What's New Please use the links to the right of the page to browse What's New by category.
All of What's New
Funding Guidance from the Young Peoples Learning Agency
This webpage contains links to all the documents
relating to funding for 2009/10 and 2010/11. Read More
FE News Background FE News is the Further Education, Skills and
Employability news site / online magazine. We cover news across the entire FE
Sector, and have been established since 2003. We are an independent publication
that is passionate about promoting best practice across the entire FE Sector
(when we talk about FE we mean the entire sector). Read More Call to involve disabled people in policy making HEFCE invites disabled people to become involved in HEFCE's policy making process over the next 12 months.
To read this item in full visit: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2010/involve.htm Admissions and Widening Participation - Briefing July 2010 This briefing aims to
provide an update of just some of the development work in UCAS and SPA which is
relevant to widening participation. Although items in the briefing were written
before the recent change of government the issues and areas covered are
relevant to the work of partnerships. BriefingAction on Access Briefing on 14-19 Landscape - August 2010
Following the May general election the new coalition
government have announced several important changes affecting the 14-19 landscape.
This Action on Access briefing entitled, 'Cutting Bureaucracy or Changing the
Agenda: Changes to the 14-19 Landscape Post-2010 Election', aims to provide practitioners
with an update. Briefing
Student Finance England 2010/2011 Guidance Chapters
The following 2010/2011 Guidance Chapters are available for download. Further
2010/1011 Guidance Chapters will be published as soon as they are approved. Read More
Directgov Student Finance Widget The Directgov Student Finance Widget allows current and future students to
access a variety of relevant information and services from Directgov, directly
from your website. Read More HEFCE grant programme to research, develop and evaluate institutional practice In January 2009, HEFCE established a grant programme to research,
develop and evaluate institutional practice relating to links between
higher education institutions, schools, colleges and academies. Circular Letter number 01/2009. A summary of the projects is given here in ExcelRetention Briefing 04 - July 2010 The fourth briefing of the What Works? Student Retention and Success Programme funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). These bi-annual briefings are prepared by the support and co-ordination team led by the Higher Education Academy and Action on Access to disseminate information about the Programme to the HE sector, and to encourage others to share their effective practice. In this briefing, we focus on the emerging findings from the 7 funded projects. We have asked each team to prepare a top tip to improve student retention and success, answering the question of what works and based on their evidence to date. Briefing Action on Access Bulletin July 2010
which this month features links to HEPI�s report on male and female participation in
HE, an Equality Act Briefing Paper produced by the Equality Challenge Unit and information
on an immediate freeze on all
new government advertising and marketing
spend. Read More Disabled Student Service Bulletin 2 - July 2010 This latest bulletin gives you an update on the Student Finance England service for disabled students for academic year 2010 / 2011 - how they are doing and what’s new.Read MoreCoalition Government Supports BPP in becoming a University College BPP was recently granted university college status by the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Read Press ReleaseAimhigher Associates Scheme 2010 Conference Report Guidance for Summer Schools 2010 - 2011 Summer schools guidance for 2010 - 2011 is now available on the HEFCE website.HEFCE Schools-HEI links grant projects The ten HEFCE Schools-HEI links grant projects have now been completed
and the final reports are published on the HEFCE website: Read More. HEPI report on Male and Female Participation The HEPI report “Male and female participation
and progression in higher education” provided some analysis of the
employment outcomes of graduates. These reports provide further
information derived from the most recent data collections by the Higher
Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Analysis
Summary or Full AnalysisStudent Loans Company Stakeholder & Partner bulletin - July 2010
This bulletin gives you an update on Student Finance England for academic year 2010/2011 - how we are doing and what’s new. Read More Universities to publish employability statements The statements will show what help universities and colleges provide to students to improve their employability and transition into work.
Read More Strategic approaches to disabled student engagement This guidance from Equality Challenge Unit and the Higher Education Academy provides a practical focus on potential strategies and approaches that can be adopted by higher education institutions seeking to develop more effective ways of engaging and involving disabled students across a range of institutional functions.
Recommendations draw on the strategies and experiences of seven higher education institutions from England and Wales. A second document is now available featuring detailed case studies from these institutions.
