Common use of Outreach and Access Clause in Contracts

Outreach and Access. 7.1 As identified in our earlier Access Agreements, Keele University is committed to raising aspirations and awareness amongst all potential student cohorts currently under-represented in Higher Education, to enable them to make informed and effective decisions regarding their further educational and career choices. Given the proven value of the current outreach and access work being undertaken this Access Agreement outlines our plans to further develop and strengthen the current offer in line with recommendations made by the recently published Strategy for Access and Student Success (April 2014). 7.2 As indicated in the Introduction, Keele generally performs well in the HESA Performance Indicators on Widening Participation compared to its benchmarks, and has therefore set challenging targets as shown in Table 7 of the Resource Plan (Targets and Milestones). We have found, however, that in the rapidly changing Higher Education environment these targets have become more difficult to achieve. We are, therefore, keeping them under regular review and will use an evidence-based approach to adjust or expand our outreach and access activities where review demonstrates that to be necessary. 7.3 The University has developed a ladder of engagement (Appendix A) which summarises our existing outreach schemes targeted at different groups including learners, parents/guardians and teachers/advisers. 7.4 Outreach work is strategically embedded across the University. Academic schools and faculties are supported by the central outreach team in the delivery of subject-specific outreach and, where appropriate, WP targeting. In 2013/14 OFFA-accountable funds have been made available to support targeted activity within academic schools, with additional investment in staffing planned over a two-year period to further develop outreach work aimed at Widening Participation. 7.5 The Faculty of Health has recently appointed a full time Faculty Outreach Administrator to support the Faculty's Outreach and Widening Participation Strategy. This will be monitored and, if successful, may be adopted by the other two faculties.

Outreach and Access. 7.1 As identified The new funding arrangements from 2012 entry have provided an opportunity to effect a step change in our earlier the University’s WP, access and outreach activities. Our WP team now comprises 9 staff, including a WP Manager, 4 WP Officers, a WP administrator and 3 WP Graduate Ambassadors. 4 Includes spend under both current and new Access Agreements; assumes future student numbers as in current University plans. Excludes Government contribution to the National Scholarship Programme. These figures have been adjusted for the reduction in NSP funding for 2014/15 and the University’s response. All our activities share common characteristics:  Clear aims  Appropriate targeting  Ongoing relationships  Involvement of parents, Keele teachers and advisors  Involvement of current University of York students  Access to residential provision  Mentoring for some participants Our strategy is committed informed by our own experience and best practice elsewhere, for example lessons learned during the Aimhigher programme.5 Work with young people at school or college consists of a structured series of interventions at three critical stages. Programmes aimed broadly at Years 6 – 9 are designed to raising raise achievement and aspiration in disadvantaged populations. Programmes targeted broadly at Years 9 - 11 aim to demystify higher and further education, raise awareness of subjects and routes and the variety of provision, increase the self- confidence and self-esteem of students involved, and raise aspirations for lifelong learning. They also lay the groundwork for progression to higher education by encouraging appropriate subject choices. Programmes for students in Years 12 and awareness amongst all potential student cohorts currently 13 concentrate on the transition to higher education, with a particular focus on building confidence in applying to research-intensive, selective universities. Other work focuses on mature learners and those returning to study. Our range of programmes will serve both national sector and University of York objectives in widening participation. In the period covered by this Access Agreement, we will maintain and develop current work in collaborative partnerships (national, regional and local) and will develop outreach programmes focused primarily on achieving University of York targets. This will involve building on established relationships and developing new ones with a targeted set of schools and colleges, for example those in areas with proportionately high levels of pupils/students from low participation neighbourhoods, under-represented in Higher Education, to enable them to make informed and effective decisions regarding their further educational and career choices. Given the proven value of the current outreach and access work being undertaken this Access Agreement outlines our plans to further develop and strengthen the current offer in line socio-economic groups or with recommendations made by the recently published Strategy for Access and Student Success (April 2014). 7.2 As indicated in the Introduction, Keele generally performs well in the HESA Performance Indicators on Widening Participation compared to its benchmarks, and has therefore set challenging targets as shown in Table 7 of the Resource Plan (Targets and Milestones)high ethnic minority populations. We have found, however, that in will make a particular effort to encourage the rapidly changing Higher Education environment these targets have become more difficult inclusion of looked-after children and care leavers with special attention to achieve. We are, therefore, keeping them under regular review and will use an evidence-based approach to adjust or expand our outreach and access activities where review demonstrates that to be necessaryguidance for this group through the admissions process. 7.3 The University has developed a ladder of engagement (Appendix A) which summarises our existing outreach schemes targeted at different groups including learners, parents/guardians and teachers/advisers. 7.4 Outreach work is strategically embedded across the University. Academic schools and faculties are supported by the central outreach team in the delivery of subject-specific outreach and, where appropriate, WP targeting. In 2013/14 OFFA-accountable funds have been made available to support targeted activity within academic schools, with additional investment in staffing planned over a two-year period to further develop outreach work aimed at Widening Participation. 7.5 The Faculty of Health has recently appointed a full time Faculty Outreach Administrator to support the Faculty's Outreach and Widening Participation Strategy. This will be monitored and, if successful, may be adopted by the other two faculties.

