IN THIS ISSUE Oxbridge: Not just a pipe dream Judith Welikala provides a unique insight into the Oxbridge debate. Widening participation should be everyone’s business Mark Allan, Chief Executive of The UNITE Group, discusses the broader benefits of tackling the UK’s social mobility issues. Insight An update from the charity’s newest regional centre, IntoUniversity Bristol East.

aspireJUNE 2013 | ISSUE 2

Oxbridge: Not just a pipe dream The first time I heard the term ‘Oxbridge’, and had an IntoUniversity mentor. As a result, I And I can say with confidence that I have never I was watching the Boat Race on TV aged 5, was put forward by IntoUniversity for an Arnold noticed anyone’s background affecting other thinking I was looking into another world. Foundation scholarship at Rugby School. Before students’ perception of them. Flash-forward 15 years and I was watching long, I was a student at one of England’s most As for me, when I first arrived at Cambridge the Race again, this time from the banks prestigious public schools. I had a brief foray into rowing as a cox, though of the Thames, as a Cambridge student Until then, I’d kept my thoughts on Cambridge the early mornings and my inability to steer the supporting my university. to myself. But at Rugby, it could be talked about boat meant I didn’t last long. When the time But the journey in between has not been so openly. That’s not to say students were under came for the next Race, I was much happier straightforward. My fascinated 5-year-old self any illusions about how difficult the admissions cheering from the sidelines. asked my 12-year-old cousin whether we’d process would be. The difference was that I may not have been cut out for rowing, but I did ever get the chance to study at Oxbridge. Oxbridge, for the first time, was presented as an have the most incredible 3 years at Cambridge. Judith Welikala His response was, “I don’t think they’re for people attainable goal, not just a pipe dream. I immersed myself in a subject I loved, made Judith is a postgraduate like us.” I’m sure he’d take back his words now, but But most young people won’t be in the incredibly wonderful friends, and found a hobby I was Investigative Journalism student it was a sentiment that stuck with me for years. fortunate position I was at such a critical junction actually reasonably good at - writing for the at City University. While at Access to Oxbridge is a well-trodden and much in my life. Oxbridge continues to be seen as student newspaper. I enjoyed it so much, school she took part in a range of IntoUniversity’s programmes argued subject, though what is universally agreed an unrealistic ambition, which for many bright, I eventually became co-editor-in-chief, and I’m and is now an Undergraduate upon is that there are still not enough students hard-working students just isn’t the case. However now completing an MA in Investigative Journalism. Mentor to a Year 9 student from state schools, especially from lower-income there doesn’t necessarily need to be a seismic That’s not to say that every high-achieving at IU North Kensington. She families, applying. I’m certain many young people shift to change someone’s mind. My alma mater, student should aim for Oxbridge. Some might previously studied History at the still feel the way I once did. Pembroke College, helps to run a residential want to study courses that they don’t offer, such University of Cambridge, where At school, I discovered a passion for history. summer school for high-achieving students from as Dentistry or Sports Sciences. Others might she edited The Cambridge When I later began to think about university, schools that don’t typically send students to prefer the atmosphere of larger campus-based Student newspaper. She has I was amazed by the breadth of the history course Oxbridge. It was how three of my friends from universities. written for the Independent Pembroke first visited the college. on Sunday, TIME.com and The at Cambridge, and the concept of one-to-one There are many reasons why young people Island, an English-language supervisions. But the world of dreaming spires, At the Open Day I attended, one tutor directly might decide that Oxford or Cambridge are not newspaper based in Sri Lanka. gowns and garden parties seemed far removed addressed claims that the university is elitist. She the right universities for them. Worrying that they from my childhood in Wembley, where few said that absolutely it was, but clarified that it was are not from the right background should not be students aspired to go to university at all, let academically elitist. It wanted the brightest and one of them. alone to one of the best universities in the the best students. But she was adamant that an world. I wondered whether I would ever fit in. applicant’s background does not matter. You can hear from Judith talking about her Those nagging doubts might have prevented I can’t speak with any great authority, but from experience of volunteering for IntoUniversity me from applying, were it not for a decision my own observation, state school students have in our new volunteering film, which can be that irrevocably transformed my life. I’d been thrived just as much as their privately educated found at www.intouniversity.org attending several IntoUniversity programmes peers, both academically and socially.

