Outreach and Widening Participation

Spring School Report – 2014/15

Author: Stephane Farenga, Research & Evaluation Officer

The aim of Spring School is to increase the confidence of Year 12 students who have failed their English or Maths GCSE and provide them with the skills they need to achieve a C on their chosen GCSE subject. By bringing them on-campus and having them use University facilities, as well as engage with student ambassadors, we also hope to raise their aspirations with regard to higher education.

Participating schools: UH staff: 25 Year 12  Adeyfield School Lindsey students Rigby & from 10  Barclay School Cobi local Campbell schools  Bushey

Boosting  Francis Combe Academy attainment Maths & Workshops for GCSE English delivered by  C/D workshops expert borderline practitioners  School students

Three day  St Marys CE High School non- residential  Turnford School

Sessions Aims Outcomes

1. Increase in confidence 1. Intense Maths & English 1. To boost skill levels to workshops GCSE C grade 2. Ability to work independently 2. Game-orientated 2. To foster independent sessions learning 3. Improved subject knowledge & skills 3. Campus tour & social 3. To inspire pupils to aim breaks for university 4. Aspirations to attend university

Confidence Aspirations 64% 100% more confident in more motivated to achieving a C grade get least a C grade in Maths/English in Maths/English

"I will take [my notes] "Seeing the university back to my teacher has motivated me to and show what I have work hard and get learnt" good grades" Spring School Maths Spring School Maths participant participant

Knowledge Independent 80% & skills 96% learning have the necessary know how to go skills to improve about improving their grades their skills

"[I will] practise what "I am going to revise I have learnt with weekly using the new exam papers leading skills I have learnt" up to my exam" Spring School Maths Spring School English participant participant

"Do 45mins of revision "I will add language everyday and revise in techniques and a a way that I'm going range of punctuation" to remember my key Spring School English notes" participant Spring School Maths participant

Where are students likely to be headed once they finish school…?

5% 5% University 11% Other Education

Don't know

79% Other (incl. FT work)

100% agree their practitioner was engaging

100% agree 100% agree their practitioners practitioner explained what explained ideas & was needed to concepts clearly get a C grade

100% agree staff 100% agree staff & ambassadors & ambassadors helped during were welcoming sessions

100% satisfaction rating

"I [benefitted] from all areas in "Meeting new people and learning order to improve my skills" Spring new methods to apply to maths" School Maths participant Spring School Maths participant