Outreach and Access. 7.1  In 2018/19 we are planning a number of events to target the primary school cohort and we are aiming to engage 700 primary school students throughout once again. This will range from one off interactions to a series of progressive and higher intensity off campus and on campus events. We will also continue our successful numeracy and literacy programmes with local primary schools, including Reading Buddies, a long-term scheme focussed on very deprived parts of the region.  As identified well as collaborative working as part of Aimhigher West Midlands, Aston has been delivering intensive and long-term mentoring and tutoring to secondary school learners at all Key Stages. We will expand the number of student mentors and tutors working in targeted regional schools and colleges, both in person and via e-mentoring. This is one-to-one, highly targeted intervention and provides measurable impact, in-line with OFFA’s guidance. 1 See Polar3 map of UK xxxx://xxx.xxxxx.xx.xx/analysis/yp/POLAR/Map,of,young,participation,areas/ 2 Gaps in young participation in higher education; xxxx://xxx.xxxxx.xx.xx/analysis/yp/gaps/  We will continue to organise our earlier hugely popular Access Agreementsto Professions and will be increasing the opportunities available to young people to engage in events which are linked to employers from the region. We will also be building on the launch of two new employer engagement events in June 2017 with CADCOE (design and technology in Engineering) and Healthtec (careers in medical fields.)  The University provides pre-entry careers support and guidance for any school/college requesting the service. Aston University’s ‘Pre-Entry Employability Adviser’ provides on and off-campus support to Year 11 pupils and sixth formers. We commit to continuing this support in 2018/19, Keele providing invaluable guidance in line with the government’s aims3 to support young people through their decision-making.  Aston University has strong links with the Aston Engineering Academy. This has involved members of the University Executive playing an active role on the board of governors and contributing to strategic decision making, as well as providing a band of mentors to work with 15-16 year olds. From 2018 Aston University will be strengthening their links to the academy through the creation of bespoke progressive programmes delivered both on and off campus to support the raising attainment of key cohorts of students.  Raising attainment work with AUEA will include: - 100% of year 10 students on arrival to take part in a two day “Introduction to Higher Education” aspiration event - A new pilot to mentor targeted students with English mentoring - Continuing to provide library facilities at the evening and weekend for free to any students at AUEA - Assemblies focused on STEM, applying to higher education and student finance throughout key points in the year - Broadening of taster sessions to include industry specific sessions with employers  The University hopes to welcome its first cohort of undergraduate medical students to its new medical school in September 2018. Depending on the outcome of the government consultation on medical education and subsequent HEFCE competition, our medical school model will provide a significant proportion of places for pupils attending schools and colleges in the top ten percent of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the city.  From 2017, our Pathway to Healthcare programme will positively impact at least one hundred learners per annum from these schools/colleges by providing GP work experience, UCAS personal statement-writing workshops, interview/assessment preparation, and intensive A Level tutoring in the sciences. The first year MVCHB entrants will be drawn from the programme, whilst the remainder will have been prepared for applications to other medical schools or to related science courses at Aston or other institutions. All one hundred Pathway to Healthcare students will also have benefited from online mentoring provided by The Brightside Trust, and in future years our current medical students will act as mentors to widening participation cohorts on the programme. Our medical school widening participation plans reflect the Medical Schools Council’s ‘Selecting for Excellence’ guidance of December 3 Careers guidance and inspiration in schools (March 2015) xxxxx://xxx.xxx.xx/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/440795/Careers_Guidance_Schools 20144 and is committed in line with the government’s wishes for universities to improve widening access if they want to benefit from the extra medical school places available.  The Learning Development Centre will further develop GetAhead@Aston – an online resource providing support and advice about making the transition to learning in Higher Education. Furthermore the University will continue to provide online revision advice to students who apply through UCAS by offering a free XxxXxxxxxxx.xx.xx profile to its undergraduate offer holders with the aim of helping offer holders with no parental HE history, those in Polar4 quintiles 1-3 and care leavers.  In 2018/19 we will host our 24th annual Admissions Conference for Teachers and Advisers. The 2016/17 event was attended by 170 teachers and counsellors from around the UK, and at zero cost to participants. We provided curriculum insights from sector leaders representing KCL, Bath and UCAS, and here we reaffirm our commitment to offering honest advice and support to those guiding young learners. Similarly, we will continue our Parents’ Higher Education twilight sessions, where we offer information on university finance and entry processes to parents and guardians from across the West Midlands.  