Esher Celebrates 30 Years of Surrey’s Largest Higher Education Fair
March is Higher Education Month at Esher Sixth Form College, a time dedicated to helping students and their families navigate the university application process through a series of informative events.
This year’s celebrations were particularly special as the College marked 30 years of hosting Surrey’s largest Higher Education Fair.
The month kicked off with the Higher Education Evening, drawing an impressive crowd of more than 700 parents and carers who attended one of two sessions. The event provided crucial guidance on the university and art foundation application processes, covering topics such as selecting the right degree and institution, and the extensive support available at Esher Sixth Form College throughout the journey.
The following week, the College hosted its highly anticipated Higher Education Day, welcoming nearly 80 universities and higher education institutions from across Britain to the Sports Hall. Recognised as Surrey’s largest Higher Education Fair, the event offered Esher’s 6.1 students a unique opportunity to explore various academic pathways.
Anna Young, Director of Progression Guidance, said “We structured the day to provide our students with a well-rounded understanding of university life including talks from higher education experts on how to choose your course and university, as well as hearing from university students themselves about the student life experience.”
This year for the first time, students were also introduced to the second-year Extension Studies programme, designed to align more closely with their post-Esher aspirations.
The highlight of the event was the Higher Education Fair itself, where students engaged directly with university representatives, gaining valuable insights into campus life and course offerings. The fair continued into the evening, allowing parents and carers to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity as well.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Esher’s Higher Education Fair, the College hosted a celebratory dinner for exhibitors, with a delicious meal, cake and a speech from Principal Dan Hards.
Sally Leyshon, Career Advisor and Progression Guidance Coordinator, reflected “It is amazing to think about how far our HE event has come over the past 30 years! What started as a simple event has grown into one of the largest higher education fairs in Surrey. The dedication, commitment and hard work from the careers team is testament to how slick, impressive and polished event it has become. We have adapted it to meet the needs of the students in terms of the talks, workshops and technology, and it is one of the highlights of the Esher Sixth Form College calendar.”
The Progression Guidance team extends heartfelt thanks to all attendees, contributors, and the fantastic Student Ambassadors, who played a key role in making these events a resounding success.
