Monthly Archives: March 2014
Doing Go Higher ‘Educating Rita’ Style by Paula Murphy, Class of 2012
There are probably a million and one different reasons why people become mature students. Many delay study because of family or work commitments, some are keen to study in retirement, and some people enrol to improve their promotion prospects at work. These are just a handful of the driving forces which bring people to university outside of the 18-21 age bracket, and the diversity of the mature student community is reflected in the diversity of our reasons for study. Personally, after dropping out of university at eighteen, I never saw a degree as being particularly important. I got a job instead, and though I secretly harboured ambitions to become a journalist, or to work in publishing, I didn’t allow myself to believe that these ambitions would ever become a reality. Then, when I hit the big 3-0, and in true Educating Rita style, I decided that I wanted to be able to have intelligent conversation, and I wanted to just know things.
A Go Higher Awakening by Andrew Corkhill, Class of 2010
Go Higher for me was a re-awakening. It was my first foray back into academia after 4 years off due to illness. I began in September 2009 and took modules in English Language, Philosophy and History. I had originally – as an 18 year old – completed A-levels, but my grades were sub-standard and I had little options. At 23 I realised I had not finished with education and my intention was to use Go Higher to earn myself a place on an undergraduate History course at a prestigious university. Fortunately I achieved my aim and studied History at the University of Liverpool, graduating in Summer 2013 during a lavish ceremony at the Liverpool Philharmonic.
On choosing a degree programme by Claire Jones
Spring is always an exciting time on Go Higher. Our current students, who started with us part-time last September, have mostly got their offers though for places on their chosen degree programmes. This is when things get really serious. Their goal is nearly in their hands; decisions need to be made. We are on the final straight.
‘Cousin Phillis’ from another perspective by James Bainbridge
It is always interesting how individual students see a text from a contrasting perspective, depending on their life experience. John made some different insights prompted by the text:
Reflections on ‘Cousin Phillis’ by James Bainbridge
Go Higher students typically bring surprising and thought-provoking reflections to class. This week’s Literature module was no exception: our discussion of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel Cousin Phillis prompted personal observations and some real insight. Written in 1864, the story describes the life of Phillis Holman through the eyes of her cousin, Paul Manning.
Looking back at my Go Higher self by Julie McColl
In October 2006 the second week of Go Higher, students were asked to write a short piece under the heading “Why I want to be a student on Go Higher”…this was my response:
Introducing our new blog by Claire Jones
This blog is written by the students and staff on Liverpool University’s Go Higher programme. We’ll be giving you the inside story on what it is like to study and teach on this innovative course which has been going at the University for fourteen years or more. We’ll also be blogging about widening participation in general.
