LSE reaches school pupils in record numbers
The number of school pupils engaged in LSE’s widening access activities exceeded 2,000 in 2011-12. Among the most popular programmes were Moving On, a one-day campus-based activity for Year 6 students, designed to help support the transition between primary and secondary school. A total of 437 pupils from 16 primary schools across London took part last year. Also enjoying high demand was the LSE ACE (Aiming for a College Education) programme which welcomed 416 Year 9 to Year 11 students to Houghton Street.
New outreach initiatives for Year 8 students
2011-12 also saw the launch of two brand new outreach initiatives aimed at Year 8 students and designed to help inform GCSE choices. Introduction to the Social Sciences and the Promoting Potential Summer School introduce pupils to the subjects and key concepts involved in the social sciences and encourage them to broaden their academic horizons.
LSE and widening participation
LSE is committed to recruiting the best possible students with the highest academic and intellectual potential, regardless of their economic or social background. Students who consider applying to LSE should be assured that we do not discriminate when selecting students; LSE's only aim is to recruit students who will gain the most from three years of LSE undergraduate study.
We offer a range of activities for schools and colleges in the UK and overseas, such as campus visits and school talks. Many of these are open to all, regardless of sector or location.
However, we do recognise that not all applicants are afforded the same educational opportunities. To this end, in addition to our ongoing general recruitment activities, LSE has been involved with a number of widening participation and access initiatives since 1998, with the aim of raising the aspirations of school and college students. These schemes are not just aimed at increasing the number of applications to LSE, but are aimed at encouraging students to apply to fulfil their potential at the best university for them.