May 2010

17.05.10

National Aimhigher Awards open for entries

The national Aimhigher Awards has returned for the fourth year to celebrate the work of Aimhigher learners and the staff who support them. This year sees an additional category to the scheme – the Aimhigher Student Supporter Award - for undergraduate students undertaking voluntary work of all kinds with Aimhigher, which will be in addition to the Aimhigher Associates Award.

The closing date for entries is Thursday 10 June. The Awards Reception will take place on Monday 11 October at the Church House Conference Centre, London, ahead of the Aimhigher Annual Conference on Tuesday 12 October. More details about the evening event will be available in due course.

Aimhigher Communications Leads (ACLs) will be responsible for coordinating and formally submitting their partnership’s entries, so please contact your local representative if you would like to make a nomination.

For further information, including categories and entry criteria, please visit the Awards section on the practitioner website.

‘Aimhigher: The Best is Yet to Come’ annual conference

Following on from the celebration of the Aimhigher Awards, the Aimhigher Annual Conference offers practitioners a vital chance to exchange ideas and information in order to develop best-practice approaches. Entitled ‘Aimhigher: The Best is Yet to Come’, the conference will take place the day after the National Awards on Tuesday 12 October, at the Russell Hotel, London. For more details about the event, please visit the Action on Access website. Conference booking will open shortly.

New Government: Key changes in education

Following the formation of a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable has been appointed Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Michael Gove, the former Shadow Secretary of State for children, schools and families, will be the new Education Secretary and David Willetts will be the new Minister of State for Universities and Science. Click here for more information on these individuals.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has written to civil servants within his Department to set out priorities. Details have been reported by the BBC.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has been re-named and re-branded, becoming the Department for Education (DFE). Responsibility for higher education remains with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Further details, including additional Ministerial appointments, are to be made available at www.bis.gov.uk.

Report reveals Britain’s social mobility is falling behind

A new report from the Sutton Trust has revealed that while there is still a link in England between children’s achievement at school and their parents’ level of education, the attainment gap is narrowing between children from graduate and non-graduate parents. Visit The Sutton Trust website to download a copy.

Stakeholder Briefing Pack now available

The Aimhigher Briefing Pack, referenced in the last issue, is now available to download from the practitioner website. It is the first time a resource of this kind has included such information in one document. It has been developed by the NCRT and HEFCE to help practitioners target specific key stakeholders and provide this audience with an in-depth look at the programme. For more information and to download the Pack, visit the Resource Materials section. If you would like advice on how best to use the document, please contact the NCRT.

‘Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education’ conference

The ‘Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education’ conference will take place on Wednesday 26 May at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London. Speakers include incoming NUS President Aaron Porter, education broadcast journalist Mike Baker and Professor Paul Ramsden, former Chief Executive, Higher Education Academy. The theme of the conference is ‘meeting expectations in a challenging environment’. Contact Paul Rushworth for more information or click here to view the agenda.

Action on Access’ Helpdesk and Data Analysis service

Action on Access would like to remind partnerships of its Helpdesk and Data Analysis service. The Helpdesk provides practitioners with answers to higher education-related, widening participation or disability queries, including Aimhigher-related questions. Email help@actiononaccess.org or call 01695 650 870.

The Data Analysis service offers a bespoke higher education data analysis utility to Aimhigher and HEI widening participation practitioners. Action on Access have access to HESA and UCAS data sets at entrant/applicant level, as well as the more generally available educational and socio-economic indicators from various government departments and agencies. To make a data analysis request, please email data@actiononaccess.org or call 01695 650 849.

Budget announcement on 20,000 additional student places

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has announced it will provide an additional £270million to universities and colleges in the next academic year to support 20,000 extra student places. A new ‘Modernisation Fund’ will be created to allow more students to go to university, as well as improving efficiency. Visit the BIS website to view the press release for more details.

John Selby retires and HEFCE welcomes a new Director

John Selby has retired from his position as Director of Education and Participation at HEFCE. John joined the organisation in 1999 as a regional consultant for the East Midlands. The NCRT would like to thank John for his significant contribution to the development of Aimhigher and wishes him the very best for this retirement.

Heather Fry has succeeded John, and we look forward to working with her. Heather was previously Head of Learning and Teaching at HEFCE – please visit the HEFCE website to find out more.

Aimhigher Kent and Medway: ‘Making it Happen’ guide now available

Aimhigher Kent and Medway has produced a guide for students with disabilities who are considering university. The booklet provides information about the level of support they can receive and includes five case studies of students who went to university and can provide a first-hand account of what help is offered to students with disabilities. Click here to download a copy of the guide or contact Linda Bishopp for more details.

Aimhigher WECAN hosts pre-election event with local MPs

Aimhigher WECAN met with their local MPs in March to discuss how they can support progression to Higher Education in their partnership. More than 120 people attended the event, held at Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, on Monday 22 March, where Alan Keen M.P. & Barry Gardiner M.P. gave opening speeches to learners, Aimhigher staff and Baroness Sue Garden of Frognal. For more information or advice on hosting a similar event, please contact Graeme Atherton.

Aimhigher Sussex publishes ‘A Suitable Boy’ toolkit

Aimhigher Sussex has produced a toolkit to support or aid anyone interested in addressing disaffected young males toward re-engagement and broader inclusion within their academic studies and, in addition, outlining the benefits of continued academic progression. Aimhigher Sussex has based this publication on a project that has run successfully for two years and is now being adopted by the University of Brighton’s Widening Participation department. Click here to download the toolkit or contact Susan Bentley for more information.