Bill Rammell (centre) and Tony Andrews (left) meet students at Xaverian College

Bill Rammell MP, the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, visited Xaverian College, Manchester, on Tuesday 7th March to officially launch the University of Manchester's Foundation Year in Medicine and Dentistry - a course delivered at Xaverian College by the Xaverian Science department.

After touring the college and speaking with senior staff from both Xaverian and Manchester University Mr Rammell praised the joint initiative.
"I'm genuinely impressed by Xaverian's hugely impressive results, this demonstrates what can be achieved with the right sort of resources," said Mr Rammell.

"It is all incredibly positive, and I can't help but be supportive of such initiatives as Xaverian College and the University of Manchester have put together. This sort of Higher Education - Further Education collaboration is something the Government wants to see more of.

"We now see a seamless link between a strong sixth form college and a local world class university."

Mr. Rammell also toured the college and met Xaverian students, describing results and achievements at the college as being "highly impressive"

Mr Rammell was welcomed by Tony Andrews, Principal, Xaverian College, and Professor David Yates, Director of Admissions - Medicine, University of Manchester.

Tony Andrews said: "We're honoured by the interest shown by the Minister, and we are proud of his comments relative to the performance and achievements of our students."

Professor David Yates added:

"The collaboration means that in September 2006 Xaverian College will open its doors and classrooms to a new generation of students - medicine and dentistry undergraduates of the University of Manchester."

"Xaverian and the University of Manchester are pioneering a unique programme to offer the one-year pre-medical programme to both medical and dental undergraduates. The course has been designed as a foundation year and is specifically constructed to prepare students for the first year of the standard five-year degree course. Entry to the five-year degree programme is automatic on satisfactory completion of the year."

The first intake for the year will be in September 2006 and the foundation year will include:

·        Course units covering the core syllabus using Problem Based Learning concepts.

·        Didactic teaching sessions to cover some aspects of the relevant basic sciences.

·        Special study modules with a clinical orientation.

·        Guest lectures by clinicians.