Originally Published 15 October 2002

This summer saw the third HEFCE summer school. Planned by the Student Recruitment Office as part of the Excellence in Cities initiative, the summer school aims at raising the educational aspirations of students who come from backgrounds traditionally under-represented in higher education (HE).

The week-long event at Warwick is part of a country-wide scheme, which seeks to dispel myths and challenge misconceptions about university. The aim is to provide an exciting introduction to HE and to inspire the participants to apply to a university their A levels and AVCEs.

In staying with this year's Murder Mystery theme, academic sessions included 'So you want to be a Psychological Profiler', 'The Properties of Poisons' and 'Murder and Mayhem in the Short Story,' as well as many others. The week also included field trips, team-working activities, a careers session, a marketing case study and numerous social activities. One of the highlights was the Murder Mystery Gala Dinner where professional actors performed around the dining students. The murderer was eventually found but only after a number of mistaken identities and potential miscarriages of justice!