You can also download this guidance and case studies of effective practice successfully
implemented in the sector. PDF: Strategic approaches to disabled student
engagement DOC: Strategic approaches to disabled student engagement PDF: Strategic approaches to disabled student engagement: case studies DOC: Strategic approaches to disabled student engagement: case studies Bridging the Gap "Bridging the Gap" is a free publication from (Student Finance England) for disabled students and how to apply for Disabled Student Allowances for those of you who are working with disabled young people. You can order it by phoning their publication line : 0800 731 9133 quoting reference SFE/BTGB/V10. Read More Disabled Student Services Bulletin 1 Student Finance England have recently released a service bulletin for disabled students... Read MoreIssues around Targeting the Aimhigher Cohort
Action on Access has produced three recent
pieces of work on targeting. This summary paper identifies the perceived positives and negatives of targeting drawing on all three pieces of work.
A Suitable Boy: Encouraging Boys into HE This publication is intended to support or aid any organisation interested in setting up a project with which to engage young males in single-sex groups toward broader inclusion within their academic studies and continued academic progression. This toolkit is based on a project that has been designed and run successfully for two years by Aimhigher Sussex and is currently undergoing adoption by the University of Brighton’s Widening Participation department. Equality Act Briefing Paper 2010
The Equality Act 2010 consolidates and streamlines current
anti-discrimination legislation. It also introduces new measures that will have
direct implications for higher education institutions.
This briefing summarises key issues contained in the Act that institutions
need to be aware of.
Action on Access Bulletin June 2010 Which this month includes an update on the Aimhigher
Associates Scheme and links to the papers from recent Action on Access events.Universities Week: Whats the big idea? Throughout June we will highlight the crucial role that universities play at the
heart of our society, underpinning our economy, and driving forward growth,
prosperity and development.For more information please visit the following weblink: http://www.universitiesweek.org.uk/Home.aspx Student ethnicity: Profile and progression of entrants to full-time, first degree study
This report compares, by ethnicity, the
characteristics of the UK-domiciled entrants to full-time, first degree courses
in 2002-03 and their progression routes through their first degree studies.
We do not try to examine the significant body of
work that has already been done on ethnicity issues within higher education but
aim to build on it by presenting new data via tracking a cohort of first degree
entrants through their studies. Please find the full report available in Word and PDF.
'Developing and embedding inclusive policy and practice in higher education' - Final Report The final report and executive summary of findings from the research undertaken as part of the Higher Education Academy’s ‘Developing and embedding inclusive policy and practice in higher education’ programme are now downloadable from the Academy’s website at: www.heacademy.ac.uk/embeddinginclusion.
The research explored the experiences of ten institutional teams as they developed and embedded an aspect of disability equality or widening participation across the 14 months of the programme. It aimed to capture the ‘journey travelled’ by the teams in managing and implementing institution-wide change so as to contribute to a greater understanding of the processes involved in developing and embedding inclusion within policy and practice. The full report includes case studies of the work undertaken by each team. Sir John Cass's Foundation London Ambassador Scheme for Learners with Disabilities Sir John Cass’s Foundation is pleased to have supported this project and its evaluation over a three year period, from its inception to its conclusion, as it has always sought to promote participation and achievement in education. Widening Participation into further and higher education is one of four priority areas for the Foundation, and it is gratifying to learn from the evaluation of the project, which examined both outputs and outcomes, how successful it has been in assisting young people with disabilities. For the PDF version of this report please click here. Skills Report Progression from vocational and applied learning to higher education in
England Read MoreFoundation Degree HEFCE Report A HEFCE report
published April 2010 shows that the number of foundation degree students
is on track to exceed the government target of 100,000 by 2010. Read More hands-on guide to post-16 funding The hands-on guide to post-16 fundingis a reference guide for anyone
with an interest in LSC learner- and employer-responsive funding.Summer Schools updated FAQs Read More Leaving Care Guide Aimhigher Kent and Medway have produced a 'Guide to Further and Higher Education for Young People Leaving Care in Kent and Medway'. Read More Making an Impact This booklet contains a selection of Healthcare Strand case studies from the six Aimhigher partnerships in the South East
The case studies include a brief summary of the activities themselves, plus
feedback from participants and organisers.Action on Access Bulletin March 2010 Action
on Access Bulletin March 2010
Action on Access Bulletin April 2010 Summer Schools Conference 2010 Papers Now Online Please follow the link to view the papers from the Action on Access 2010 Summer School Conference:HEFCE publishes review of its policy as it relates to disabled students This document presents the key outcomes of our review of our policy as it relates to disabled students. It provides an overview of the progress the sector has made since guidance was published in 1999. or . Read More Survey Results Survey Results from Questionnaire to Aimhigher
Partnerships on links with SSAT and Training provided on Entry to HEReview of the effectiveness and efficiency of HEFCE
An independent review of HEFCE has concluded that HEFCE is a
high-performing organisation that has the confidence of the higher education
sector and the Government. Read more
AccessAbility Project 2010 The *AccessAbility Project is delighted to inform you of the following services
and events in 2010:*AccessAbility Access Days: Building on our success in the
past four years, the AccessAbility Project are pleased to be hosting three
Access Days.
