Throughout the week of 7th-11th December, there’ll be over 100 sessions available for students, teachers/advisors and parents/carers, provided by Hepp, HeppSY, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield, Office for Students, local FE colleges, UCAS, Student Loans Company, NEON, NCS, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge…and many more!

Main stage highlights include:

  • Chris Millward (Director for Fair Access and Participation in the Office for Students), Professor Sir Chris Husbands (Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University) and Professor Brendan Stone (Hepp/HeppSY Board Chair) launching the festival
  • Baasit Siddiqui – educator, entertainer and Gogglebox star – talking about the lessons he’s learnt through education and entrepreneurship
  • Justin Rowntree, an entrepreneur who took a battering from Gordon Ramsay on his Kitchen Nightmares show, talking about career changes, resilience and the importance of having the right people around you to help you achieve your dreams
  • Cookalong with Blend Kitchen – for post-16 students to learn skills to prepare them for leaving home and for everyone else to join in with their families for a hugely fun to collaboratively make dinner!
  • Jordan Lee, Heat Radio Drivetime host and presenter of Love Island: Under the Duvet, sharing his experience of higher education, thoughts and tips for pursuing your dream career, and the advice he would give his 16-year-old self!

For teachers/advisors, there are over 30 sessions for your continuing professional development as well as helping you to support your students.

For students, there are a multitude of sessions looking at specific degree subjects, academic skills, wellbeing, support at higher education, student life and careers of the future, as well as information about applying to Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. These are on during the school day and can be streamed live into lessons!

There are also specific events for parents/carers including helping young people make choices about higher education, looking at the additional support available, degree apprenticeships and entering higher education as a mature student. Parents/carers are also welcome to attend any HeppFest sessions.

Take a look at the full programme at www.hepp.ac.uk/festival and book/timetable all the sessions that interest you asap!