University students help Rochdale pupils to aim higher

Some of Rochdale's bright young pupils are about to get the extra encouragment they need to go on to higher education.

The Aimhigher scheme will see some of Rochdale's successful University students visit schools in the town to talk to youngsters about making the next step.

Four high schools are taking part, as is Hopwood Hall College, and a selection of pupils from each will get advice from the older students, who will share their University experiences with the youngsters.

The project is part of a Government scheme to target young people that the schools feel have the potential to go on to University.

One of the students that has volunteered to go into schools is 26-year old Steven Crossley, a former Falinge Park High School pupil who is now studying a history and politics degree at the University of Salford. He will be going back to Falinge to talk about University life.

"I will be in school sitting down with about eight pupils in Year 10 that the school feels could go on to higher education but perhaps feels they need that extra bit of encouragement to go through with it," he said. "I'm basically there to talk to them about the 'University of Life'."

Steven will host 12 weekly sessions with the pupils, as well as having one to one sessions and talking to them via an online mentoring system. He hopes his participation in the project will help with his future career prospects. "I finish University this summer and I'm currently looking for work with schools in America, this experience can only help with that."

Marek Baranski, Rochdale's Aimhigher co-ordinator, is hoping to build a closer relationship between schools and universities through the scheme. "It's all about helping these children through to the next level so we want to put the emphasis on working with students that were in a similar situation to them when they were at school," he said.