Engaging pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds: examples of best practice

Engaging pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds: examples of
                          best practice
Russell Group universities work extensively with local schools and colleges to identify and
harness potential in pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who have shown potential to
succeed on one of our courses. These programmes attempt to instil aspirations to enter
higher education and to dispel myths of research-intensive universities. They also provide
academic enhancement, information, advice and guidance and often will work with teachers
and parents to ensure that these key role models are well advised about higher education
particularly with regard to the application process.

University of Birmingham

The Academic Enrichment Programme (AEP) helps to encourage young people with no
family history of Higher Education to apply to a leading research university, and supports
and guides them through the process. It has four key components: a week-long residential at
the University campus in Edgbaston in the summer of Year 12; ongoing, one-to-one e-
mentoring from current undergraduates; study-skills sessions at key points in Year 13; and a
celebratory ‘graduation’ event.

The summer school is the core activity of the AEP. Participating students ‘live’ in university
halls of residence, attend lectures and seminars, and participate in a variety of social
activities, replicating the experience they would have as enrolled students. The e-mentoring
scheme in Year 13 with undergraduates provides invaluable assistance and support during a
critical time, when students are assessing their options and preparing UCAS applications.
Students return to campus for two study and revision workshops, to assist in maximising
their chances in their final examinations. This is followed by a ‘graduation’ ceremony.

The AEP builds a relationship with the university, involving parents, carers and teachers. It
inspires pride and raises aspirations and confidence. For further information, visit
www.birmingham.ac.uk/aep

Masterclasses at Birmingham are designed to stimulate enquiry and broaden knowledge of
the subject area covered. They provide an opportunity to raise the aspirations and
attainment of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups,
and to stretch gifted and talented students. There are over 40 Masterclasses a year; some
relate closely to the school curriculum, others are broader and introduce new topics found in
Higher Education study. The majority of Masterclasses are aimed at Years 12 and 13, with
some aimed at Years 10 and 11. For further information visit
www.birmingham.ac.uk/masterclasses

University of Bristol

Higher Education Summer School (HESS) works with local schools to seek out Year 11
pupils who have the potential to go on to higher education but for a variety of reasons may
be under-performing in school or may be in danger of not applying to university. Summer
school participants are introduced to a number of subjects through lectures, tutorials and
project work. They also have the chance to interact with university staff and students and
spend a fully-funded week on the university campus.

                                                                        The Russell Group of Universities
                                                                                www.russellgroup.ac.uk

The University has also run a Sutton Trust Summer School for the last 10 years which
works with academically gifted Year 12 pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have
5 A*-C GCSEs from schools with a low progression to higher education.

University of Cambridge

The CUSU Shadowing Scheme is run by the students’ union, and brings UK students from
schools without a tradition of top university entry to Cambridge for three days in February.
They spend time shadowing a current undergraduate studying a subject that they are
interested in, and see everything the student does on a day-to-day basis, including lectures,
supervisions, playing sport, going shopping and socialising. They also get information about
the application process from Admissions Tutors. The aim of the scheme is to give people
with little or no experience of university a taste of student life at Cambridge, in real time, with
real people. Of 330 Year 12 students who participated in 2011, 113 applied to Cambridge
and 1 in 3 were made an offer. http://www.applytocambridge.com/shadowing/

Work targeting students from ethnic minority backgrounds has been taking place at
Cambridge for over 20 years. The university runs events to encourage pupils to apply to
Cambridge and other highly selective universities, as well as working with schools and local
authorities to identify students with the potential to succeed. The programme runs free
summer schools, open days, and school and college visits. It also works closely with the
Cambridge University Students' Union (CUSU) Target Campaign, which organises open
days, visits and a shadowing scheme to enable prospective high-ability applicants to meet
current students and find out what Cambridge is really like from a student perspective.

Realise is an extensive programme of activity for children and young people in care
involving a whole range of different activity days across the year, including advice for foster
carers and professions. Between September 2011 and June 2012 390 children in care from
35 different local authorities attended 16 different day-events.
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/access/care/

The Sutton Trust Summer Schools are free subject-specific residential courses for Year
12 (or equivalent) students from UK state-maintained schools. The five-day summer schools
in July and August allow students to explore their interest in one of 22 subjects and gain an
insight into what it is like to live and study as a first-year undergraduate at Cambridge. The
programme includes lectures, seminars, discussion groups, practical work and social
activities, as well as the opportunity to meet staff and students and live in a Cambridge
College. Of those who attended in 2011, 50% applied to Cambridge and 1 in 3 of these were
made an offer. http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/access/year12summerschool/

Cardiff University

The National Mentoring Project allows Cardiff students to work on a one-to-one basis with
five school pupils each throughout the school year. The aim of the project is to improve
GCSE grades and to increase awareness of higher education. Participants can then link in
with the Step-Up to Health Compact Scheme, which operates over 3 years starting in Year
11 for students who have expressed interest and demonstrated achievement of their ability
to succeed in health courses. It gives pupils a number of opportunities to learn about health
professions through summer schools, mentoring and a conference on applying to university.

