Targeting

The Aimhigher programme targets its activities and interventions at learners from the following priority groups:

• lower socio-economic groups (i.e. groups 4-8 in the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification, NS-SEC)
• disadvantaged socio-economic groups who live in areas of relative deprivation when participation in HE is low
• 'looked after' children in the care system
• disabled learners or learners with a specific learning difference (SpLD)
  

Aimhigher plays a key role in bringing together practitioners from across education sectors to widen participation. As such, Aimhigher partnerships work with the following groups:

• parents and other family members (particularly of young people from under-represented groups)
• teachers/tutors in schools, colleges, communities
• Aimhigher ambassadors in schools, colleges and universities
• Connexions / IAG personal advisers and careers advisers
• admissions staff in HE institutions
• employers
• training providers

Targeting Guidelines

Following a request from the former Higher Education Minister, Bill Rammell, in 2006, HEFCE conducted a review of widening participation strategy. Findings from the review were published in a report entitled 'Widening participation: a review', which is available to download from the HEFCE website.

The work conducted by HEFCE fed directly into the development of a set of guidance for practitioners on targeting. Its purpose is to:

• refine the definition of the target cohort for Aimhigher and other outreach activity delivered by higher education providers
• provide a methodology which will make the targeting process more effective
• set out a process for measuring the effectiveness of targeting