Page 18 - Eclipse - RVC Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2020

Top marks for RVC’s Sutton Trust Summer School
The Sutton Trust’s recent UK Summer Schools University Comparison Report
highlighted impressive results from the RVC’s event.
The RVC scored top marks across several categories, including 100% of students stating that they would apply to the College.
The Trust’s analysis compares survey responses across the 13 UK universities offering Sutton Trust summer schools. The report focuses on rates of strong agreement to 16 key questions asked at baseline, midpoint and exit, and seven further questions on the exit survey.
Statements ranged from students’ plans following school/college, different aspects of university life, how well- informed students feel about financial aspects of attending university and preparedness for applying.
In almost every category, the RVC’s Summer School percentage score increased from baseline to exit, with 83% of students stating by the end of the residential that they felt confident
about applying to a highly selective university (up from the 21% baseline). 90% of students also felt confident about making a university application for their summer school subject (up from the 43% baseline) – demonstrating the effectiveness and positive impact the RVC event had on students.
Results from the exit survey found
that 100% of respondents said they enjoyed attending the RVC Summer School, that staff and ambassadors were approachable, and they enjoyed the social activities on offer. 93% of students also said:
• The academic sessions were engaging
• Content was pitched at the right level
• Attending the Summer School has given them the skills needed to navigate the Higher Education application system
• Attending the Summer School will help them make more informed decisions about post-school options
The RVC has a long history of running summer schools and has hosted the RVC Sutton Trust Summer School since 2013. Each year, the RVC’s Widening Participation team selects 50 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, based on several criteria, to join the summer residential.
Across the five days, students are
given the opportunity to take part in a range of activities and sessions held at both campuses, including visits to the QMHA and Boltons Park Farm. Each
day students are exposed to a mix of first-hand experience and introductory training, as well as seminars on preparing for various aspects of university life and the RVC courses on offer.
In the RVC’s own evaluation report,
key findings highlighted the Summer School’s effectiveness in informing students of the broad range of careers that work with animals outside of becoming a veterinary surgeon, supporting students to better understand their options and helping them feel confident when applying to university.
Sutton Trust Founder and Chairman,
Sir Peter Lampl, commented: “Over the past few years, our summer schools
at the RVC have given hundreds of young people from across the UK the opportunity to change their life. Many
of our alumni have gone on to study
at leading universities and to jobs in veterinary medicine. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the RVC. The RVC offers great quality, so it is no surprise to see this reflected in the views of our summer school students.”
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