11/06/2013 19:16 aspire | IntoUniversity | June 2013 Widening participation should be everyone’s business

The Trustees and staff of IntoUniversity As well as an annual donation to are to be praised for making Higher If children with real IntoUniversity, we run a bursary Education a reality for some of the most scheme which provides both cash and disadvantaged children in our society. potential are denied these accommodation for young people who This is far more than just good works, opportunities because of would otherwise find it difficult to access it is also of vital importance to our Higher Education. Our business is providing economy and essential to us as a society. the social circumstances homes for students, so with our university partners we prioritise students for whom In this article I explore the many into which they were born, ‘home’ is especially important. This includes reasons that the UNITE Group supports then this is clearly unfair. young people who have been in care or IntoUniversity, and why our aim is to invest are estranged from their families, who £1 million per year into tackling educational Mark Allan This goes beyond mere numbers, though have been homeless, or have other issues disadvantage in the UK by 2015. Chief Executive, The UNITE Group the million+ report is able to put a value that make a space they can call their own to graduate contribution to the economy. Mark was appointed to the As the UK’s largest student accommodation significant. For some it is the simple fact role of Chief Executive of UNITE provider, we are in constant touch with It is about the kind of society we want of having a quiet space in which to study, in September 2006, having students from all backgrounds. We to be, and the harnessing of all available which has not previously been possible previously served as Chief see every day the effort they put into talent to solve the economic, social and because of their living circumstances. Financial Officer for three years. achieving a degree, and the sacrifices ecological challenges of the decades ahead. There are many reasons why children He joined UNITE in 1999 and they are prepared to make to achieve It is also about the diversity of these may not fulfil their potential and none held a variety of positions in their goal. For many, going to university graduates. As an employer, as well as a of them are acceptable. It is everyone’s the business before joining was never a straightforward choice citizen, I want to know that we are allowing business to help change this, not only the Board. As Chief Executive, and for some there were times when Mark has overall responsibility all our children to reach their potential, because it is the right thing to do, but also it didn’t seem like an option at all. for UNITE’s strategy and not just those from the more advantaged because it is the logical thing. By giving business performance for And yet a higher education is quite backgrounds; I want to know that I can find young people a chance, IntoUniversity and its stakeholders. He began literally life changing. It provides a unique skilled and talented people with a myriad of other successful widening participation his career at KPMG where opportunity for intellectual development different perspectives and experiences that programmes are helping to develop a he qualified as a Chartered and wider enrichment, and is the key that will add strength to my team; I do not want new generation of leaders and this is Accountant and spent five unlocks the door to so many valuable to stand by and see potential not realised. years specialising in corporate the best investment I can imagine. finance. Mark is a leading figure and interesting careers. A recent London For these reasons I wanted UNITE to be in the student accommodation Economics report for university think able to make a real difference in tackling There are many reasons sector and has a particular tank million+ states that a degree adds educational disadvantage. Last year we interest in the role the private £115,000 to an individual’s earnings over a launched the UNITE Foundation, a grant- why children may not fulfil sector can play in helping lifetime. If children with real potential are making trust that channels the corporate their potential and none of Higher Education Institutions denied these opportunities because of donations of the UNITE Group into operate more efficiently. Mark the social circumstances into which they causes we believe in. The vast majority of them are acceptable. is an active member of the CBI, were born, then this is clearly unfair. these donations go to support widening British Property Foundation and Urban Land Institute. But there is more. Graduates do not only participation in Higher Education. add to their own earnings, they also bring added value to the organisations in which they work, and to the economy as a whole.

Anniversary Reception

At the end of January, 100 guests joined us for a 10th Anniversary Reception, kindly hosted by BlackRock. We were delighted that Justin Webb, presenter of the BBC Radio 4 Today programme was able to join us as a speaker at the event. Justin gave an extremely interesting and highly entertaining lecture on the topic of ‘Social mobility and broken politics: Where now for the United States?’

