Outreach and Widening Participation

Outreach Evaluation Report 2014-15

Report produced by Stephane Farenga, Research and Evaluation Officer

Contents

Who are we? ...... 1

2014/15 at a glance ...... 2

A closer look at… In-School talks & workshops ...... 4

A closer look at… Autumn School ...... 6

A closer look at… Spring School ...... 9

A closer look at… Pathfinder Days ...... 12

A closer look at… Student Shadowing ...... 16

A closer look at… Children in Care Summer School ...... 19

A closer look at... Year 10 Beacon Summer School ...... 23

A closer look at… Year 12 Summer School ...... 27

Appendix 1 – List of schools ...... 31

Who are we?

The University of Hertfordshire’s (UH) Outreach and Widening Participation department delivers a suite of Outreach initiatives that primarily benefit secondary schools at KS3, KS4 and KS5 levels across Hertfordshire. This provision aims to impact participants across three strands:

 Aspirations – increasing aspiration and awareness of higher education (HE) and what a degree can offer  Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) – providing valuable IAG that allows potential HE applicants to make informed decisions about their HE participation and supports them on their transitional journey into HE  Attainment – closing the attainment gap of the most disadvantaged learners and developing participants’ confidence, in order to make them more successful at school and in HE

The Outreach team for the 2014/15 academic year consisted of the following team members:

Department of Outreach & Widening Participation Outreach Team

Dr Emma Greening Head of Department

Stephane Farenga Lindsey Rigby Research and Outreach Manager Evaluation Officer

Teresa Tinworth Cobi Campbell Emily Ashton Zahra Carnochan Gill Knibbs Administrator Outreach Officer Outreach Officer Outreach Officer Mentoring Officer

Outreach Ambassadors

2014/15 at a glance

134 events delivered

6000+ student participants

The 32 schools comprise:

 23 Beacon Schools (defined as schools with a low progression to HE)  9 Partnership Schools, including two local University Technical Colleges (UTC)

We are especially proud of having also supported over 20 Children in Care (CiC) students, which are a particularly hard-to-reach and vulnerable group, with an extremely low progression rate to higher education.

As a department, we also worked hard to broker deeper and more meaningful relationships with key partners, as well as with schools who had lower levels of engagement with us over the last few years.

We are therefore delighted to have made strides with the University of Cambridge and the Central School of Speech and Drama, both whom helped deliver our CiC Summer School on their sites.

The events delivered this year are split along the following categories:

Key In-school activity One-day campus events Multi-day campus Stage events

KS3 /  Talks,  Pathfinder Days  Autumn School KS4 workshops &  Summer mentoring Schools

KS5  Talks,  Student  Spring School workshops & Shadowing Days  Summer mentoring Schools  Extended Project

Qualification (EPQ)

The rest of this report consists of individual evaluations of these events:

 In-school talks & workshops  Student Shadowing Days  CiC Summer School  Pathfinder Days  Year 10 Beacon Summer School  Autumn and Spring Schools  Year 12 Summer School

We use a mixed methods approach to evaluating events, based on questionnaires and discussion with students and teachers, producing a range of qualitative and quantitative data.

A closer look at… In-School talks & workshops

128 talks delivered to...

25 schools...

and over 6250 young people and their families

22 schools had at least three talks or workshops.

Sessions, aims and outcomes: Level Activity Outcome KS3 & KS4  Why Go to University?  Aspiration  Closing the gap  IAG  Goal Setting  Aspiration  Closing the gap  Study Skills  Aspiration  Closing the gap  English Level Up  Attainment  Aspiration  Closing the gap KS5  Why Go to University?  Aspiration  Closing the gap  IAG  Study Skills  Aspiration  Closing the gap  Choosing Your University and Course  Aspiration  Closing the gap  IAG  UCAS applications and personal  Closing the gap statements  IAG  Student Finance  Aspiration  Closing the gap  IAG  Interview Skills  Attainment  Closing the gap  Learning Skills for University  Attainment  Closing the gap  Student Life  Aspiration  Closing the gap  IAG  Independent Living  Aspiration  Closing the gap  IAG  UCAS Extra and Clearing  IAG

What the teachers say:

78% say our sessions will 100% say UH speakers lead to more 89% say the session met effectively conversations about HE their students' needs communicated key amongst students & messages school staff

