at Redcar and Cleveland College.

But after completing the HEadstart PHE (Preparation for Higher Education) module while at the college, Lizzie decided that university was for her - and is now a first year BA (Hons) Business Management student at our Teesside Business School.

The HEadstart programme enables college students to learn more about higher education by sampling a taste of university life though visits to lectures, completing assignments and working on group presentations.

Lizzie, 19, of Marske, said: ‘Before starting the module at college I wasn’t even thinking about university, but I really enjoyed learning what it involved and coming into lectures at Teesside. I decided that I wanted to go to university to give myself a few more choices at the end of it.’

The programme has also inspired Kirsty MacLeod, 19, of New Marske, to apply to the University to study business or human resources. She recently completed the PHE module at Redcar and Cleveland College.

She said: ‘I really enjoyed the essay writing and group presentations and coming into the University for lectures and open days.’

Gary Groom, Principal, Redcar and Cleveland College, said: ‘The programme is now being rolled out to other colleges across the Tees Valley. Redcar and Cleveland College is proud to have initiated this programme in partnership with the University and we’re exceptionally proud of our students who have achieved so much from it.’

Lesley Mulcahy, Senior Lecturer in the Business School, said the PHE module gives the college students real experience of being at university. She said: ‘It helps to give them the confidence to progress and an insight into higher education.’

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