Dr Rachel Carr, Justin Webb, Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard Alex Tyson-Beer, Team Leader at IU and James Lambert at the Reception Hackney Downs, chatting to Justin Webb Our social media community In this edition we are looking to increase the number of supporters who follow us on our social media. Insight Please take a moment to like us or leave a message on: facebook.co.uk/IntoUniversity @IntoUniversity Updates, reviews and highlights from IntoUniversity’s network of centres. or have a look at our blog http://intouni.blogspot.co.uk

Review Reflections of an Academic Support volunteer National Expansion at the University of Bristol, and looking at After the successful launch of Ancient Civilisations with primary students. IntoUniversity Nottingham West in March Our Oceanography and Zoology themed 2012 and Nottingham East in April 2013, Holiday FOCUS week for secondary students IntoUniversity’s growth outside of London included a tour of BBC Bristol, a nature has continued, with Bristol being the next photography competition at the zoo and a city to welcome an IntoUniversity centre. lecture on tropical fish found in the Pacific The University of Bristol is funding £100,000 Ocean. It’s been fantastic running our first per year for five years towards the costs of few FOCUS weeks with Year 6 classes from St Nicholas of Tolentine, Barton Hill and Rachel Reid operating an IntoUniversity centre in Bristol, a city with areas of significant levels of Hannah More primary schools; visits to the Rachel Reid is Team Leader poverty and educational underachievement. SS Great Britain by ferry, market research in at IntoUniversity Bristol East the science centre @Bristol, and graduations and Internship Manager for Black and minority ethnic pupils, pupils the network. She joined us as with Free School Meals eligibility and pupils in impressive university rooms are just a a Graduate Trainee Education with English as an Additional Language few highlights. The summer term will see Worker in August 2010. Prior underperform at all levels in Bristol. The the Bristol team working with eight Year 5 to joining IntoUniversity she centre is located in the Lawrence Hill ward, classes from our six partner primary schools. read English and Philosophy an area identified in our feasibility study We have now established our secondary at the University of Reading as showing signs of social and economic cohort model with The City Academy and and taught English in Chile. exclusion. Lawrence Hill is the most deprived Fairfield High school and have enjoyed Maggie Macfarlane, Academic Support volunteer, ward in the South West of England, with building relationships with students who IntoUniversity North Kensington almost 60% of children living in poverty. we will be working with over the next few years. We are looking forward to working I have been a primary Academic Support tutor at Bristol Review with Bristol Metropolitan Academy in the IntoUniversity for the last 2 and a half years. I was IntoUniversity Bristol East got off to a summer term. The enthusiastic support introduced to the programme by a friend who had been flying start this year with Academic of our volunteer tutors, mentors and the previously involved as a donor, and together we thought Support spaces filling up within the first Bristol community has been really valuable it would be fun to volunteer together in Academic few weeks and a very successful open day and impressive, and we were delighted Support (AS). It has in fact been enormous good fun, attended by over 200 people. We have to welcome so many people for the but also a fascinating experience. One meets a varied enjoyed getting to know all the students at official launch of the centre last month. group of kids, each bringing an individual perspective Academic Support, in particular pairing 17 to the sessions. The vast majority of the children come students with mentors who are students from families where mum and dad were born overseas, English is not their first language, and acclimatising to the British way of life can be intimidating. Frequently it is the kids, often bilingual, who are the facilitators for Impact of IntoUniversity programme on Key Stage 2 Results their families. I have felt quite humbled witnessing a nine year old, working flat out to do well academically, managing the pressure of preparing for scholarship How do IntoUniversity What progress did our students make during Key Stage 2? exams, whilst at the same time looking out for younger students’ 2012 Key Stage 2 siblings and translating and explaining to mum and results compare with other dad how things work over here. Many of them juggle students nationally? % quite a lot, and manage to do it with grace and skill. 94 92% I think I most enjoy working with the slightly less +7% POINTS 87% biddable child. AS is meant to be optional, no one is +10 % POINTS 82% 79% forced to attend, but one does come across children who seem to be uninterested, and not keen to be there. +11 % POINTS 68% I have learned, however, that most kids are reachable, once you have found the way in, and AS affords that extra time and space to do so. When a seemingly surly 10 year old, who would not even make eye contact with you at the beginning of the session (and who only started to learn English a year and a half ago) nails the difference between to, two, and too, in only 10 minutes, and rewards you with a big smile and “thank you,” it makes for a truly gratifying afternoon.