78% say our sessions will 67% say their students have a HIGH impact on will be more motivated their students as a result of our sessions

"It was a perfect session to set the scene for UCAS and certainly made the students start to focus on their futures." - Cheshunt School

"The students were all very engaged and you were "Mind maps were started able to respond to all of and students really "Think it will give students their questions." engaged in trying to think the nudge they need to "Should help them to of their skills and relevant finish off applications" aspire to achieve beyond experience" St Mary's C of E School school." Cheshunt School Sele School

A closer look at… Autumn School

The aim of Autumn School is to increase students’ confidence levels 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: 51 Year 11 Lindsey students  Adeyfield School Rigby & from 7 Cobi local  Astley Cooper School Campbell schools

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

 Kings Langley School Three day non-  St Marys CE High residential School

Sessions Aims Outcomes 1. Increase in confidence 1. Intense Maths & 1. To boost skill levels to English 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 breaks aim for university 4. Aspirations to attend university

Aspirations 82% Confidence 88% more confident in more motivated to achieving a C grade get least a C grade in Maths/English in Maths/English

"I really enjoyed this course. It has "I'm going to maintain changed me […] and the motivation they has made me more have provided" confident." Autumn School Maths Autumn School participant English participant

Knowledge Independent 92% & skills 88% learning have the necessary know how to go skills to improve about improving their grades their skills

"[I will] keep revising "I am going to use off my notes and the techniques I’ve sheets given and use learnt to plan my methods they have writing in the future" taught me" Autumn School Autumn School Maths English participant participant "By using these skills "I am going to plan and applying [them] my work with the GAP to some past example SPLITT plan" papers" Autumn School Autumn School English participant English participant

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

19% University

Other Education 56% 25% Don't know

100% agree their practitioner was engaging

83% agree 96% agree their practitioners practitioner explained what explained ideas & “I enjoyed our was needed to concepts clearly teacher. I never knew work was get a C grade so fun.” Autumn School English participant

92% agree staff 96% agree staff & ambassadors & ambassadors helped during were welcoming sessions

96% satisfaction rating

"Amazing! What a good "It was such an experience" university!" Autumn School Autumn School Maths participant English participant

A closer look at… Spring School

The aim of Spring School is to increase the confidence of Year 12 students who have so far not achieved a ‘C’ grade on 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 Academy Boosting attainment  Francis Combe Maths & Workshops for GCSE English delivered by Academy C/D workshops expert borderline practitioners  Hertswood Academy students

 Kings Langley School Three day  Samuel Ryder Academy non- residential  St Marys CE High School

 Turnford School

 Westfield Academy

Sessions Aims Outcomes 1. Increase in confidence 1. Intense Maths & 1. To boost skill levels to English 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 to range of punctuation" 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

A closer look at… Pathfinder Days

Pathfinder Days bring Year 9 students onto the UH campus for a day of discovery. They participate in a range of activities aimed at exposing them to the variety of university subjects, to what life is like around campus, to the benefits of a higher education degree and to the financial commitments students must make. Participants are encouraged to think about the paths they might take into higher education.

Participating schools: 575 Year  Adeyfield School UH staff: 9 students  Astley Cooper School Cobi from 14  Barnwell Campbell local schools  Fearnhill School  Francis Combe Academy Inspiring & Improving  Kings Langley introducing Range of knowledge  Marriotts School pupils to activities & university & designed to  Nobel School awareness engage academic  Onslow St Audrey’s of HE participants School subjects  Parmiter’s School  Priory School One-day  Sir Frederic Osborne event, on- School campus  St Marys CE High School  Thomas Alleyne Academy

Sessions Aims Outcomes 1. Taster lectures, 1. To provide an insight 1. Boost in aspirations introductions to courses & into what university can 2. Increase in knowledge campus tours offer academically about academic courses & 2. Benefits of HE & 2. To inspire pupils to aim student life student finance for HE 3. Awareness of HE 3. Group-based games & 3. To inform pupils on benefits and student presentations various aspects of HE finance

Activities students love...

