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Information for schools and colleges

Find out more about the ways we can support schools and colleges in inspiring and preparing pupils for university life and beyond, via outreach events, useful resources and more.

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Here at the University of Sunderland, our outreach in schools and colleges aims to offer both pupils and teachers access to a wide range of events, activities and helpful resources, tailored to different needs.

We provide a variety of pre and post-16 activities and events, designed to support pupils from all backgrounds, raise aspirations and give them the information they need to make clear choices about their future.

Our team have considerable experience in Higher Education and are all passionate about delivering engaging and inspiring activities to pupils, as well as offering encouragement towards their journey into university.

Why Sunderland?

  • We're a Top 50 UK University (Guardian University Guide 2023)
  • We're ranked amongst the world's best universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023)
  • The University of Sunderland is one of the world's best young universities (Times Higher Education Young Universities Rankings 2023)
  • The University of Sunderland is recognised internationally as a leading university, receiving five stars for teaching, inclusiveness employability and facilities in the QS Stars World University Rankings 2023
  • We're 1st in the north-east for teaching quality and student experience (The Times Good University Guide 2023)
  • We're 1st in the north-east for student satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2024)

University of Sunderland news stories

Who we are

Ashleigh Little

Head of Post-16 Outreach and Recruitment Events

Hi, my name is Ashleigh, and I am the Head of Post-16 Outreach and Recruitment Events. I have 10 years experience working within Higher Education and I lead the post-16 team in delivering off and on campus events to prospective students and promoting the University in regional and national areas across the UK, including our First Choice Progression Scheme. Our aim is to inspire students across the country to apply to the University of Sunderland.

Paul Jameson

Student Recruitment Officer

Hi, I’m Paul, and I coordinate student recruitment activity for schools and colleges outside of the North East region. I am passionate about providing guidance to adults as well as younger sixth form and college students about their options in Higher Education. I have over 14 years' experience working in education and enjoy building links with local schools and colleges to help support and raise the aspirations of their students.

Scott Henderson

Student Recruitment Officer

Hi, my name is Scott, and I coordinate our First Choice Progression Scheme. I’ll be in touch throughout the year about the great range of events and activities we can offer you and your pupils. I didn’t access university via the ‘traditional route’ so I strive to support everyone to access university at any age.

Louise Harris

Student Ambassador Coordinator

Hi, I’m Louise, and I work in the Access to Higher Education team. Having studied at the University myself I'm keen to share my experience with others. In my role, I coordinate the Student Ambassador Scheme and also help to plan outreach activities for secondary school pupils.

Nicola Hopper

Student Recruitment Officer

Hi, I’m Nicola, and I manage the student recruitment activity for schools and colleges in the North East region. I’ve worked with applicants and students at the University of Sunderland for over 12 years and enjoy helping students achieve their aspirations.

Caroline Finnon

Student Recruitment Officer

Hi, I’m Caroline, and I manage the relationships, recruitment, and outreach activity with our five partner Further Education colleges. I have provided support and outreach activity at the University for over 18 years and it has been so rewarding to see students achieve their goals during this time.

Stu Adamkiewicz

Student Recruitment Coordinator

Hi, my name is Stu, and I'm responsible for the coordination and implementation of outreach events to specific Further Education institutions in the North East region and developing the evaluative processes in partnership with the Student Recruitment Officer.

Samantha Greener

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hi, I’m Sammi, and I work with our First Choice students, supporting them to engage and encouraging them to complete the First Choice progression scheme. As a graduate and former student ambassador from the University, I love to share my experience with students to help them with their own journey.

Jane Trattles

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hi, I’m Jane, and I work with our First Choice students – supporting them to engage and encouraging them to complete the First Choice progression scheme. I am a graduate of the University and a previous ambassador, and I want to share my experiences with students looking to study here as I believe everyone should have access to Higher Education.

Brandon Lewis

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hi, I’m Brandon, and I work with our First Choice students – supporting them to engage and encouraging them to complete the First Choice progression scheme. I love to share my own experience of university to help students on their journey.

Kelly Stanley

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hello, I'm Kelly, and I support Nicola in our Student Recruitment team. I'm responsible for engaging with local schools and colleges across the North East to raise aspirations and encourage applications to the University. I also support the wider recruitment team with outreach, open days, and events.

Sara Playfor

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hello, I'm Sara, and I support Nicola in our Student Recruitment team. I'm responsible for engaging with local schools and colleges across the North East to raise aspirations and encourage applications to the University. I also support the wider recruitment team with outreach, open days, and events.

Darcy Whyatt

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hello, I'm Darcy, and I support Nicola in our Student Recruitment team. I'm responsible for engaging with local schools and colleges across the north-east to raise aspirations and encourage applications to the University. I also support the wider recruitment team with outreach, open days, and events.

Abbie Oliver

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hello, my name is Abbie, and I provide a range of essential administrative support to the student recruitment team, stakeholders, and further education institutions.

Lauren Dixon

Student Recruitment Assistant

Hi, I’m Lauren, and I'm a graduate of the University. I graduated in 2021 with a Business and Marketing degree, then spent a year as an intern in the University's Widening Access and Participation team. I now work within the Student Recruitment team carrying out student recruitment outreach and on-campus activity in the North East region and beyond.

