Raising Aspirations and

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Raising Aspirations and Promoting Progression
jodeine.wheatcroft_at_ntu.ac.uk niki.snodin_at_ncn.ac.u
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Our Mission
The government has set a target that, by the
year 2010, 50 of those aged between 18 and 30
should have the opportunity to benefit from
higher education. That is an ambitious goal. To
achieve it we need to strengthen existing
partnerships between higher education (HE),
further education (FE) and schools in order to
raise both the attainments and the aspirations of
young people (HEFCE LSC 2001)
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The Regional Context

• Nottingham City
• DETR Index of Deprivation 12th most deprived
• LEA 2nd Lowest Primary Performance
• LEA 4th Lowest Secondary Performance
• LEA 2nd Lowest Progression to HE
• 18.5 low or very low levels of literacy
• 40 low or very low levels of numeracy

Ex Coalfield and Rural Deprivation
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Educational Context

• GCSE Grades A - C
• Nottingham 31.4 (2002) 37 (2003)
• England Average 51.6 (2002) 52 (2003)
• Truancy
• Bottom of LEA Truancy league in 2002
• 5th From bottom in 2003

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Widening Participation

• Raise aspirations and attainment of young people
  and adults within 30 mile radius of Nottingham
  City
• Schools Work (both Primary and Secondary)
• Admissions Compact Scheme
• Students in classrooms
• Active in Communities project
• Information and guidance

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Admission Compact Scheme (ACS)

• Since 1998
• Supported entry route into University
• Helping Local students into their local
  University

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ACS Criteria

• Applicants must study at a partner 6th form or
  college
• Their parents have NOT been to University
• OR
• Applicants must have a specific need to stay
  local
• Applicants must specify NTU as firm choice on
  the UCAS form

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Benefits of ACS

• Guaranteed standard Offer or Interview
• Possible financial assistance

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ACS Support

• Pre-entry advice
• Use of NTU Library during Year 13
• A visit to the University designed specifically
  for Compact Students
• Family information sessions
• Pre-entry social event
• Help during Clearing
• Part-time employment opportunities
• A point of contact at all times for any HE
  queries

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Growth of ACS

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A More Cohesive Approach

• Initiative to work more closely on WP
  activities
• All working towards the same goals
• collaboration not competition

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A More Cohesive Approach

• NCN comprises 60 of FE within the conurbation
• Jointly funded WP Officer
• University College
• Secondary Schools Vocational Routes
• Year 7-11 Post-16
• Joint Activities

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Schools

• Continual Presence
• Use of undergraduates in majority of sessions
• Year 7 Quiz
• Year 8 Quiz
• Year 9 International Session
• Year 10 Employability
• Year 11 Careers/Exam/Revision
• University visits, Industry days, Summer Schools

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Colleges

• Continual Presence Strategy
• General HE work with all year 1 (level 3)
  vocational students
• UCAS and Student finance workshops to all year
  2 students
• Employability skills sessions to level 4
  students
• HE evenings and information events
• Raise awareness of Admissions Compact Scheme

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What are the Benefits?

• Recent Personal Experience of HE
• Can relate to students well and vice versa
• Vocational routes into HE very fragmented and
  confusing
• Increased Credibility in school, college
  University
• Develop relationships with Schools, Colleges and
  internally - NTU

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Final Thoughts

• How can we help to achieve the governments aim
  of 50 of students progressing to HE?
• Break down barriers, expel myths and educate
• Raise aspirations
• Increase retention and ease transition to
  enable successful progression
• Greater collaboration between educational
  institutions and external agencies