Raising Aspirations. Raising aspirations and awareness is a vital element of widening participation activity and the University has been actively involved in this area of work for a number of years. The Students into Schools Project, a joint project with Northumbria University, established in 1993, is the focus for a wide range of activities (a few of which, marked *, are no longer delivered but are included for completeness): ▪ Student tutoring: 500+ undergraduate students work in approximately 200 regional schools and colleges and community settings each year to provide positive role models and raise aspirations. Students can be tutors on a voluntary basis, but for most, their involvement is formally accredited as part of their degree programme. ▪ Community placements include, for example, work at St Xxxxx’ Park Learning Centre: Student tutors assist with delivery of an IT-based programme focusing on literacy, numeracy and ICT set within a sport context. Recent NFER research demonstrated that the reading age of participants increased by 2 years on average. ▪ Student Associate Scheme: Involvement in this national initiative is co-ordinated by the Students into Schools Project, 100 Newcastle University students support teaching in schools in priority subject areas (eg Maths and Chemistry). Students receive a payment to help raise aspirations of pupils and gain an insight into teaching as a career. ▪ Awareness-raising activity at Newcastle Foyer*, with student tutors involved in one-to-one work to promote study-based skills / GCSE / life skills and some residential activities and campus focused events ▪ Awareness raising hands-on science activities at Newcastle Discovery Museum. ▪ Males into Primary Teaching: a project to encourage more men to consider teaching in primary schools ▪ ACE days / ACE weeks: activity days or sessions mainly aimed at Year 10 pupils to give them an introduction to higher education. Two ACE weeks are held each year, involving approximately 800 pupils at Newcastle University. Other single-day events are held at the request of schools during the year. ▪ Apprentice Students On Campus (ASC Days): Raising aspirations of pupils and their parents. Approximately 560 Year 6 pupils and 75 parents have participated in the most recent event. ▪ Community Placements: Student tutors take part in a wide range of community placement activities under the auspices of the Higher Education Active Community Fund (HEACF) project ▪ Support for the PARTNERS Programme and other...
Raising Aspirations. The Network built on a shared aim to inspire young people, spark their imagination and raise their aspirations. The year-long programme introduces a breadth of pathways available to young people both in further and higher education and rewarding careers.
Raising Aspirations. The College recognises the need to play a full and active part in working with regional partnerships to create supportive progression routes to Higher Education in general and the College in particular. Although the College is a small institution it seeks to make a significant local contribution with specific partnership groups for this work. The College strategy is to develop initiatives aimed at raising aspirations of learners offering a menu of activities, which respond to local needs and support students on their current courses of study. The College has established a ‘Higher Education Learning Partnership’ group, which seeks to work with young people from year 7 upwards in a continuous supportive relationship with the College. HELP offers Student ambassadors from the College as role models to raise aspirations and support improved retention rates of year 12 and 13 and enhancing the possibility of progression into HE. Academic Link Tutors work under the HELP project to offer teaching, advice and guidance within the College environment on master classes, summer schools and taster days as well as short programmes within the partner school, college or community group. These are examples of partnerships which demonstrate the College commitment to work with external agencies to facilitate progression at a local and regional level: • Schools in Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich with Arts or Media specialist status including, Welling School, Catford Girls School and Xxxx Xxxx School and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx School. • Colleges in Bromley and Greenwich with a high ratio of students from low income families, including Bromley College, Tower Hamlets College, Greenwich Community College and Newham College • Community groups with particular interest in Arts or Media who provide opportunities to young people and communities with social disadvantage or disability, including Turtle Keys Arts, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Trust and Youth Culture Television • Greenwich 14-19 forum supporting the development of an integrated approach to broadening access to Higher Education • In partnership with Greenwich University establishing supportive progression pathways within the Thames Gateway • As a partner in Arts Aim Higher in London developing materials and events at a National level to offer information and guidance for students considering Higher Education in Creative field • Actively engaging with Arts Aim Higher South London to offer a range of activities for schools and colleges identified by...
Raising Aspirations. Ravensbourne is currently a member of three Life Long Learning Networks. These networks are a HEFCE initiative to widen participation, by increasing the number of learners progressing from vocational programmes or the workplace, into higher education, and to equip them for lifelong employment in the creative industries. By being full members of these networks, Ravensbourne was last year allocated 67 additional student numbers, specifically to recruit students with vocational qualifications and from non-traditional backgrounds. Through effective collaboration, the progression manager has formed working relationships with over 20 FE Colleges offering vocational programmes resulting this year in 10 progression agreements being formed. Work is on going to continue to maintain and increase these numbers. As a result of these partnerships, students are offered a variety of taster days and projects at Ravensbourne, including help with portfolio building, and interview advice. All students that participate in the progression agreement are subsequently given a pre- ucas interview. Ravensbourne works closely with the following schools and Colleges. Creative Way Barking College Bexley College Brook House Sixth Form Greenwich Community College Xxxxxxx College Havering College and Havering Sixth Form Lewisham College Mid Kent College Newham College and Newham Sixth Form North Xxxx Xxxx College Redbridge College South East Essex College Thurrock and Basildon College Tower Hamlets College Trinity College Others Brit School City of Westminster College City and Islington College Lambeth College Orpington College
Raising Aspirations
