At the end of July, Hartpury University and Hartpury College welcomed school pupils to their campus for a special two-day GROWS residential trip. The annual event gives young students from across the county the chance to experience Hartpury life and what’s on offer within further and higher education.
GROWS, a partnership of six universities and colleges in Gloucestershire, is dedicated to developing resources and organising events, helping young people aged 11-18 to make informed decisions about their future. The unique residential experience, organised with the experienced GROWS team and supported by Hartpury University and Hartpury College’s Outreach team, staff, and student ambassadors, included an overnight stay in Hartpury’s student accommodation halls.
The experience began with pupils exploring campus. Working in teams, they were tasked with finding a series of university facilities on campus with only cryptic clues to help, setting the tone for two days of interactive learning and collaboration.
A team-building workshop led by Hartpury University lecturer Richard Whincup saw participants. divided into groups of five, building shelters using only materials found in the outdoor classroom, along with a piece of tarpaulin and a small amount of rope. This exercise was designed to enhance teamwork and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
The first day also featured course-specific workshops, including jockey fitness, equine anatomy, sports, animal husbandry, and a farm experience that showcased Hartpury University and Hartpury College’s new digital studio, milking parlour, and a cow welfare activity. In the eventing, the attendees enjoyed games including ‘raveminton’ (glow-in-the-dark badminton), board games and movies in the Students’ Union loft.
Day two of the residential trip included a sports biomechanics workshop and an animal lab session where participants used microscopes to identify insects. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to exploring university courses and career options during a special GROWS workshop, further igniting the children’s interest in higher education and their future careers.
The event concluded with a parent and carer session where Hartpury and GROWS staff provided information on post-16 options and awarded certificates to all participants, along with special awards for outstanding contributions.
The two-day event finished with a parent/carer session where Hartpury staff covered post-16 options and handed out certificates to all the attendees as well as some awards.
George Shanly WP Officer at GROWS said: “The residential at Hartpury University and College is an amazing opportunity for local young people to experience life as a university student. Partnering with Hartpury to deliver such an enriching experience is one of the highlights of the year in the GROWS calendar of activities. It’s been a really rewarding project to manage on behalf of our team.”
Andrew Graham, Senior Outreach Officer at Hartpury University and Hartpury College said: “Our GROWS summer residential is an important part of our Outreach calendar as it provides a fun way for local school children to start exploring their future career options. The event gives children a taste of independence, experiencing a taste of student life should they progress into further and higher education down the line, as well as trying their hand at activities relevant to our specialist areas in which we provide extensive courses.”
