University Progression 2012

About IntoUniversity Our Vision The vision of IntoUniversity is to provide a national network of high quality, local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve. At each local centre IntoUniversity offers an innovative programme that supports children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain either a university place or another chosen aspiration. The problem we address Young people from Britain’s poorest backgrounds face a considerable educational disadvantage:

they do far less well at school

are unlikely to go to university

have little chance of entering the professions These young people lack the educational support and aspiration that is often taken for granted in better off homes. What we do IntoUniversity centres provide sustained academic support, motivation and encouragement to give deprived young people a fair chance of realising their full potential. At each centre we provide 7-18 year olds with a combination of

after-school academic support

undergraduate mentors

specially-designed study weeks (FOCUS weeks)

direct experience of university life Our story IntoUniversity’s founders were shocked by the scale of underachievement among Britain’s poorest families and decided to research the problem and devise a third-sector response. The IntoUniversity programme was piloted in 2002 and developed at a local centre in North Kensington. In 2006 the founders gathered together others with the skills to scale-up the IntoUniversity service. A new charity was launched in 2007 and by May 2013 there will be 12 IntoUniversity centres in London, Nottingham and Bristol with at least 8 more planned in other major cities by 2016. What is distinctive about our work We believe that we must start working with children in the primary years if we are to have a decisive impact upon their futures. We continue to give academic and pastoral support right through to university application. We are the only organisation starting with children age 7 and offering a long-term, multi-stranded programme to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Front cover Portraits of some of the estimated 887 IntoUniversity students who attained a university place in 2012. Melissa Cifci, University of Cambridge, Politics, Psychology and Sociology; Adenike Ponle, Canterbury Christ Church University, English Literature with American Studies; Omid Ghasemi, BPP, Law; Amel Ahmed, Brunel University, Economics and Accounting. Queenie Safo-Antwi, Bournemouth University, Marketing and Communications; Feyzi Nazim, King’s College London, Management; Emmanuel Abiola, University of Nottingham, Civil Engineering; Shaban Jahan, University of Greenwich, Media and Communication Studies. Kevin Ngo, University of Cambridge, Mathematics; Pooja Kawa, University of Bristol, History; Hamid Footohabadi, Queen Mary, University of London, Computer Science; Cardox Ocran, Staffordshire University, Applied Information Technology. Fatiat Braimoh, UCS, Psychology with Criminology; Forida Khatun, City University, Law; Lyvonne Saunders, Nottingham Trent, French and Spanish; Marley Edwards, Brunel University, Mathematics and Computing. Queenie Akoto, LSE, Social Policy and Sociology; Barwaga Haji, Kingston University, Film, Media and Cultural Studies; Tanzia Begum, Queen Mary, University of London, Business Management; Stephanie Opara, Lancaster University, Pre-medical Studies. Contact: Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard 0207 243 0242 hugh@intouniversity.org

How do IntoUniversity students compare with other students nationally?

Q Which Higher Education Institutions are being attended by IntoUniversity school leavers?

What are the outcomes for IntoUniversity school leavers?

1. Estimated % of all maintained school pupils who entered HE/FE by age 19 who had a FSM background in 2009/10 (BiS Widening Participation in HE August 2012). 2. Estimated % of all maintained school pupils who entered HE/FE by age 19 (FSM and non FSM) 2009/10 (BiS Widening Participation in HE August 2012). 3. % of Year 13 students progressing to HE in 2009 Department for Education (2012). 4. High Status HEIs = Russell Group, 1994 Group, top 50% of 2012 Times University League Table.

University progression 2012

571 students named the specific university they were attending. Of these, 61% of students chose to study at a university in their home town. (335 of 548 in London; 16 of 22 in Nottingham.) On average, 19% of undergraduates nationally live at home while studying at local universities. We don’t know how many of our university students are living at home, but 61% studying in London is much higher than the UK average of 13.2%. Students may be motivated by the wish to minimise living costs and maintain close family ties.

Where do IntoUniversity students study?

Based on a sample of 759 school leavers (a 66% sample of an estimated cohort of school leavers of 1150). If all the students not included in the sample are assumed not to be at university, IntoUniversity’s Higher Education progression rate would still be 50.9%, 16 percentage points above the national average for maintained schools.

‘IntoUniversity is an excellent scheme that has improved my life in so many ways - from meeting people to gaining support with homework, exams and applying to university; as well as the outstanding mentoring programme they offer, allowing students to gain support and help from professionals. Overall IntoUniversity provides so much for the local community and helps to equip students with the extra skills and life lessons to help them achieve.’ Michelle, aged 18 IntoUniversity North Kensington

The Primary FOCUS programme: Long-term tracking In 2004-5, IntoUniversity worked with two Year 6 classes from Oxford Gardens Primary School. Each class took part in a week of History-themed activities and trips, finishing in a graduation ceremony at a London university. 63% of students also attended other IntoUniversity programmes between 2005 and 2012.

This was the blueprint for IntoUniversity’s Primary FOCUS week: an experience of university-style learning focusing on a single topic and introducing students to the benefits of a university education. Recent FOCUS weeks have covered subjects such as Debating, Energy, and Journalism.

In late 2012, we contacted these pupils to find out what they were doing. Information was received for 25 of the 47 pupils. We found that IntoUniversity students had significantly increased chances of progressing to university.

* Comparison figures for 2002/3 are the most recent available national data

Oxford Gardens School serves a West London community with significant levels of social and educational need. In 2004 nearly half of the pupils received Free School Meals and 40% had English as an additional language. Since 2004 we have hugely increased the number of Primary FOCUS weeks that we deliver. This academic year IntoUniversity will run 87 Primary FOCUS weeks for over 2500 children.

Oxford Gardens Year 6 February 2005

Oxford Gardens Year 6 November 2004

After attending the History FOCUS week in 2005, Lyvonne Saunders attended Secondary FOCUS workshops, received one-to-one support with her university application, and took part in the Corporate Mentoring Scheme at IntoUniversity North Kensington. Lyvonne is now studying Modern Languages at Nottingham Trent, and says: “I plan to study joint honours in French, Spanish and Italian since I love languages and plan to work in an environment which uses them, such as the European Union or teaching. IntoUniversity has been a great help for me”

FOCUS Week scale-up

Progression leaflet p.1Progression leaflet p.2Progression leaflet p.3Progression leaflet page 4