Use this page if you are new to Flying Start or need to take a fresh look at how the scheme is working for your own course.
Suggested Approach
Course teams know their students best so are best placed to create a meaningful Flying Start experience for their students. There is unlikely a one-size-fits-all approach, but you are strongly recommended to include the following features:
- A timetable that is more intensive than a normal teaching week and that uses the whole Flying Start week (even beyond into the first week of teaching)
- Icebreaking activities from the start that help students (and staff) get to know each other, including to learn names
- PAT-run sessions integrated into the timetable, ideally early on the first day and again later in the week
- Space for students to engage with Student Union activities
- Opportunity for organised social activities run by staff and/or relevant students societies
Things to remember
- Students that aren’t fully enrolled will not be able to access VLE resources. Consider alternative ways of sharing electronic resources if this is the case so those students don’t miss out.
- International students may need more bespoke sessions to help them prepare to live and study in the UK.
- Flying Start can be used to work with your PSRBs if you have them for your course and also invite alumni and/or 2nd and final year students to meet your first year cohort.