Aston University has a strong working partnership with the King Xxxxxxx VI schools consortium in Birmingham as part of its innovative Opening Doors initiative. The partnership involves the delivery of a Primary Aspirations Day targeted at primary schools from low participation areas. The day involves a range of interactive activities focused of raising aspirations and awareness amongst all potential attainment with this cohort.  Aston University collaborates with the local Further Education sector by facilitating a College Visiting Programme, whereby our current mature students offer information and advice about life at university to students on Access courses. A mature student cohorts currently underambassador initiative has been implemented and the mature student ambassadors help to facilitate information, advice and guidance stands at University wide Open Days. The Learner Enhancement Officer will continue to attend Higher Education Fairs, specifically offering advice and guidance to older, non-represented traditional learners.  Mature students will continue to be offered pre-arrival e-mentoring support via the Peer Mentoring programme to encourage their smooth transition. Mature part-time distance learners studying on our work-based Foundation Degrees are also offered mentoring support. A well-established Mature Students’ Induction Programme is offered before the start of term to facilitate transition into the HE environment, combining study skills sessions and social activities designed to support this group of learners.  Aston University will continue the collaborative Aimhigher West Midlands partnership with the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University College Birmingham and Worcester University. The partnership has consistently met its targets. We therefore confirm our intention to engage 1,000 disadvantaged young people in Higher EducationAimhigher’s intensive activity in each year from 2018/19. As part of this collaborative programme we will seek opportunities to extend and enhance our work with young people facing multiple dimensions of disadvantage. This will include support for children in care via our relationship with the Birmingham Virtual School. 4 xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx/AboutUs/Projects/Widening-Participation/Selecting-for-Excellence/Pages/Selecting- for-Excellence.aspx  We will align the management and delivery of this collaborative activity with that of our National Collaborative Outreach Programme consortia, to enable them to make informed monitoring the engagement of regional schools and effective decisions regarding their further educational colleges and career choices. Given the proven value ages of the current students we engage to ensure those outside the scope of the NCOP are not marginalised. We will also increase our efforts to engage schools and colleges in the region’s only Opportunity Area (Stoke-on-Trent).  Aston University will continue jointly to fund Aimhigher with a contribution of £35,000 in 2018/19 and will be intimately involved in its governance and management. The outreach activities delivered through the partnership will complement Aston University’s own extensive programme of widening access and fair access work being undertaken measures outlined elsewhere in this Access Agreement outlines Agreement.  Aston University commits a significant proportion of its income to its OFFA countable targets. The projected spend does not currently take into account anticipated reductions of £500,000 in our plans to further develop and strengthen HEFCE Student Opportunity funding which forms part of the current offer in line with recommendations made overall spend by the recently published Strategy for Access University. This is a one off investment and Student Success (April 2014). 7.2 As indicated in beyond the Introduction, Keele generally performs well in investment that we are required to make. There is not the HESA Performance Indicators on Widening Participation compared expectation that Aston will be able to its benchmarks, and has therefore set challenging targets as shown in Table 7 do this every year.  Aston is an institution with a high proportion of the Resource Plan (Targets and Milestones)students with low participation backgrounds which would lead to an expectation that we should be investing 15% of our income to support this area of work. We have found, however, that in the rapidly changing Higher Education environment these targets have become more difficult decided to achieve. We are, therefore, keeping them under regular review and will use an evidence-based approach pump prime our activities to adjust or expand our outreach and access activities where review demonstrates that to be necessarycurrently invest a significantly higher proportion of income. 7.3 The University has developed a ladder of engagement (Appendix A) which summarises our existing outreach schemes targeted at different groups including learners, parents/guardians and teachers/advisers. 7.4 Outreach work is strategically embedded across the University. Academic schools and faculties are supported by the central outreach team in the delivery of subject-specific outreach and, where appropriate, WP targeting. In 2013/14 OFFA-accountable funds have been made available to support targeted activity within academic schools, with additional investment in staffing planned over a two-year period to further develop outreach work aimed at Widening Participation. 7.5 The Faculty of Health has recently appointed a full time Faculty Outreach Administrator to support the Faculty's Outreach and Widening Participation Strategy. This will be monitored and, if successful, may be adopted by the other two faculties.

