Local students begin to take their LEAP into University

On Wednesday 21 January, the University welcomed 40 local school and college students onto campus to begin to take their LEAP into University at the launch of our new Leicester Enhanced Access Programme (LEAP).

During the event, LEAP Students engaged directly with staff and students involved in the delivery of LEAP, explored our campus with our current undergraduate Leicester Ambassadors and undertook a Goal setting workshop and study skill development session which began to give them the essential skills needed to be a successful University student of the future.

Professor Mark Peel, Pro Vice Chancellor (Student Experience) and chair of the University’s Student Recruitment, Admissions and Widening Participation Committee, which has strategic oversight of LEAP said:

‘We are delighted to launch the Leicester Enhanced Access Programme, which expands the offer we make available for talented students throughout the East Midlands and further increases our engagement with local schools and colleges and with families. LEAP aims to build aspirations for university education among students who may find it more difficult to imagine this as part of their education and helps them be successful once they are here.  Together with existing initiatives such as the Realising Opportunities Program, LEAP enhances our University’s strong and continuing record of innovation in the task of widening participation to higher education, and signals our continued commitment to the role of universities in tackling barriers to the realisation of talent and potential’

For many of the LEAP students, this launch event was their first real interaction with the University of Leicester and starts them on an extended programme of supported interaction which will better prepare them for their transition into University.

Read more background information the LEAP or visit www.le.ac.uk/leap.
If you are a member of staff and wish to get involved, contact Andy Johnson or Clare Chisholm (LEAP Management Team) via email at leap@le.ac.uk or via phone on 0116 229 7545.