Campus tours Final presentations Taster lectures

"A real understanding of uni "It gave me a chance to show "It gave a clear example of how life from the perspective of a my creative skills" Astley student" Thomas Alleyne pupil you would have to think and Cooper pupil adapt to this new way of studying" Onslow pupil "An opportunity to work "I loved seeing what a uni is collaboratively" Barnwell pupil "It got me thinking and had me actually like" Adeyfield pupil interested " Marriotts pupil "Everyone had a chance to shine" Frederic Osborne pupil "Gave us an opportunity to see "Because I've never been to a what the classes were like" Barnwell pupil university before" Priory pupil "We got to show off what we learned" Thomas Alleyne pupil

Busting myths and boosting aspirations...

"To get a better job and pursue my dreams" Nobel pupil "It reassured me about the financial aspect of uni" Astley Cooper pupil "I would like a degree so I can have a choice of what I want to do in life" Parmiter's pupil "It isn’t as scary and daunting as I thought it was" Barnwell pupil "I think it might give me a better chance in life" Marriotts pupil

Discovering Discovering HE HE

86% discovered new 90% courses they knew benefitted from little or nothing seeing what about before the student life is like event

"I learned so much "It gave us an actual about the courses and insight into what living paths I can take" at uni would be like" Thomas Alleyne pupil Kings Langley pupil

Key Considering information 68% 65% careers found out key started thinking information about about a future accessing HE career

"I found out "To get into a career everything I need to that is right for me know to help me [get […] and enjoy what I in] to university" study" Kings Langley Nobel pupil pupil

"I would love to study "I know what I have the subject I am to do to get in to uni passionate about and and what it’s like uni will [...] allow me living there" Barnwell to pursue the career pupil [I want]" Onslow pupil

What routes are participants likely to follow after school?

14% University “I want to go to uni so I can learn Don't know how to be 20% independent and get a good job” St 66% Other (incl. Mary’s pupil apprenticeships, colleges & FT employment)

“The 95% of participants [ambassadors] were satisfied with the delivery of were very helpful sessions in answering “It was very your questions, useful to meet showing you actual students around and also and understand helping you 93% agree 94% were satisfied their views” [experience] ambassadors were with the way staff & knowledgeable Onslow pupil what it’s like at ambassadors helped about courses and during activities uni” student life Astley Cooper pupil

95.5% usefulness rating 96% satisfaction rating

"I always "It was fun "I learned thought that new facts and "It has made and universities found the "My parents me change informative were big and right did not go to my mind and confirmed scary and university for uni and I about uni that I want to very [my] future" don’t have because I come to uni" expensive. Astley Cooper older siblings didn’t think it Kings Langley However, it pupil so I have no was that pupil isn’t scary […] one to talk to important and it is uni about" [before "I feel financially "It was just Fearnhill pupil today]" privileged to manageable" amazing" Onslow pupil have been on Francis Adeyfield this trip" St Combe pupil pupil Marys pupil

A closer look at… Student Shadowing

Student Shadowing days offer Year 12 and 13 students from local Hertfordshire secondary schools the opportunity to come onto the UH campus and experience life as a typical student. Participants ‘shadow’, i.e. follow, a UH student ambassador for a day. They attend lectures and accompany the ambassador across campus. Several participants are grouped with an ambassador, usually based on participants’ subject interests.

Participating schools: 147 Year 12 & 13 UH staff: students  Barclay School Cobi from 14  Barnwell Campbell local  Bushey Academy schools  Francis Combe Academy  Hertswood Academy Helping Improving pupils make  Nobel School knowledge informed Shadowing  Onslow St Audrey’s & decisions pairs School awareness about matched by subject  Parmiter’s School of HE applying to  Priory School HE  Sele School  Sir John Lawes School One-day  St Marys CE High School event, on-  Thomas Alleyne campus Academy  Westfield Academy

Sessions Aims Outcomes

1. To help pupils make 1. Ability to make 1. Shadowing a student informed decisions about informed application to ambassador in a chosen applying to HE HE subject for one day 2. To inform students on 2. Increase in knowledge 2. Attending lectures and various aspects of HE about student life other events across (academics, social and campus 3. Improved subject financial) knowledge

Decision- Knowledge making about HE

71% of participants who 75% came to Shadowing wanting to confirm feel comfortable a course choice on-campus now know what course to apply to

"I was able to clarify my options [...] A "I'm really looking to great opportunity and uni now" I would gladly do it again" Barclay's School pupil Onslow School pupil

Knowledge Awareness about HE of key info

88% 83% of participants who can visualise were unsure what themselves as course to apply to university students now know how/where to get more information

"I enjoyed it a lot. It "I have gained more allowed me to get an knowledge on courses in-depth perspective and student life" of university and lectures" Barnwell Hertswood Academy School pupil pupil

"Provided an insight to life as a student and allowed me to experience university" Sele School pupil

At what point in the decision-making process are participants?

