Aimhigher Your pathway to Higher Education Annual Review 2012 / 2013 Working Together To Make A Difference… Working together to make a difference… Welcome to the Aimhigher West Midlands 2012 / 2013 Annual Review. 2012 / 2013 saw Aimhigher consolidate its “Aimhigher made me realise how position as a national exemplar of good practice important this year is, which has in the collaborative delivery and evaluation of made me focus and put more effort work to widen participation in higher education. into work and revision.” Through the continued commitment of our partner schools, colleges and universities we reached out Aimhigher mentee to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and gave them exciting opportunities to realise their potential and the role higher education might play in their future. Over the last 15 years the cost of higher education has shifted from the state to the individual. Yet over this same period young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have made the journey to and through higher education in increasing numbers, and are now twice as likely to enter higher education than in the late 1990s. We are confident that the work of Aimhigher has played a significant role in this remarkable achievement. This Annual Review tells the stories of some of the young people we have supported, and recognises the commitment to social mobility of our many partners who, by working together, make Aimhigher possible. Thank you for your continued support. “Strong, sustained partnership between universities and schools is key to supporting disadvantaged young people on their journey to higher education, and Aimhigher West Midlands is a good example of this. I wish the partnership well in its work to motivate and inspire a new generation of students, because everyone who has the potential to go to higher education should get the support they need to fulfil that potential, whatever their background.” Professor Les Ebdon CBE, Director, Office for Fair Access 1 The Year in Brief 2012 / 2013 was an important year for Aimhigher, as we Schools and colleges across the region responded, commenced work on an ambitious plan to double the with many using Pupil Premium funding to enable number of young people we support by 2014 / 2015. young people to access our programmes. And all Our 4 university partners agreed a series of challenging partners benefited from Aimhigher’s unique cross-sector targets for Aimhigher in their Access Agreements with expertise, coming together at Forums and Conferences the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), the government to enhance their provision of careers guidance. agency charged with ensuring wider and fairer access to higher education. Aimhigher Mentoring Aimhigher mentors provide face-to-face and on-line support to young people between Year 7 and Year 13. During the year 99 mentors worked UniFest Summer Schools with 503 young people in 22 schools, academies UniFest gave 221 young people a chance to and colleges, delivering more than 5,190 explore study and student life at one of our partner support sessions. universities. In addition, more than 300 parents attended UniFest information evenings, receiving wider information and advice on university options, decisions and finances. The Healthy Careers Project Developing young people’s awareness of the health and care sector, this project provided information and advice on academic and vocational career pathways to over 360 young people during the year. Importantly, it also gave 45 young people Learning Choices direct contact with healthcare professionals and This service delivered systematic on-line access to work experience placements in the sector. assessments of the learning and career aspirations of over 1,200 young people in 6 schools. Schools used the results to inform curriculum planning, quality improvement and the development and delivery of student support and careers guidance services. Staff Development, Good Practice and Policy Our website, monthly eBulletins, Aimhigher Forums and conferences bring staff from across the sectors together to review emerging developments and share good practice in higher education information, advice and guidance. Campus Visits, Masterclasses, Careers Over 500 practitioners attended Aimhigher-related Information and Guidance events during the year, and our website attracted • Our 4 universities delivered 316 Masterclass and over 4,000 visitors and 13,500 page views. campus-based events for schools and colleges throughout the year, engaging more than 13,700 young people • Aimhigher universities also attended over 450 school, college and community-based events, providing information and advice on higher education to more than 89,000 young people and parents. 2 Mentoring for success Aimhigher mentors are current university students who support school or college learners on a weekly basis, typically for between 12 and 15 weeks. The mentors deliver one-to-one and group sessions during the school or college day, and have access to a secure e-mentoring system which provides further contact opportunities and a range of learning and information resources for both mentors and learners. Mentors receive 2 days of intensive training prior to commencing their work, and are supported throughout by their university coordinators and staff in their host school or college. Aimhigher mentors are role models for young people, and help them by raising their aspirations, improving their study skills, increasing their awareness of higher education and generally supporting their self-esteem, motivation and confidence. In 2012-2013 over 500 young people from 22 schools and colleges across the West Midlands were supported by 99 Aimhigher mentors. Young people were selected for the scheme because they have the potential to be considering university but come from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities that are under- “My mentoring sessions were represented in higher education. Overall, our mentors very helpful and I learnt absolutely delivered more than 5,100 face-to-face and on-line loads ...about higher education, sessions throughout the year. qualifications, work experience... Evaluating the impact our mentors have is a priority for Due to Aimhigher I am now 110% Aimhigher. The young people taking part are invited sure of my career path.” to complete a questionnaire probing their attitudes towards learning, career planning and higher education at the beginning and end of the programme, and they and their parents are also asked for permission to track their subsequent educational progression. Year after year the results demonstrate the powerful effect that learner-centred mentoring can have, and 2012 / 2013 was no exception. 318 (63.2%) of the young people involved completed both the pre and post mentoring questionnaires, of which: • 96.7% felt mentoring had led to improvement in their aspirations • 91.6% felt mentoring had led to improvement in their study skills • 93.5% felt mentoring had led to improvement in their motivation to succeed Aston University’s Victoria Gittings with her • 94.5% felt mentoring had led to improvement in their Aimhigher Mentor of the Year Award. knowledge of higher education • 99% were satisfied or very satisfied with the support they had received. 3 Celebrating University Mentors of the Year University College Birmingham success Winner Dalal Fara The Aimhigher Awards in June 2013 highlighted Birmingham City University Winner Habib Ali the tremendous dedication and commitment of our mentors and the change, hope and University of Birmingham optimism generated in the young people they Winner Rosina Barrett support. Aimhigher Mentor of the Year Our judges were hugely impressed with the passion, determination and purpose shown by Winner Victoria Gittings Aston University the mentors, and the progress made by their Aimhigher Key Stage 3 Learners of the Year learners, who were now reaching for their full potential. Winner Connor Hilton Smith’s Wood Sports College Runners Up Rebecca Davies Smith’s Wood Sports College Brandon Burbidge-Pitt CTC Kingshurst Academy Nominees Fairoos Salem St Alban’s Academy Khadra Mohammed Khater Ali “Aimhigher has really Raheeb Ali encouraged and motivated me Rhys Chapman to work hard. Because of my Zoe Leigh Lloyd Lode Heath School mentor I got two grades above Hodan Farah Bordesley Green Girls’ School my forecast in a subject that had Aimhigher Key Stage 4 Learners of the Year confused me. Mentoring has Winner Matthew Nuttall Planstbrook School built my confidence.” Runner Up Suzanna Oldsworth Hillcrest School Ayesha Liaqat, Post-16 Learner Nominees Reece Lynch Waverley School Faith Eckersley Lyndon School of the Year, Swanshurst School Hafsa Hussain Holy Trinity Catholic Media College Seran Francis Holyhead School Prabjoat Layal Holyhead School Claire Canning CTC Kingshurst Academy Aimhigher Post-16 Learners of the Year Winner Ayesha Liaqat Swanshurst School Runner Up Lucy Edwards Planstbrook School Nominees Lorna Hill Smith’s Wood Sports College Below: Ayesha Liaqat receiving her award from Jack Walkley Bournville School leading motivational speaker Jackson Ogunyemi. 4 UniFest 2013 UniFest is a key element of Aimhigher’s programme. In June and July 2013 our 4 universities delivered 6 UniFest events, giving 221 young people from 33 schools and colleges the chance to taste, test and try university life and study. UniFest events explored Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, the performing and culinary arts, event management and general higher education options.