More than 1,000 sixth form pupils and 60 teachers from schools across Northern Ireland have visited the University of Ulster at Coleraine  to take part in an annual revision conference hosted by the School of English.

The day provided an opportunity for students taking English at A-level to develop their critical understanding of a number of key texts in the literary tradition of the English language, and to get a taste of what studying English at the University of Ulster is like.

With 25 lectures on authors ranging from Shakespeare to Toni Morrison, and from John Donne to Carol Ann Duffy, there was a chance for pupils to learn more about the texts they are studying and to meet academics who are specialists in the various areas of English literature covered during the event.

Professor Jan Jedrzejewski, head of the university’s School of English, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring so many English students and teachers to the Coleraine campus.

“It is essential for a university which is serious about its role in the region to maintain close links with schools across the province. We want to work with teachers to enhance the learning opportunities available to secondary students across Northern Ireland and this conference is an important element of that process.

“The School of English engages with schools on other projects as well: the Ulster Poetry Project, co-ordinated by Dr Frank Ferguson, will help pupils across Northern Ireland learn about the literary heritage of the province, and indeed develop their own creative interests.

“And, of course, we hope that a good number of the secondary students who visited us on Friday will in due course come to the University of Ulster to read English: we have an excellent undergraduate English programme and also offer exciting opportunities for postgraduate work, so there are plenty of reasons to come to Coleraine to study.”

Added University of Ulster English lecturer, Dr Timothy Hancock: “It’s always good to meet the pupils and teachers who come along to this conference. They bring with them an infectious enthusiasm and attentiveness that makes for an enjoyable learning experience all round.

“There are some great writers set on the A-level syllabus; I can share a genuine love of poetry by Chaucer, Robert Frost and Edward Thomas, each of whom I’ve got to know a little better through preparing for the conference. And it’s not often you get the chance to address such a large audience in the Diamond, so it invariably feels like a special occasion.”

*For further information contact: Audrey Watson (a.watson1@ulster.ac.uk). Tel: 028 90366386.