8% “Able to narrow 17% Just started my options and experience Identified courses university” 43% Narrowed it down St Mary’s CE High 32% School pupil Ready to apply

94.5% agree ambassadors were “My knowledgeable “My about courses & [ambassadors ambassador subjects ] were very was very helpful and friendly and were able to told me a lot answer a of things 76% agree wide range of 96% agree that ambassadors were questions I ambassadors were knowledgeable reassured knowledgeable brought about student me about about student life finance forward uni life” concerning university.” Hertswood Academy Onslow pupil 89% agree ambassadors were School pupil knowledgeable about student accommodation

97% usefulness rating 95% satisfaction rating

"Today has "I found that "Didn’t want helped and Human to go to uni at prepared me "Better than Biology is all, now I'm more for the an open- highly future. Very not the right day!" Sele considering it" useful day" course for School pupil Onslow Onslow me" Onslow School pupil School pupil School pupil

A closer look at… Children in Care Summer School

The Children in Care Summer School raises aspirations for participants who face barriers to entry in higher education. Sessions are designed to engage pupils in academic topics and university life in order to motivate them to think about applying to university. Children in Care (CiC) are immersed in a range of university environments and exciting academic and physical challenges designed to introduce them to life in higher education.

UH staff: 15 Year 10 Participating local Lindsey & 11 Rigby, Cobi students authorities: Campbell, from 7 Zahra local  Barnet Carnochan authorities

Introducing  Brent Improving Range of pupils to knowledge activities university & designed to  Camden life & awareness engage & academic of HE inspire  Enfield subjects participants

 Haringey Three-day, two-night  Hertfordshire residential event, on- campus  Islington

Sessions Aims Outcomes

1. To inspire CiC to aim for 1. Trips to Cambridge Uni, HE 1. Boost in aspirations Central School of Speech & Drama and UH 2. To provide an insight 2. Increase in knowledge into what uni offers about academic courses & 2. Taster lectures and academically student life subject-specific workshops 3. To expose CiC to new 3. Increase in confidence & 3. Adventure activities & environments & engagement theatre trip experiences

Children in Care tend to have limited exposure to HE

How many conversations have CiC had How many family members or friends do about university in the last year with CiC have that attended university? carers, social workers and teachers?

36% have zero family members or friends 40% rarely or never had conversations about who have attended university university in the last year

36% have 1-3 family members or friends 33% had conversations every few months who have attended university about university in the last year

29% have more than 7 family members or 26% had conversations regularly about friends who have attended university university

80% of CiC felt Summer School had helped them think about their future

"It helped me to think about my opportunities more wisely"

"It helped me understand which courses I want to pursue to get my dream job"

"Gave me a chance to see Cambridge and that it might be a possibility to go there"

Assessing CiC confidence & views on attending university—before & after Summer School

Confidence Confidence

+56% +52% increase in CiC increase in feeling 'very confidence when confident' about meeting new people being in new environments

Attending Attending HE HE

+47% increase with CiC 67% who 'strongly agree that there's no disagree' that reason why they university is not the can't attend environment for university if they them wish to

What routes are participants likely to follow after school?

14% +71% increase University 36% in CiC likely to Other education (incl. apply to apprenticeships & college) university after Don't know Summer School 50%

90% said staff made them feel comfortable

“Great and “They were friendly staff fantastic” 91% satisfaction who makes 91% felt sessions with how staff & you feel were delivered to a ambassadors “Everyone high standard helped during comfortable” activities was brilliant”

92% satisfaction with the way staff & ambassadors answered questions

93% said Summer School changed their perception of university

"I have "I now "I always learned a want to go "It showed thought "It’s made lot more to that if I university me think about university" wanted to, would be more university that I intense seriously and have a "Made me could get and I about my better more into a well- didn’t see future" under- enthusiasti known the good standing of c about university" side [until it" going" today]"

A closer look at... Year 10 Beacon Summer School

The Year 10 Beacon Summer School offers students the chance to discover what life is like at university. They participate in a number of taster lectures, delivered by academic staff, which are designed to introduce them to new subjects and teaching and learning styles. Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) sessions help participants acquire key knowledge about university in order to make informed decisions about their future. By spending a night in university accommodation, including taking part in a social programme, participants are able to experience student life. The entire Summer School is shaped to increase awareness about university, raise aspirations and boost the confidence of those who might who face barriers to attending university.