Outreach and Access. 7.1 As identified in our earlier Access Agreements, Keele University is committed to raising aspirations and awareness amongst all potential student cohorts currently under-represented under-­‐represented in Higher Education, to enable them to make informed and effective decisions regarding their further educational and career choices. Given the proven value of the current outreach and access work being undertaken this Access Agreement outlines our plans to further develop and strengthen the current offer in line with recommendations made by the recently published Strategy for Access and Student Success (April 2014) and the OFFA strategic plan 15-­‐20 (March 2015). Keele’s strategic plan for 2015-­‐2020 and its marketing and communications operating plan, within which outreach and recruitment activities sit, prioritise the equality of educational opportunities, working collaboratively with key partners to this aim to provide a highly supportive environment for students from all backgrounds throughout the student life-­‐cycle and base developments on evidence-­‐based impact. 7.2 As indicated in the Introduction, Keele generally performs well in the HESA Performance Indicators on Widening Participation compared to its benchmarks, and has therefore set challenging targets as shown in Table 7 of the Resource Plan (Targets and Milestones). We have found, however, that in the rapidly changing Higher Education environment these targets have become more difficult to achieve. We are, therefore, keeping them under regular review and will use an evidence-based evidence-­‐based approach to adjust or expand our outreach and access activities where review demonstrates that to be necessary. 7.3 The University has developed a ladder of engagement (Appendix A) which summarises our existing outreach schemes targeted at different groups including learners, parents/guardians and teachers/advisers. 7.4 Outreach work is strategically embedded across the University. Academic schools and faculties are supported by the central outreach team in the delivery of subject-specific subject-­‐specific outreach and, where appropriate, WP targeting. In 2013/14 OFFA-accountable 2014/15 OFFA-­‐accountable funds have been made available to support targeted activity within academic schools, with additional investment in staffing planned over a two-year two-­‐year period to further develop outreach work aimed at Widening Participation. Each Faculty now has an individual outreach strategy and developed activities, which they can bid for money from the central outreach team in order that these activities be realised. This has proved extremely effective in engaging a broader base of outreach activity to deliver to our target schools. 7.5 The Faculty of Health has recently appointed a full time Faculty Outreach Administrator and Schools Liaison Administrator, who work to coordinate all Health School teams’ activity and liaise with the central Outreach team, to support the Faculty's ’s Outreach and Widening Participation Strategy. This has greatly enhanced the Faculty’s outreach activity. The Faculty hosts a range of Summer Schools and taster days throughout the year and liaises with a wide range of Schools and Colleges and NHS providers. 7.6 Keele University aims to ensure that where resources are identified specifically to deliver Widening Participation activity, this activity is focused and meets, as a minimum, HEFCE targeting guidelines. Keele University intends to maximize the impact of Widening Participation activity by focusing resources on a target group of learners with the potential to benefit from Higher Education and who come from under-­‐represented groups. We shall ensure best use of finite resources by more effective targeting of potential WP applicants for example Access to HE Learner Conference, Family Fun Day for lone parents and Care Leaver events. 7.7 We have recently established a travel fund to support students from WP cohorts in travelling to and from events and activities held at Keele, as we have recognised that, in previous years, travel costs have been a barrier to participation. Depending on the success of this scheme, we plan to continue with this approach in 2015/16. 