London Education Partnership Awards celebrates enthusing young people about science - <em>News</em>
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Thursday 26 June 2008
By Naomi Weston
A bursary programme pioneered by Imperial College London’s Outreach Office which encourages students to take up A-level mathematics has won a prestigious award at the London Education Partnership Awards.
The awards ceremony, held on Tuesday 17 June, celebrated success in enthusing young people about science and higher education and the initiatives that are helping them fulfil their potential.
The Clothworkers’ Mathematics Bursary Programme, managed by the Outreach Office with its partner, Exscitec, won the Excellent Professional Practice in Curriculum and Student Support Award.
The bursary programme is funded by The Clothworkers’ Foundation, the charitable arm of The Clothworkers’ Company, which aims to improve quality of life, particularly for people and communities facing disadvantage. The programme offers practical and financial support for bursary recipients.
These include tutorial sessions for the students which take place at Imperial and are given by College undergraduates, postgraduates, alumni and lecturers.
The programme is managed by Imperial maths graduate, Florencia Tettamanti, who is currently undertaking a one-year maths internship with Exscitec. She says: “It has been a pleasure to run this scheme. Not only do I feel that I am promoting the pursuit and appreciation of Mathematics, but through the scheme we have also been able to support and encourage students to progress to Higher Education in whatever field it is they choose.”
In addition, there are Saturday sessions for the pupils which are supported by the mentors. These tutorials are supplemented by a Virtual Learning Platform. This offers online support for bursary students allowing them to communicate with mentors about problem solving and areas of maths they are finding difficult.
Online support is also on offer
The success rate of the programme has been high, with over 60% of students who took part in the first two year cycle gaining an A grade at A-level mathematics and over 40% taking a maths-based degree.
The programme started in September 2005 as a pilot project at Imperial with 25 students, and was established in 2006 with the enrolment of 100 students from schools across London.
Melanie Thody, Director of Access and Head of Imperial’s Outreach Office, said: “We are delighted that the partnership work of Exscitec and Imperial Outreach has been recognised by the London Education Partnerships Awards and for this scheme in particular we are heartened that one maths bursary student is currently studying at Imperial and one other and will gain entrance to Imperial for 2008.”
The awards ceremony took place at the Science Museum. Oona King, Senior Policy Advisor, Downing Street Policy Unit, was Master of Ceremonies and Sir Mike Tomlinson, Chief Advisor to the London Challenge and Chair of the Judging Panel gave the address.
He praised the quality of the finalists saying: “They have made education exciting and dynamic, lifting aspirations and achievement of so many young people and adults, especially in some of London’s most disadvantaged communities.”
For more information on the Outreach Office, please visit Outreach
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