Tuesday 30th March: Goldsmiths,
University of London -humanities, social sciences and arts
Wednesday 21st April: University of Greenwich
(Medway) -science and engineering
Monday
26th April: University of Greenwich (Greenwich) -ICT, teaching and
business
Download the flyer for further details UK Transition Conference: Call for papers This is a reminder that UCL are accepting proposals for a key note talk, papers
and workshops at the UK Transition Conference hosted by UCL on 7 May 2010.
Please see details here for further information: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/transition/transitionconferenceHEA's Developing and embedding inclusive policy and practice The final report and executive summary of findings from the research undertaken as part of the Higher Education Academy’s ‘Developing and embedding inclusive policy and practice in higher education’ programme are now downloadable from the Academy’s website. – FINAL REPORTRarely Cover - Action on Access New Briefing 'Action on Access Rarely cover - a Challenge for Aimhigher partnerships and HEIs to
support school planning in mutually beneficial ways, and to argue the
case for WP policies at a time when schools will be reviewing the
activities they will support.'.Action on Access Bulletin February 2010 Summer Schools online application system communication In addition to the funding provided for summer school provision, HEFCE has also
committed to developing an online application system for summer schools and has
contracted UCAS to undertake this development. The intention of the project has
been to deliver an online portal where previously targeted learners may apply to
attend a summer school. More. Trends in young participation in higher education Trends in young participation in higher education: core results for
England. This publication Word and
PDFreports on the trends in young
participation from the mid-1990s to the present. The LEXDIS Project The LEXDIS Project was funded under phase two of the JISC e-learning
pedagogy programme.
The overarching aim of the study was to explore the e-learning
experiences of disabled learners within the University of Southampton
in order to increase understanding of the many complex issues and interactions
introduced by disabled learners� requirements for accessible e-learning, compatible
assistive technologies and effective learning support HEFCE funding 2010-11
HEFCE announced today the main decisions made by the Board at its meeting on
28 January on the provisional distribution of funding to universities and
colleges in 2010-11. These decisions were taken in the light of the Secretary of State's grant letter
of 22 December 2009. The detailed approach taken by the Board and the
decisions are contained in HEFCE Circular letter 02/2010 'Funding for universities and colleges in 2010-11'. National Student Forum Annual Report This is the second annual report of the National Student Forum and outlines work undertaken during the academic year 2008-09.
Specific topic areas are included:
teaching and learning
postgraduate students
mature and part-time students
disabled students
accommodation
Read the full reportBBC disabled student diaries Follow the exploits of three disabled students as they enter the new university term in 2009. Plus information from new NUS Disability Officer, Adam Hyland.
Read DiariesNational Audit Office Reviews Student Loans Company This study will look at the events and decisions that led to the problems in the adminstration of student finance in the summer of 2009 as well as the overall performance in delivering first year student finance in 2009. The study will be published in Spring 2010.
