By Royal Appointment

Our students will be able to walk in the footsteps of royalty thanks to an initiative offering a taste of university life. Experts from the University of St Andrews, where both Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, studied, travelled to North Yorkshire for an Further Education and Higher Education fayre. Richmond School hosted the ‘Future Inspirations’ event, which attracted universities and colleges from as far away as Scotland and Lincoln, many from the prestigious Russell Group of establishments. Seventeen organisations, also including Cleveland College of Art and Design, Darlington and Middlesbrough Colleges and media company ‘Purple Creative’, set up stalls in a market place event in our school hall. Hundreds of students from Years 11 and 12 were able to quiz the representatives about courses and student life, signing up for visits, summer schools and receiving prospectuses. St Andrew’s Education Liaison Officer, Duncan Vickers, said: “Richmond School and Sixth Form College is a very reputable school and we have accepted its students before. “It has been great talking to students today and we look forward to welcoming the next generation to study with us.” Our Careers and Employment manager Liz Mannion said: “Universities have given us feedback that students from Richmond Sixth Form College have a strong work ethic and are very well prepared for university life.”  Recognising that university isn’t for everyone, we also invited FE and arts colleges, as well as experts in apprenticeships, so there really was something for everyone. Parents were included, too, with a special after-school event to keep them informed of their children’s options.” Charlotte Kell, 16, from Darlington said: “I found the event really useful. I was particularly interested in what St Andrew’s had to offer because I would like to read Biology and the University offered a wide range of options.”