100% of Uni Connect Leads believe the programme has raised awareness of HE options
We currently work with 60% of state schools and every Further Education college across Sussex. Each year, we check in with them to ensure the work we are doing is affecting the educational lives of young people in the most impactful way possible. Here’s what our Uni Connect Leads told us this year…
In our latest annual survey with Uni Connect Leads we were pleased to discover that 95% felt that working with us had broadened their knowledge of the widening access agenda, as well as their familiarity with the higher education sector and the many different options open to students.
Importantly, as a result of their own professional development, 100% felt that they had been effective in contributing to an enhanced whole school or college awareness of the wide range of support and options open to Uni Connect students. 100% said that as a result they felt they had been able to help Uni Connect students make more informed choices about their futures. Significantly 95% of Uni Connect Leads agreed that Uni Connect funding had also helped raise attainment amongst Uni Connect eligible students.
Interestingly, nearly all Uni Connect Leads – 95% - cited the programme as enhancing relationships with Uni Connect students’ families and carers. The survey has revealed the wider ripple effect of the programme, with many saying that the programme’s funding and support had helped students meeting other indicators of disadvantage across their community (eg. SEND and GRT students and those qualifying for free school meals).
The latest survey also revealed an appreciation of the quality of the resources our partnership enables:
“Students have more information available to them about local and national colleges and universities. Having Unifrog funded has meant that every student has access to high quality information.”
Schools and colleges also spoke of valuing the autonomy to use funding to deliver bespoke projects that could be tailored to their Uni Connect students’ exact needs:
“We have used Uni Connect funding to target interventions for under achieving Year 13 students, providing them with a bespoke extra tuition package to improve attainment. Students’ feedback post sessions has seen an increase in student confidence about their subject knowledge.”
“Funding for parents and students for university taster days has helped us build relationships and removed barriers for those where finance is an issue.”
Very positively many Uni Connect Leads referenced the impact the programme had in creating unique opportunities that opened students’ eyes to new talents:
“I have always enjoyed working with our Uni Connect students and engaging them in projects to raise their aspirations. We had some real success stories this year including seeing one of our challenging Year 10 boys representing the school in the Sussex Speak Out finals at Brighton Market Hall theatre.”
Commenting on this year’s Uni Connect Leads Evaluation, Fay Lofty, our Schools Liaison Programme Manager, said: “We enjoy a close working relationship with Uni Connect Leads in each of the schools and colleges we work with and really value their insights.
“Their feedback is invaluable in helping us shape a programme that delivers maximum benefit to those young people across Sussex who have traditionally been underrepresented in Higher Education. Working collaboratively together in this way we can deliver support that is in many cases truly life changing and enhancing.”
For more information about how we engage with schools and sixth form colleges, or to find out how we can help you support your students please contact our Schools Liaison Programme Manager Fay Lofty f.lofty@brighton.ac.uk.