Find out moreHEPI Report: Male and female participation and progression in Higher Education Date: 05 Jun 2009 HEPI Report
This report from HEPI (Higher Education Policy Institute) analyses the differences in the
participation of men and women in higher education, and in their
success when there. It shows that on virtually all measures women
outperform men, and it discussses some of the possible causes for this
and the implications. This report is available to download in
PDF or WordAction on Access Bulletin December 2009 Action on Access Bulletin December 2009Apprenticeships and the role of Lifelong Learning Networks Download the Foundation degree forward (fdf) report Apprenticeships and the role of Lifelong Learning Networks here in PDF Mainstreaming and Sustaining WP in Institutions Final Report In 2008 Action on Access developed and delivered a 12-month programme to mainstream and sustain widening participation in higher education institutions, working with senior managers engaged in the strategic development and wider delivery of WP. Action on Access produced a final report on the programme, Mainstreaming and Sustaining Widening Participation in Institutions, August 2009, available to download in Word, together with a separate Reflective Review Tool, available to download in Word and
Surveyhttp://surveys.edgehill.ac.uk/mainstreaming_reflectivewhich institutions are finding very useful in the contexts of the developmental Strategic Assessments.BIS Report - Higher Ambitions BIS Higher Ambitions - The higher education blueprint, Higher Ambitions, sets out a course
for how universities can remain world class, providing the nation with
the high level skills needed to remain competitive, while continuing to
attracting the brightest students and researchers.Strategic Assessments November 2009 Presentations for the Strategic Assessments Conference November 2009 are now available to download from our Events Archive pages Work-based and Apprenticeship Progression to Higher Education 2009 Presentations for the Work-based Learning and Apprenticeships Conference are now available to download from our Events Archive pages Action on Access Regional WP Meetings November 2009 Presentations Presentations
Retention Convention Programme Latest version of the Retention Convention Programme WP Strategic Assessment Conference - November 2009 Listen to the speeches from the
WP Strategic Assessment Conference - November 2009FAQs Frequently Asked Questions relating to both Aimhigher and match-funded
summer schools can now be found on the Action on
Access Summer School FAQs pages. Transforming Key Adults' Perspectives on University Education for Looked-after Children and Young People Young people leaving corporate parenting face amongst the lowest
quality of life prospects of any group. Aimhigher Black Country and the
Government Office West Midlands sponsored this research project into
key adults working with young people looked after by their Local
Authority. Specifically, the project aimed to explore what attitudes
and beliefs were held by care workers and foster carers that related to
the prospects of their young people succeeding in higher education
(HE), and raise their expectations through better knowledge of the HE
system and its offer to care leavers.
The full report is available to download in PDFParticipation in higher education continues to widen The 11th set of UK higher education performance indicators shows that
three out of the four key indicators of widening participation have
improved over the last year. See the full report on the HEFCE website.DELNI The Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DELNI). "Widening Participation - Key Strategic Goals". Read this item or down load in WordHEFCE increasingly valued by stakeholders An independent survey of HEFCE's main stakeholders, other than higher
education institutions and further education colleges, found that there
has been a shift in the way they rate many aspects of their
relationship with HEFCE from 'good' to 'very good'.
To read this item in full visit the HEFCE website Business must do more to help maintain a world class higher education system CBI Task Force calls for far-reaching changes to maintain quality
With the UK’s higher education (HE) system facing tough choices posed
by recession and competition from abroad, business must do even more
than it does to work with universities and the government to help
maintain the UK’s international competitiveness. Download the report in
PDFThe Panel on Fair Access to the Professions Report The Panel on Fair Access to the Professions has published its final
report. Lead by the Rt Hon. Alan Milburn its 18 panel members examined
the barriers and pathways to reaching professions for all people -
regardless of their background. Unleashing Aspirations: The Final
Report of the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, available to
download in PDF. See also News release: Fair Access to the Professions Panel Publishes over 80 Recommendations Future support for teaching enhancement and widening participation In August 2008 HEFCE issued a consultation document (HEFCE 2008/28)
proposing changes to the teaching funding method to improve their
support for teaching enhancement and widening participation. This
document, Future support for teaching enhancement and widening participation: Outcomes of consultation summarises the outcomes of the consultation and actions taken. Involving Service Users and Carers in Education These guidelines, available to download in
PDF aim to share the accumulated group
knowledge of DUCIE with those involved in the creation of such roles,
and with support of workers, once in place. It is hoped that this guide
can play a part in overcoming workers’ sense of being ‘neither a this
nor a that’ and help to ‘push the main doors open’.Pathways to higher education - Apprenticeships This HEFCE report
describes the attributes and progression to higher education of those
who have undertaken apprenticeships at further education level.Successful Foundation Degrees: The Role of Employers and Other Key Factors The University of Leicester, Institute of Lifelong Learning was funded
by Foundation Degree Forward to undertake a study of the role of
employers and other factors in the successful delivery of foundation
degrees. The full report is available to download in
PDF, as is the Executive Summary in
PDF.