Participating local UH staff: Cobi 44 Year 10 schools: Campbell, Lindsey students  Adeyfield School Rigby, Emily from 9 Ashton & local  Barnwell School Zahra schools Carnochan

 Cheshunt School Provide an Boost Exposure insight into confidence  Francis Coombe to student university by engaging Academy life courses with range of activities  Kings Langley School

 Priory School Two-day, one-night residential  The Sele School event, on- campus  Thomas Alleyne School

 Westfield Academy

Sessions Aims Outcomes

1. Subject taster sessions 1. To provide an insight into 1. Increased awareness of what university can offer and interest in courses academically available to study 2. Staying overnight in 2. To experience what life is 2. Knowledge of what life is university accommodation like as a university student like at university 3. To expose to new 3. Increased confidence & 3. Social programme environments & experiences engagement

Participants' exposure to higher education & main aims

37% Main aims before Summer School would be the first in their family to attend university 54% are aiming to find out about student life 34% want to find out about new courses 19.5% 8% are aiming to build up their confidence rarely have any conversations about university with family, friends or teachers "My parents would really be proud of me and it would give me a chance to build for my future" 87.5% of participants who rarely talk about university are unsure if university is the right environment "It can help me decide if going to university is for them the right option for me in the future"

Participants' outcomes & favourite taster session

Aerospace: "It included lots of practical work and could lead to my dream job" Key Summer School outcomes Law: "[the lecturer] really engaged the audience" 19% boosted their confidence (137.5% "This session made me realise that I do enjoy increase for those who specifically stated that other things that I haven’t discovered yet" was their goal at the start of the event) Photography: "I love the process of capturing something" 87% now have the necessary information to "I had never been in a darkroom before and I decide if university is for them enjoyed being able to create something myself" Psychology: "I am doing Psychology at school so I got to understand the course in a lot more detail"

Boosting confidence and breaking down barriers

Confidence Confidence +39% 88.5% increase in of participants are participants' now confident in confidence when new environments meeting new people

"It’s much friendlier and it’s a lot more "The activities welcoming than I allowed me to would have expected become more - seeing as there are confident" so many people”

Reducing Reducing obstacles obstacles +85% -64% increase in decrease in participants feeling participants feeling comfortable in a there are obstacles university to attending environment university

"I now know what [university] is like "I thought that it and meeting some of would be really the staff has been expensive. I didn’t good and seeing the know anything about grounds – that was student loans or nice." anything like that"

Most likely route after finishing school: before and after Summer School

Before After

University (+17%) University 14% 2% 20% Don't know Don't know 20%

66% Other education Other education 78% (-86% incl. (incl. apprenticeships) apprenticeships)

98% said staff made them feel comfortable

“The ambassadors were very “The welcoming and 96.5% satisfaction ambassadors 100% felt sessions with how staff & I felt very were delivered to a ambassadors were fantastic. comfortable high standard helped during They helped us asking activities fit in and feel questions comfortable” about university life” 98% satisfaction with how staff & ambassadors answered questions

98% satisfaction rating 91% usefulness rating

"It was amazing as I "I really enjoyed got to experience having the opportunity to what university life "It gave us stay in a room is like and the information that "It had interesting instead of just lectures enabled we normally lectures and vital viewing it [...] I me to understand would not get. scenarios that have enjoyed how we would be We also got the could help me trying different taught. I also got perspective of uni apply to things like the opportunity to students and how university" advertising. I ask a lot of they live and their thought I would questions which experience" never try that as I increased my didn’t think it was knowledge further" for me"

A closer look at… Year 12 Summer School

The Year 12 Summer School has a very strong focus on Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) as sessions and workshops are devoted to navigating UCAS applications, with particular attention paid to understanding and writing personal statements and how to identify courses.

