How we engage with local schools and colleges

Working with schools

The University's Widening Participation and Outreach team delivers an important dimension of the University’s work in raising aspirations and attainment for students from a range of backgrounds. 

They work closely with primary and secondary schools in Guildford and across Surrey delivering a full programme activities for a range of different ages, constantly developing new activities aimed at introducing young people to university subjects, life, and pathways towards university.

In addition many University departments provide activity on and off campus for school children of all ages.

Find out more information about our work with schools or find the contact you need here 

Examples of current activities and initiatives

Supporting Kings College and the GEP MAT

Celebrating the University’s 50th anniversary by giving something back to the local community, a partnership with Kings College School, Guildford and the Guildford Education Partnership Multi Academy Trust (GEP Academies) has been formed. As part of this, our new Widening Participation Coordinator, Hannah Trott, who is based at Kings College, will focus on bridging the gap between higher education and school for Guildford’s young people and their guardians. This initiative aims to engage and inspire young people studying at Kings College into thinking about future educational pathways and to raise their aspirations.

Steve the Stag visits local primary schools

Steve the Stag, our student’s union mascot was recently out and about in Guildford meeting people and promoting our half term 50th anniversary competition. Steve paid a special visit to three local schools, visiting 600 children at St Thomas of Canterbury, Guildford Grove and Onslow Infants schools, to say hello and to tell people all about our 50th Anniversary year and what it’s like being at University.

Surrey Business School helps out in Knaphill

Knaphill Lower and Knaphill Junior Schools federated in March 2016 – a federation is one step short of a merger and is aimed at bringing schools closer together to share resources, best practice and so on. Like many organisations that come together, getting them to integrate and work together is a challenge and so Surrey Business School hosted a workshop for all staff from the two schools – including teachers, office staff and governors – with the aim of starting to build an ethos of working together.