On campus

Staff and students in SEED have a longstanding reputation for developing collaborative partnerships with schools and colleges within Manchester, across the North West, and internationally.

Continued engagement with the education community is a vital part of ensuring The University of Manchester’s commitment to high-quality teaching, research and social responsibility.

Sixth Form Lectures

These lectures provide opportunities for KS4/KS5 students and teachers to experience teaching in a University environment. The lectures aim to:

  • improve subject knowledge for exams;
  • improve the subject knowledge of teachers;
  • give pupils the opportunity to be taught in a university setting.

For more information on upcoming lectures, please contact Narinder Mann.

Past lectures

Designing experiments in physical geography

On 7 November 2018, Sarah Brown presented an intriguing lecture about how research is carried out in the world of the carbon cycle and climate change.

Attendees were given the chance to design their own physical geography experiment.

Educational psychology in context

On 10 October 2018, Michael Wigelsworth presented an intriguing lecture aims at demonstrating how psychology is used within the context of educational research and practice. 

Participants considered different approaches in psychology (eg behaviourism, humanism) and critically evaluated their relative use in the context of an applied case study.

The session also demonstrated various research methods using examples from cutting-edge, 'real-world' research. The session ended with a brief exploration of further study and career choices in this growing field.

Download

Changing places: Are we making places for people?

On 16 May 2018, Callum Campbell provided students with a critical insight into the relationship between placemaking and urban regeneration.

Using the Manchester-based developer Urban Splash as a lens, the talk examined how the role of urban design has become a key tool in shaping everyday places.

Investigating the impacts, the talk considered what social and cultural changes and interactions occur as a result of these new tactics towards city planning. 

This exciting lecture was aimed at all Geography A-level students and aspiring Year 11 pupils. Students interested in urban planning, regeneration and architecture were also advised to attend.

The talk developed a synoptic understanding for A-level Geography specifications.

Download

How does accent change our identity? Can it decide our future?

On 18 April 2018, Dr Alex Baratta presented an insightful lecture about how we change our accent and language to fit the environment we are in and how this could be beneficial or detrimental to our identity.

The lecture was aimed at Humanities, English and Languages A-level students, aspiring Year 11 pupils, teachers, and trainee teachers.

Download

Who makes Manchester? Place and ‘the right to the city’

On 24 January 2018, Alistair Sheldrick presented an insightful lecture about how we change our accent and language to fit the environment we are in and how this could be beneficial or detrimental to our identity.

This lecture introduced degree-level approaches to the study of place in human geography, complementing existing A-level content relating to ‘Changing place; changing places’.

It outlined the different social, economic, political, and cultural processes that shape contemporary Manchester. Emphasising a critical approach to this topic, the subjective and contested nature of place was framed around the notion of  'the right to the city' – with the political and cultural geographies of Manchester being explored with respect to different groups, identities, and ideas.

This was grounded in local case studies that critically analysed:

  • the privatisation and securitisation of city centre spaces
  • gentrification in the Northern Quarter
  • the notion of Chinatown and the Curry Mile as 'ethnic enclaves'.

Learners were also encouraged to personally reflect on their everyday perceptions of place and critically consider the subjective dimensions that make the place of Manchester and form place-attachments.

The lecture was aimed at students studying A/AS-level Geography or Social Sciences, or anyone interested in studying at The University of Manchester.