Personal development is also a core aspect as students are challenged to adapt to the campus environment and the challenge of meeting new people and navigating campus spaces.

UH staff: Cobi Campbell, 32 Year 12 Lindsey students Participating local Rigby, Emily from 9 schools: Ashton & local Zahra schools Carnochan  Astley Cooper School  Barclay School Improving Helping Exposure students' identify  Elstree UTC to student ability to suitable  Hertswood Academy life & write courses & HE/FE  Longdean School personal navigate options  Samuel Ryder Academy statements application  Turnford School process  Watford UTC Two-day,  Westfield Academy one-night residential event, on- campus

Sessions Aims Outcomes

1. To improve personal 1. Produce personal 1. Personal statement, statement writing skills, statement; narrow-down UCAS & course-searching decision-making & ability to course/university choices workshops navigate UCAS application 2. Understand options 2. HE (Student Finance, process available Students' Union) & FE 2. To raise awareness about 3. Increase in confidence, (Apprenticeships) talks HE/FE environments engagement & knowledge 3. Social programme 3. To expose to new of what life is like at environments & experiences university

Participants' exposure to higher education

Frequency of conversations about university with friends, family or teachers in last 12 months 31%

of participants would be the first in their Once or more a week: 44% family to attend university Several times a month: 34% Every few months: 22%

Participants' aims & outcomes

Main aim before Summer School Personal statement knowledge

55% are aiming to learn about personal increased their confidence in statements... 84% ...but this drops to 19% for potential 'first in writing personal statements family to university' students

31% aiming to find out about student life...... but this rises to 44% for potential 'first in family "I have learned how to write a personal to university' students statement. It’s a lot easier now to be able to recognise my skills and put them into a "I want to gain a feeling as to what it’s like to live personal statement." as a student. Also, I want to gain a better understanding of how to write a personal statement"

Narrowing choices, making decisions, boosting confidence and breaking down barriers

Narrowing Decision- choices making

+29% +60% increase in increase in participants having participants enough information considering just 1 to make an course to apply to application

"It gave me a load of "I learned a lot about helpful information, university and how I which will help me can apply to my best decide my future" ability"

Reducing Confidence obstacles +35% +62% increase in increase in participants feeling participants comfortable in a agreeing there are university no obstacles to environment attending university

"Gave me a feel of the environment and "I learnt things that I a chance to didn’t know: about [experience] a bit of uni life, finance and freedom and personal statements" independence"

At what point in the decision-making process are participants?

Before After

Identified courses Identified courses (-67%) 13% 3% 12% Narrowed down 37% course choice Narrowed down 28% 44% course choice Writing personal (+86%) statements 41% Writing personal 22% Other statements (+57%)

100% said staff made them feel comfortable “Talking with “They were all the lovely and tried ambassadors their hardest to has helped me help us with to know exactly anything that 91% satisfaction 91% felt sessions with how staff & what I want to was needed were delivered to a ambassadors do after and made us high standard helped during activities school” feel welcome!” “They made an “They were effort to get to really helpful know you” and full of 88% satisfaction with how staff & advice” ambassadors answered questions

84.5% satisfaction rating 91% usefulness rating

"I learned a lot "What I have about university "I am so excited "I got the learned most is and how I can to be able to opportunity to preparing myself apply to my best apply to uni break out of my for what’s ahead of ability" because staying comfort zone" me, the university, in the dorms and learning about the accommodation, "It was useful being with new being able to get a because I now people has just "The advice that feel for [living on know about shown me that the tutors gave my own], what the student life and uni is not a scary us has been night life is like, how I would pay place" really helpful" being amongst off my loans" your peers"

Appendix 1 – List of schools

School type School name Beacon  Adeyfield School  Mount Grace School  Astley Cooper School  Nobel School  Barclay School  Onslow St Audrey’s  Barnwell School School  Bushey Academy  Priory School  Cheshunt School  Sele School  Samuel Ryder  Sheredes School Academy  Sir Frederick Osborn  Francis Combe School Academy  St. Mary’s High  Hertswood School School  Kings Langley School  Thomas Alleyne  Longdean School School  Marriotts School  Turnford School  Westfield School

Partnership &  Highfield School UTC  Fernhill School  Sir John Lawes School  Roundwood Park School  Monk’s Walk School  Parmiter’s School  Elstree UTC  Watford UTC