¦ Skip to main content

The next Steps to Widening Participation

11 December 2007

Access conference told that the next step in widening participation in higher education (HE) would be to build stronger structural links between schools, colleges and universities, through the development of HE backed trusts and academies said John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, today. He is in discussion with HEFCE and UUK about how the government can further support these links financially.

Addressing the Action on Access conference, Mr Denham praised AimHigher, universities and others involved in widening participation, for 'genuinely changing peoples' lives' and applauded the progress that has been made. However evidence suggests that both schools and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) need to be better at spotting and nurturing talent amongst students who may turn their backs on HE as young as 12 or 13.

The government wants more HEIs to form deep, long term links with schools. In October the academies prospectus was published setting out how such joint working can benefit both universities and schools, with universities spearheading efforts to raise the aspirations of pupils, teachers and parents, driving up standards and supporting students going into Higher Education.

John Denham Said

Although much good work has already been done though Aimhigher and other initiatives, we now need to change the culture of schools and colleges, a well as improve the individual opportunities students have access to.

He asked

What happens when the project workers leaves? When the kids who have benefited have gone off to university? Have we fundamentally changed the school or university to enable other students to benefit?

We expect to see a greater effort attached to supporting trusts and academies. In the coming months, we want to see all widening participation projects considering how to promote them.

Many HEIs already have links with schools and see the value in drawing on mainstream resources to sustain these links, but I recognise that some pump-priming will be needed so over the next few weeks I shall be in discussion with HEFCE and UUK about the best ways of doing so.

Notes to Editors

  1. A detailed prospectus was launched in October, urging universities to become engaged directly in schools and academies. The academies prospectus for Academies and Universities is available on the DIUS websites http://www.dius.gov.uk and follows on from the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech earlier this year.
  2. Universities currently engaged with Academies include: Aston University, Coventry University, Imperial College London, Liverpool Hope University, City University London, Oxford Brookes University, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Birmingham City University, University of Chester, University College London, University of London Queen Mary, University of the West of England, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham, University of Manchester, University of Wolverhampton and University of the West of England.
  3. Universities supporting trust schools include: Canterbury Christchurch University, Cranfield University, Hull University, Leeds Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, Sunderland University, University of Exeter, University of Kent, University of Leicester, University of Plymouth, University of Warwick, University of the West of England and University of Wolverhampton.

For further information, please Contact Emma Griffiths DIUS Press Office, 020 7216 2566