The School of Law, Politics and Sociology (LPS) welcomed 30 secondary school students last month, when the Department of Politics hosted an Election Special as part of the University’s First-Generation Scholars scheme. 

Year 10 students from Ratton School and Felpham Community College visited the University on 21 April and took part in two workshops designed to complement their Key Stage 4 Citizenship classes and boost their political awareness. 

The workshops, which were created specifically for the event by Politics faculty and PhD students, focussed on political parties, voters and elections, as well as the media, campaigning and democratic engagement. 

Students from both schools felt that the sessions equipped them with a greater understanding of political parties, the importance of voting and the influence of the media – and 87% of attendees agreed they found the event interesting. 

During the visit, pupils also learnt more about university life from student ambassadors, who shared their experience as part of the First-General Scholars scheme, which aims to promote fair access to higher education for all. 

A number of attendees agreed that the event had a beneficial effect on their self-confidence and increased their awareness of university life. While some already planned to attend university, many more said that the day had encouraged them to think about university as an option in the future. 

The University’s evaluation report emphasised the success of the event, noting that feedback from the students involved had been very positive. 

The report concluded: “The event ensured a sometimes overlooked core curriculum subject was delivered in an enjoyable and relatable way.”