UCL History hosts successful WP summer school
19 August 2016
![Summer School students on the Portico steps Summer School students on the Portico steps](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/sites/history/files/styles/large_image/public/IMG_20160803_122432.jpg?itok=N5PH5acm)
Earlier this month we were joined by year 12 students from around the country for our annual residential 'Making History' summer school. Running from the 01-05 August, the summer school gave state school students a taste of university life. Priority is given to applicants who will be the first generation in their family to study at university, come from neighbourhoods with low overall progression rates, live outside London and have achieved strong GCSE results.
The five day programme included a campus tour, a welcome from Head of Department Professor Jason Peacey, lectures, group work and evening activities. Visits to project locations such as Bloomsbury's iconic squares also took place and groups presented their findings in the Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre.
![](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/sites/history/files/styles/medium_image/public/IMG_20160802_200232.jpg?itok=US8ypTZY)
Attendees enjoy a boat trip on the Thames
Furthermore attendees benefited from an object handling session with Dr Yağmur Heffron, and a sources session hosted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (a response to the 1980s HIV epidemic). At the end of the week Cari Tuhey and Dr Tim Gibbs advised students on their UCAS applications, and the summer school concluded with a certificate presentation.
![](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/sites/history/files/styles/medium_image/public/image_2_.jpg?itok=DqqwDOV7)
The students take part in group presentations
We would very much like to thank Dr Chris Jeppesen for running the
summer school, UCL's Widening Participation and UK Undergraduate
Recruitment Office for facilitating it, and the many student helpers and
members of staff who made it possible. Widening access to Higher Education is an import priority for the department and the summer school is a key part of our strategy.
Most of all thank you to the
students who attended for coming with such enthusiasm for studying
history - we hope to welcome you back to UCL very soon!