7.8 Intensive learner activities, such as our residential Summer Schools, continue to be directly targeted at students from WP groups – which Keele has suggested for 2015/16 as: ● Young students from low socio-­‐economic groups ● From a low income/low participation neighbourhood ● Eligible for free school meals ● Looked after children or a recent care leaver ● SEN status/disability ● Access to HE and mature learners (over 21) ● Home educated ● Travelling community member ● Political refugee ● Students who receive the pupil premium ● Learners from deprived or low participation postcode areas (POLAR3 and IMD) ● Disabled students ● Minority ethnic students ● Mature students ● Young carers ● Student parents 7.9 We also offer, where appropriate, activity aimed at apprentices and work based learners and students with non-­‐traditional, qualifications. We have initiated progression agreements with local colleges, with one signed and three other being targeted at the time of this agreement being submitted. These agreements outline the various routes students will be monitored andeligible for from the courses and non-­‐traditional qualifications available at each FE College. 7.10 We have also worked closely with organisations that work directly with young people from underrepresented groups, if successfulincluding Virtual Schools for looked after children, may be adopted and Local Carer’s Associations to target young carers. We have arranged specific activities for looked after children including the White Water Writers literacy project (xxxx://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx) which allows a group of 10 young people to write and publish their own novel within five days, facilitated by university students. In 2013/14 we worked in collaboration with Xxxxxxxxxxx Young People at Stoke to run this project with a group of looked after children and have already scheduled the other two facultiesproject to run again in 2015/16. We aim to continue working with the White Water Writers Project and Shaftesbury Young People at Stoke to continue providing this high impact outreach project which not only raises the young peoples’ aspirations and self-­‐esteem but also builds their academic skills in writing. For 2016/17 we will continue to build on these relationships and targeted activities and evaluate their impact.

Outreach and Access. 7.1 5.1 As identified in our earlier Access Agreements, Keele University is committed to raising aspirations and awareness amongst all potential student cohorts currently under-represented in Higher Education, to enable them to make informed and effective decisions regarding their further educational and career choices. Given the proven value of the current outreach and access work being undertaken undertaken, this Access Agreement outlines our plans to further develop extend and strengthen the current offer in line with recommendations made by the recently published Strategy for Access and Student Success (April 2014)offer. 7.2 As indicated in the Introduction, 5.2 Keele generally performs well in the HESA Performance Indicators on Widening Participation compared to its benchmarks, and has therefore set challenging targets as shown in Table 7 of the Resource Plan Annex B (Targets and Milestones). We have found, however, that in the rapidly changing Higher Education environment these targets have become more difficult harder to achieve. We are, therefore, keeping them under regular review and will use an evidence-based approach to adjust or expand our outreach and access activities where review demonstrates that to be necessary. 7.3 5.3 The University has developed outreach provision outlined in this Agreement will be delivered via the University’s Schools and Colleges Partnership Programme (Keelelink). More than 200 schools (primary and secondary) and FE colleges are currently members, giving them access to a wide range of activities designed around a ladder of engagement engagement. Appendix A (Appendix ALadder of Engagement) which summarises our existing outreach schemes targeted at different groups including learners, parents/guardians and teachers/advisers. 7.4 Outreach 5.4 Intensive activities like Access to Keele (A2K), Access to the Professions and Summer Schools will be directly targeted at students from WP groups – which Keele has identified as: We try to prioritise, where appropriate, work is strategically embedded across the based learners and students with no, or non- traditional, qualifications. 5.5 The University. Academic schools and faculties are supported by the ’s central outreach team is committed to supporting academic Schools and Faculties in the delivery of subject-specific outreach activity and, where appropriate, WP targeting. In 2013/14 OFFA-accountable funds have been are being made available to support targeted activity within academic schools, with additional investment in staffing planned over a two-year period to further develop outreach work aimed at Widening Participationactivity. 7.5 The Faculty of Health has recently appointed a full time Faculty Outreach Administrator to support the Faculty's Outreach and Widening Participation Strategy. This will be monitored and, if successful, may be adopted by the other two faculties.