Alan Cook

Scholarships and Bursaries Officer

Hi, I’m Alan, and I'm the Scholarships and Bursaries Officer. I'm responsible for coordinating the planning, promotion, and reporting of the University’s scholarship and bursary offer. I was the first person in my family to enter Higher Education and using my knowledge and experiences, I aim to inspire all to access it, no matter their background or personal circumstances.

Wendy Price

Head of Widening Access and Participation

Hi, I’m Wendy, and I lead the pre-16 team to deliver targeted outreach provision for local primary and secondary schools. Encouraging participation of under-represented groups is an important part of my role including care experienced and estranged young people and other widening participation cohorts. I work with schools across the region to provide bespoke support which aims to inspire young people to progress to Further and Higher Education.

David Metcalfe

Widening Access and Participation Coordinator

Hello, my name is David, and I'm the Widening Access and Participation Coordinator. Working alongside Wendy and Safeenah in the We Care Team, I coordinate the bespoke support that we offer to care-experienced and estranged students. This support begins prior to the application process, continues throughout the students' studies at university, and culminates in support to access employment or further studies. I aim to encourage students from under-represented groups to consider a route to Higher Education, and to be successful once there.

Lauren Boffey (Maternity Leave)

Widening Access and Participation Project Coordinator

Hi, my name is Lauren, and I’m the Widening Access and Participation Project Coordinator. I've been supporting students in education for over 10 years and I'm passionate about providing opportunities for young people to find out more about Higher Education. In my role, I coordinate the bespoke support we offer to care-experienced and estranged students, which starts from the very first point of enquiry and continues to graduation and beyond. I aim to inspire students from under-represented groups to consider Higher Education as a route.

Safeenah Hussain

Widening Access and Participation Assistant

Hi, my name is Safeenah, and I'm an Assistant in the Widening Access and Participation team. Within my role, I aid the bespoke support offered to estranged and care-experienced students to ensure they get the best out of Higher Education. My academic experience and personal interest in social inequality drives my passion for equal opportunity, particularly within education. As a care-experienced person myself, my personal experience encourages me to work towards making university accessible for everyone.

Katharine Reed

Widening Access and Participation Manager

Hi, I’m Katharine Reed, and I’m the Widening Access and Participation Manager. I’ve been developing and delivering activities for young people to raise their aspirations and facilitate their transition into post-16 routes for over 20 years. Through my work, I aim to inspire young people to make informed choices about Higher Education and beyond.  

Carolyn Lithgo

Widening Access and Participation Officer

Hi, I’m Carolyn, and I work within the pre-16 team coordinating access to Higher Education activities for primary and secondary schools. I oversee the development and delivery of sessions and events designed to increase participation of a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. I also promote the University’s scholarships and bursaries offer.

Danny Homer

Widening Access and Participation Evaluation Officer

Hi, I’m Danny, and I currently support the Home Student Recruitment team with all things evaluation. I have a background in education and science and a love of data and spreadsheets, and I’m currently working towards a PgCert in Access and Outreach. In my role, I help to evaluate and report on the impact of our incredibly important work across a wide range of events and activities, helping the department better plan for successful events in the future while looking after all the service’s outreach data.

Jessica Birch

Widening Access and Participation Assistant

Hi, my name is Jess, and I'm a Widening Access and Participation Assistant. I was a student at the University, and during my time studying English and Creative Writing, I was also a Student Ambassador. I deliver bespoke outreach to pre-16 pupils to help them raise their aspirations and think about their possible routes to Higher Education. My role allows pupils to think about the benefits of university at a young age.

Georgina Letts

Widening Access and Participation Assistant

Hi, my name is Georgina, and I am a Widening Access and Participation Assistant. I deliver outreach sessions to primary and secondary students to encourage them to start thinking about Higher Education and raise their aspirations. I work with a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. The aim of my work is to increase participation and highlight the benefits of university.

Amber Shinns

Widening Access and Participation Apprentice

Hi, I’m Amber, and I'm the Widening Access and Participation Apprentice. I support the team with administration, planning, and delivering, in support of others gaining access to Higher Education.

Louise Stewart-Cross

Uni Connect Project Coordinator

Hello, I’m Louise and I’m the Uni Connect Project Coordinator. I coordinate events and projects that take place as part of the North East Uni Connect Programme such as a tutoring programme focused on English skills for Year 8 and a suite of masterclasses hosted across the region by HE and FE institutions. I also coordinate campus visits and the delivery of higher education ambassador sessions for Year 11-13 students more widely within our 108 target schools across the north-east.

Matthew Simcox

UniConnect Higher Education Ambassador

Hi, I’m Matthew, and I’m the UniConnect Higher Education Ambassador based at the University of Sunderland. I help to create and deliver higher education outreach sessions to students in years 11 to 13.

Laura Bell

STEMM Outreach Officer

Hi, I’m Laura, and I'm the STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, and Medicine) Outreach Officer. I work in the Widening Access and Participation Team to promote pathways to Higher Education with a STEMM Focus. I also coordinate the University’s partnership with the Aldrin Family Foundation to deliver exciting and innovative space education to local schools. I have worked in Higher Education, with a focus on Widening Participation and schools outreach, for 10 years.

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