Reports from a second related
project which examined a problem-solving approach to working with
employers from priority sectors in order to develop accredited higher
education courses and, where appropriate, involving employer-based
learning are also available. The 'Dos and Don'ts' report is available
to download in PDF, as is 'Employers'
Engagement with Foundation Degrees', in PDF.
Review of the impact of the ELQ policy HEFCE provide the opportunity to see the Government's letter regarding the review of the ELQ policy.Launch of Whizz Kidz school survey of disabled young people On 14 September the Secretary of State, Ed Balls, announced that Whizz
Kidz, the young people's mobility charity, had launched its first ever
school consultation. With DCSF support it will be sent out to over
20,000 English schools. Guidance notes, suggested lesson plans on
disability issues and a hard copy of the survey are also available.
Read the full news release here. The
consultation (started on 29th of September) is the brainchild of the
Kidz Board, a group of 12 young disabled people who act as trustees for
the charity. This is your school's opportunity to get your disabled
students involved in a consultation process that it is hoped will
improve the lives of young disabled people in the future.
Induction and Disabled Learners This new Action on Access publication, Induction and Disabled Learners
- June 2009, available to download in PDF and
Word, provides an insight into some of the
targeted support many institutions are providing to disabled learners
during their transition into higher education.With less than three weeks to go until this year’s Awards the NCRT has been contacting winners to invite them to receive recognition in person from Pat McFadden, Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills. The invitation to attend the reception on Tuesd The 2009 Aimhigher Annual Conference will take place on Wednesday 7
October at the Cumberland Hotel, by Marble Arch, London (10am-4pm).
This year’s event will explore how widening participation fits with
other key educational and economic agendas; a significant topic given
the current political landscape. The full programme, including workshop
topics, and a booking form are both available to download from the Action on Access website.Countdown to Aimhigher Awards 2009 With less than three weeks to go until this year’s Awards the NCRT has
been contacting winners to invite them to receive recognition in person
from Pat McFadden, Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills. The
invitation to attend the reception on Tuesday 6 October, which takes
place at the Church House Conference Centre in Westminster, has now
been extended to all practitioners. Booking forms, alongside event
details, are available from the Awards section with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.Aimhigher Annual Conference 2009 This year’s event on 7th October 2009 explored how widening
participation fits with other key educational and economic agendas; a
significant topic given the current political landscape. The keynote
speakers were John Selby and Andrew Olsson alomg with numerous other
practitoners in the field who ran specific workshops. These
presentations are available download by visiting our
Events Archive page.First ever Aimhigher Associates recognised at national awards A new mentoring scheme has inspired and encouraged over 7,000 young people to apply to university.
To read this item in full visit the HEFCE websiteAimhigher Governance and Management Guide The new Aimhigher Governance and Management Guide, available to
download in Word provides amongst other
things.Call to involve disabled people in HEFCE policy making HEFCE invites people with disabilities and those in higher education
(HE) who support them to become involved in HEFCE policy making over
the next 12 months. See the news release hereAimhigher Associates Scheme This guidance
provides information
about the national phase of the Aimhigher Associates scheme, 2009-11,
and invites Aimhigher partnerships to submit plans against which
allocated funds may be drawn down. Read the full report on the HEFCE website.University and College Union Report Location, Location, Location - the widening education gap in Britain and how where you live determines your chances, October 2009 -University and College Union Action on Access Conference September 2009
The presentations and papers from Action on Access conference on progression to HE for disabled learners are now available.Unleashing Aspirations: the Final Report of the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions This report, available to download in PDF
looks beyond the confines of the current economic recession. They make
detailed recommendations so they can realise the social and economic
benefits of the forthcoming expansion in professional employment in our
country.
