King’s Widening Participation Grants - the award holders.
Next year we are funding some amazing projects led by King’s staff as part of our Widening Participation Grant Scheme. We were blown away by the number, range and quality of applications. More details to follow when we launch more officially in the new term but, as a quick overview, our 16 award holders will be (drum roll):
Dr Gillian Sales & Anatomy Dept: Inspiring Aspiration in Science
The Museum of Life Sciences will be developing science-based teaching resources for 10-14 year olds to use in the museum, alongside delivering a series of workshops to pupils in years 7-9.
Outreach for Medicine: Primary programme
The Outreach for Medicine team will be extending their school-based workshops into local primary schools, engaging them with games, quizzes and basic clinical skills.
Paul Gillary, CTEL: Bringing Design & Technology to Primary Education
Working with the student KCL Tech Society, Paul will be developing and delivering workshops in 3D Design/Printing and Electronics/Coding in Primary schools, to allow pupils to gain hands on experience.
Thomas Smith, Geography: Christ the King, St Francis Xavier and Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
The Department of Geography will be continuing their long running successful relationships with 3 schools that provide their pupils with enriching academic sessions delivered by academic staff and PhD students, visits to King’s and engagement with current Geography students.
Felipe Botelho-Correa, SPLAS: Notre Dame School
Felipe will be leading a new link with local Notre Dame School to support and inspire Latin American pupils in the school and share the value of language learning for all pupils.
Simon Sleight, History: Haberdasher’s Aske’s Hatcham College
Simon will be continuing the link with HAHC that provides their A-level history pupils with a fascinating in-school lecture series, combined with a small group extending their skills and interests through attending and presenting at the launch of the Children’s History Society.
Dr Maddy Parsons, Randall Division: King’s STARS Programme
The Randall Division will work with Access Work Placements to select sixth form students from schools with low progression to university to take part in a one week, intensive lab-based work experience placement. Guided by a PhD student facilitator, they will perform tissue cultures of cancer cells, isolate and analyse DNA, clone DNA and examine cancer tissues like a pathologist.
Dr Andreia Carvalho, MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology: DevNeuro Academy
This project will combine a series of in-school talks with a 2 week lab-based placement for keen sixth-form science students, who will conduct their own research and present to the public at the Centre’s open day. The project will engage staff across the MRC CDN and provide development opportunities for early career researchers.
Dr Melissa Glackin, DEPS: Crime Scene Analysis
Extending an existing programme with Carshalton Boys school, this event will see GCSE and A-level pupils benefit from exciting lab-based sessions, developed by PGCE students.
SPLAS: Network of schools teaching Spanish & Portuguese
Working with a group of Spanish and Portuguese teachers to explore how to raise the profile of these languages in school and for further study, this project will produce video resources for use in schools and build a supportive teacher network in London.
Dr Charlotte Russell & Dr Eleanor Dommett, IoPPN: Broadening interest in Psychology
This project will engage current psychology teachers in considering how to attract a diverse range of students to the subject and will include in-school and on-site visits for interested students.
Arts & Humanities: Thinking Further
Up to 7 departments from Arts & Humanities will be offering targeted sixth form students the opportunity to engage with challenging academic material, build their confidence and explore their subjects in new ways.
Jack Brown, Policy Institute: Opening the doors of No.10
Through establishing a ‘researcher in residence’ role at 10 Downing Street, this project will develop schemes of work for use with school pupils and culminate in an essay competition where winning students will see their work published in the Brilliant Club journal and will have the opportunity to lecture at 10 Downing Street.
Laura Douglas, A&H: Shakespeare 400 Schools Poetry Competition
Shakespeare400 is a consortium of leading cultural, creative and educational organisations, coordinated by King’s College London, which will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016. They will lead a series of activities for pupils in key stages 4 & 5 that will focus around a poetry competition based on Shakespeare’s sonnets and will feature a launch event at King’s alongside subject enrichment sessions for pupils and teachers’ study days.
Dr Teresa Rodriguez & Dr Kyle Dyer, IoPPN: Addiction science – a young community approach
Local teenagers will be invited to participate in the production of a film and information about cannabis addiction and associated harms for young people. Through participation they will develop valuable skills in communication and collaboration, alongside developing their understanding of addiction science and the challenges of science and health communication.
Gretta Gavin, Student Advice Service: Money Mentors & student parents support group
These two projects led by the student advice service will support current students. Money mentors will work with current students to provide support, advice and training for new students in managing their finances. The parents support group will provide resources and peer support opportunities.