Volunteering News

% of disadvantaged Year 6 % of disadvantaged Year 6 % of disadvantaged Year 6 IntoUniversity named LSE Voluntary children on our Primary FOCUS children on our Primary FOCUS children on our Primary FOCUS programme attaining Level 4+ programme who made the programme who made the Organisation of the Year 2013 in English and Mathematics expected improvement*in English expected improvement* in IntoUniversity has been named ‘Voluntary Organisation compared with disadvantaged compared with disadvantaged Mathematics compared with of the Year 2013’ by the Careers Volunteer Centre at the students nationally students nationally disadvantaged students London School of Economics, recognising the work of nationally IntoUniversity in managing LSE students and enabling them to make real social change whilst at university. Disadvantaged IntoUniversity Primary FOCUS students All disadvantaged students nationally A special mention in particular to Connor Russell, IU Mentor, Buddy, and Student Ambassador who was shortlisted for ‘LSE Volunteer of the Year’. *Expected improvement is an increase of 2 levels from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 e.g. from level 2 at Key Stage 1 to level 4 at Key Stage 2. aspire | IntoUniversity | June 2013

Spotlight

Jim and Matoula are long-standing supporters of IntoUniversity. Matoula has volunteered at Academic Support sessions at our North Kensington centre since September 2011 and is also a member of IntoUniversity’s Public Events Committee. Here they speak to us about what Higher Education meant for them personally, and share their unique, international view of social mobility in the UK.

Please can you tell us about your educational backgrounds What do you think about social mobility in the UK in comparison and early careers? We both grew up in Australia. Our respective to Australia? Clearly, the ability for anyone to improve opportunities parents emigrated from Greece during the late 50’s and early 60’s for their children is an issue faced across almost all parts of the world as part of that ‘tidal’ wave of immigrants reflecting the (rather dire) – the UK is no exception to that. I would say that the UK is far less economic situation that faced Greece at that time. ‘Downton Abbey’ than is assumed by many (including those in places like Australia) and far more open to individuals who simply want to We both attended state funded schools and were both fortunate afford greater opportunities for their children. to attend university which changed our lives. Matoula did an Arts degree (English and History) and became a teacher (hence her Jim, as someone who has worked in the City for many years, do passion for becoming involved in IntoUniversity). Jim studied Law you think that ‘City workers’ feel a connection to IntoUniversity’s and Economics and subsequently practised as a lawyer in Australia, mission? One thing I have noticed over recent years, (and perhaps followed by a career in investment management. one positive by-product of the crisis) has been an increase in ‘giving back’ amongst all levels of staff including the relatively junior or less We both wound up living overseas with stints in Asia (Singapore experienced. This has been a pleasing trend and long may it continue. and Hong Kong), London and New York, returning to London in early 2006. I am not entirely sure that it is due to any ‘connection’ though. Clearly, the effort (and contribution) by several major City institutions (some What did having the opportunity to go to university mean for of whom are supporters of IntoUniversity) during these times has you both? Being fortunate enough to have attended university a real positive impact. I would like to think that it has more to do has made a significant (and remarkable) difference to our lives. with a growing realisation that all of us have a broader responsibility, We both came from families where education was ‘not the norm’ especially to younger people who may not have had the same level - reflective of economic circumstances. Our respective families of opportunity afforded to them. typically worked in semi-skilled and unskilled work. Being able to continue education and attend university enabled us to enter a ’new How do you think the UK government might better combat world’ of opportunities (as well as meeting each other!) and embark social exclusion and underachievement in the UK? Speaking from on careers that, quite honestly, we could not have dreamt of! our own personal experience, we would say a key driver is education.

What brought you to London? We had been living and How did you become involved with IntoUniversity? working in Asia (Jim was employed by a US bank at the time) and Matoula originally became involved via a friend and quickly an opportunity came up to move to London in the early part of discovered a connection with the ethos and purpose behind 2000. We saw it as an opportunity to live in Europe (with Greece and IntoUniversity. The involvement spread through to Jim from there. extended family there being a short flight away), as well as exposing our two children to another country. We subsequently did a short Please can you explain what motivates and influences you stint in the USA (New York) and, although a wonderful experience, to give to the charitable organisations that you support? when the opportunity came up to return to London in early 2006, We both feel so fortunate given the background of our we did not hesitate. parents and the challenges they faced to afford us opportunities. We therefore have a strong desire to ‘give back’. What was your impression of class divisions in the UK when you arrived from Australia? Has this view changed at all since settling here? The one thing living in a few countries does provide is perspective. There are class type issues in many countries (including Australia) and the concern is that, increasingly, there is a widening gap between various socio-economic groups in developed countries like the UK. The one thing that we have been pleasantly surprised about here in the UK is the awareness of the issue and the focus of organisations such as IntoUniversity trying to do something positive about it.

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