17 August 2007

Family acts find summer school success

A father and son, a pair of sisters and a pair of cousins are among the 70 successful graduates from this year’s Access Summer School at the University of Dundee.

The ten-week Summer School course is designed to provide an entry route to University for those unable to qualify through other avenues due to adversity.

Among those graduating this year and winning themselves places at the University, starting in the autumn, are father and son Oliver and Kieran Rankin, from Dundee.

They are both set to start degree courses in Town Planning, dad Oliver (41) going straight into second-year and Kieran (18) to first-year.

"Going to University was something I had been planning on after leaving my job with Angus Council last year," said Oliver. "Kieran wasn’t confident he would get the results he needed in his Highers, and was advised that the summer school would be the best route for him to get to University, so I thought I’d try it as well."

"I thought it would be a help for us both to have someone else doing the same thing and supporting each other, and it has really worked out like that."

Kieran, who finished at Morgan Academy before the summer, said studying alongside his dad had made the summer more bearable.

"I haven’t had a summer holiday but it has been worth it because now I have a place at University," said Kieran. "It has been good having my dad here as well and studying together, so we’re hoping it works out just as well over the next few years."

Also celebrating summer school success are sisters Angela (21) and Rachel (18) Steele, both from Dundee. Angela has gained a place on a Philosophy and History Degree while Rachel is going on to do Psychology.

"We’ve really supported each other doing this through the summer and the good news is that we’re now going to University together," said Angela.

The Access Summer School has been running for fifteen years and in that time has seen nearly 900 students gain places on degree programmes at the University.

University Rector Craig Murray, Vice Principal James Calderhead and Lord Provost John Letford will join this year's successful students and their families for an end-of-school celebration at Dundee University Students Association on Friday evening.

Dr John Blicharski, course director and the University's Access and Participation Manager, said, "We are very proud of the talented students that we are able to support through this course."

"Many former students have used this course as a launchpad to great things, so we hope their achievement will inspire many more to think about learning with us here at the University of Dundee."

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University of Dundee
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