University of Edinburgh

Reach is a project funded by the Scottish Funding Council involving five partner universities
(the University of Aberdeen, University of Dundee, University of Glasgow, University of
Edinburgh, University of St Andrews) and 17 new partner schools in the Scottish Borders
and Forth Valley. This collaborative working allows pupils to experience more than one
university environment. The project delivers workshops on-campus to allow pupils with no
'local' university to experience a campus environment, as well as in-house activities
delivered in target schools to bring the expert knowledge and guidance to the local
communities. Teachers are supported via ongoing staff development sessions and Reach
aims to develop and deliver relevant activities for pupils, teaching staff and parents wherever
possible. www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment/widening-participation/reach

The Educated Pass scheme targets local school boys from underrepresented backgrounds
by giving them the opportunity to play football while educating them on what higher
education and the University of Edinburgh can provide. The aim is to give strong mentoring
through sport. It uses sports related courses as a hook, but also gives general advice on
school, college and university pathways, building upon their commitment to sport to generate
a similar interest and commitment to education. As the lead partner of Educated Pass, the
University of Edinburgh is supported by the educational institutes Stevenson College, Telford
College, Jewel & Esk College and West Lothian College. The project is funded by the Sutton
Trust. www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment/widening-participation/educated-pass

University of Glasgow

The GOALS (Greater Opportunity of Access and Learning with Schools) programme
provides opportunities for school pupils from ages 10 to 18, targeting schools with low
participation in higher education. The last step of the programme is ‘Top-Up’ which focuses
on those Year 11/12 pupils who are considering applying to higher education and helps
them to make informed choices about their future. The programme provides a portfolio of
work that is graded for when they apply to university.

Imperial College London

The Gifted & Talented Science Summer School seeks out bright Year 11 pupils from
London state schools to give them a chance to take part in a residential summer school with
variety of science and laboratory projects, aiming to raise aspirations and encourage bright
young people to apply to university.

E-mentoring at Imperial College has used medical undergraduates since 2004 to help tutor
and advise Year 12 pupils from non-traditional backgrounds in gaining access to medical
courses. The scheme is expanding to encompass all science, technology, engineering and
business courses and students are reaching a wider audience of Year 12 pupils nationally.

King’s College London

Access to Medicine works to enable young people from eligible areas to study at medical
school or train for careers in the health service or biomedical sciences. This is done through
a mentoring scheme in which current medical students encourage local sixth formers who
have the potential to enter a career in medicine to apply to the Extended Medical Degree

Programme (EMDP). EMDP is a six year medical degree programme for students from
disadvantaged backgrounds in targeted inner London boroughs.

University of Leeds

Annually the university engages with 400 schools and colleges reaching over 40,000 young
people from educationally and socially disadvantaged backgrounds as well as working with
over 2000 adults returning to learning within local communities. The outreach programme
includes targeted work with schools and colleges and with individual learners themselves.

Reach for Excellence targets young people from non-traditional backgrounds who
demonstrate the potential to study at a top university but who may not have considered entry
to research-intensive higher education. The programme supports young people in Year 12
and 13 by offering subject taster sessions across all disciplines, study skills sessions, a five
day residential summer school and impartial pre-entry guidance and financial literacy to
ensure students gain the necessary skills and experience for a successful transition into
higher education.

400 students benefit from the scheme each year and the programme is free of charge.
NFER/Sutton Trust Research has shown that 54% of the cohort go on to apply to the
University of Leeds and of these 69% received an offer and 36% registered. The national
findings of the third cohort of Reach for Excellence students show that half of those surveyed
applied to at least one research- intensive university and a further third applied to between
one and three research-intensive universities. Reach for Excellence students who apply for a
place at the University of Leeds have the opportunity to apply for a range of generous UK
Undergraduate scholarships.

University of Liverpool

The Liverpool Scholars Scheme is a specifically targeted programme for Year 12 students
from underrepresented groups. Scholars are given advice and support to help with gaining a
place at a research intensive university, which aids the transition between further and higher
education. On successful completion of the project, which includes an academic assignment,
applicants are given the equivalent of up to 40 UCAS points towards entry. Becoming a
Scholar also gives young people the maximum financial bursary from the university.

Champions of Learning works with students over a 3 year period (Years 9-11), who are
capable of high achievement but are unlikely to progress to higher education. The
programme aims to build confidence, self-esteem and key skills, as well as raising
aspirations and increasing awareness of higher education. Students can progress onto the
University of Liverpool Scholars Scheme if they meet the GCSE requirements.

