A programme supporting future students applying to veterinary school has been recognised for widening access and participation for learners from underrepresented groups.

Future Vet, a collaboration between Harper & Keele Veterinary School and Higher Horizons was commended in the National Educational Opportunities Network (NEON) Awards which celebrate key achievements made to supporting learners from underrepresented groups to access higher education. 

The four-day Future Vet programme aims to address barriers to successful applications for veterinary medicine degrees. It provides year 12 students with information, advice, and guidance on life as a vet, two days of vocational experience in different settings, application support and interview advice. 

Most veterinary schools require students to have undertaken vocational experience before applying, and the programme offers students an opportunity to spend a day at Garden Vets, the veterinary teaching hospital based at Keele University. Following that, participants visit the extensive 494-hectare Harper Adams Future Farm for a taster of life as a farm vet. 

David Mazzocchi-Jones, director of admissions and student experience at the Vet School, said: "We are delighted to be awarded a commendation in this highly prestigious award and to celebrate the success of the pilot cohort, which has seen over 50 per cent of participants apply to study veterinary medicine in September.

"This is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in the project. 

"The Future Vet programme enables those who would struggle to get vocational experience a deeply enriched, focused experience to explore the many aspects of the profession.

"By widening access to veterinary courses, we not only enrich the profession but also extend the reach of compassionate animal care to all corners of our communities." 

Higher Horizons, based at Keele University, is part of the Uni Connect Programme, and is funded by the UK Government to deliver free and impartial higher education outreach to schools and colleges across Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire. 

Ant Sutcliffe, associate director at Higher Horizons Keele University added: "We are thrilled that Future Vet, as a relatively new programme, has received a commendation in this national award, and we hope this will give the programme a springboard to become well established in the years to come.

"We know that veterinary courses are difficult for working class young people to access, and this programme genuinely smashes many of the barriers to application and enrolment." 

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