London School of Economics and Political Science

LSE CHOICE works closely with local schools and colleges in an aim to identify the most
talented young people from London state schools and give them the tools they need to
successfully apply to leading universities. The programme provides Saturday morning
sessions and a summer school for 180 pupils per year from non-traditional backgrounds to
raise aspirations to higher education.

University of Manchester

The university’s flagship programme for secondary schools is the Gateways Programme
which targets local young people from lower socio-economic groups in Years 7-11 and
involves their parents and teachers. The programme provides a series of academic
enrichment and HE awareness activities as well as information and advice on course
choices and careers. Complementing and extending the Gateway programme are a range of
additional higher intensity ‘Gateways Plus’ activities and opportunities, including mentoring,
summer schools; curriculum enrichment opportunities and awareness raising events with
parents and teachers.

Newcastle University

Newcastle University continues to be involved in the Choices Together event for looked
after young people in conjunction with Northumbria and Sunderland Universities. The event
is targeted at looked after children and promoted through Looked After Children's
Educational Support Teams and Virtual Heads in the region. Participants are invited to take
part in a programme of specific sessions and are also invited to take part in other aspiration-
raising events relevant to their year group.

University of Nottingham

Nottingham Potential aims to promote and support, within less advantaged communities
locally, educational aspirations and attainment at primary, secondary and post-16 levels and
progression to higher education. Nottingham Potential provides long-term support for young
people with a range of educational ambitions from Year 2 to Year 13 and includes:

       Academic Support, delivered in partnership with London-based charity IntoUniversity
       at three community-based centres; primary and secondary students attend after-
       school sessions throughout the school year
       An expansion of Masterclasses and Summer Schools to raise awareness of the
       opportunities available in higher education
       An expansion of work within primary schools to support attainment and foster interest
       in academic learning
       Teacher Fellowships, which provide secondary and post-16 teachers with the funds
       and opportunity for teacher release and a supportive framework in which to lead an
       ambitious project to improve an aspect of life in the school’s local community.

University of Oxford

Compass: Young Carers is a local, sustained contact programme targeted at students who
have caring responsibilities at home. Not surprisingly, this responsibility often has an impact
on educational attainment and leads to lower rates of progression into further or higher
education. The programme will support these young people to make informed choices for
their own lives after compulsory schooling finishes. Over the course of the programme the
participants will explore their options and identify education or training paths that could help
them achieve their goals.

Queen Mary, University of London

In addition to a wide range of targeted programmes run by the University, Queen Mary also
works with charities and other organisations involved in widening participation and access
including:

       IntoUniversity, a well established programme that supports young people from
       disadvantaged backgrounds to progress to higher education
       Social Mobility Foundation, an education charity that supports high achieving Year 12
       students from low income backgrounds
       Buttle UK, which supports vulnerable children and young people, including looked
       after children and care leavers.

University of Southampton

Learn with US is a targeted programme designed to support teachers, parents, students
and community groups in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A series of events have been
designed to engage and motivate learners who have the potential to enter Higher Education,
and who may not currently be considering it.

Learn with US aims to work in partnership with schools and colleges to improve academic
attainment and intellectual self-confidence, raise aspirations, and increase awareness of
university education. Students in Years 6 to 8 take part in generic aspiration raising
activities. From Year 9 to Year 13 Gifted and Talented students are selected to follow a
programme of activities in one of three areas most closely linked to their strengths and
interest:
         medicine, health sciences and social and human sciences
         science and engineering
         humanities, business and law
Activities include taster days, masterclasses, face to face and e-mentoring, talks, workshops
and residentials. Activities and support are also offered to third sector organisations.
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/schoolsandcolleges/learn_with_us/introduction.html

University of Warwick

Goal at Warwick is designed to target gifted and talented students, as identified by schools
and local authorities, from families with no experience of higher education to provide four
years of support from Years 10-13. The programme provides residential days at the
university, personal mentoring support, development opportunities with local businesses,
access to Warwick’s distance learning opportunities and guidance on applying to university.

University of York

The Big Deal is a University of York initiative which helps young people in disadvantaged
areas to develop skills and experience in enterprise. Students from Years 9 and 10 from
across the region get involved in a three month intensive business development programme.
Annually, about 25 teams (each of four pupils) are guided by mentors drawn from industry,
including organisations such as HSBC and Google. By working in partnership with business
and schools, the university promotes dynamic relationships between pupils and
professionals to bridge the gap between education and industry.

The York Experience Summer School (YESS) is a residential experience for Year 12
students who are already engaged in one of the University's existing widening participation
programmes. Students sample a range of academic sessions and undertake assignments to
give a realistic view of degree level study. The sessions are designed to challenge and
inspire the students and also to help them decide which subjects they want to continue with
at university level. Additionally, undergraduate residential assistants deliver student life
workshops, which demonstrate a society or sport they are involved with.