Response to the Prime Minister's education proposals

09 September 2016

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech today, Director General of the Russell Group Dr Wendy Piatt said:

“We share the Government’s commitment to widening participation and social mobility. Ensuring our doors are wide open to talented and able students from all backgrounds really matters to Russell Group universities.

“Many Russell Group Universities already sponsor academies, free schools and University Technical Colleges and all of our universities work in close partnership with many more schools. These partnerships include direct interventions focussed on giving extra academic support to highly able students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as sharing facilities and giving advice and guidance to students on applying to university. This year Russell Group universities hosted conferences for teachers at schools in disadvantaged areas or with low rates of progression to higher education. These materials will soon be available to a wider audience via an online resource providing information, advice and guidance for teachers to help students progress to leading universities.

“It will take time, commitment, and sustained action from a range of agencies to raise pupils' aspirations, increase attainment and improve the advice and guidance offered. We will study the Government’s proposals closely and respond in detail in due course.” 

Notes to Editors

1. Examples of school sponsorship include:

• Queen Mary University of London co-sponsors the Drapers’ Academy in the London Borough of Havering and supports the Academy’s specialism in mathematics and science through close contact with academic departments and help with curriculum development.

• Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London the Institute of Education (at University College London) and the University of Warwick are all partners in the St Paul’s Way Trust School in Tower Hamlets.

• The University of Exeter and King’s College London have developed specialist maths schools, to offer both outstanding secondary education for pupils and to support other schools’ teaching of maths and other STEM subjects.

• University College London is one of several Russell Group universities that sponsor University Technical Colleges (UTCs). UCL is a co-sponsor of Elutec, a college teaching 14-19 year olds living in East London and Essex who are looking to specialise in engineering or design. Others sponsors are the Ford Motor Company, CEME (Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence) and the Prospects Learning Foundation. The college is also supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation for education. UCL is contributing to the educational programmes and the governance of Elutec and the college also has access to UCL’s world-leading research and educational resources.

• The University of Cambridge sponsors the University of Cambridge Primary School which is a three-form-entry fully inclusive primary school established as part of the North West Cambridge Development. It opened in September 2015. In addition to providing an inclusive and high-quality primary education for local children, the University of Cambridge Primary School also offers unique training and research opportunities, through its close relationship with the Faculties and Departments of the University of Cambridge.
• The University of Birmingham is part of the Higher Education Insight (HEI) Programme which is a national scheme designed to support Year 12 students from England and Wales who live outside of the Greater West Midlands region.  The programme gives academically gifted students with no family history of higher education the chance to participate in a week-long residential stay University of Birmingham and to access to e-mentoring from current undergraduates in Year 13.
  
  

2. Examples of academic support for pupils include:

• HE+ is a collaborative project being piloted by the University of Cambridge, working together with groups of state schools and colleges in 14 regions of the UK. The project encourages schools and colleges to collaborate to form regional consortia and to engage their very best students in a sustained year-long programme, including academic extension classes, subject masterclasses, information and guidance session, and visits to the University.

• The University of Nottingham runs summer schools to give high achieving Year 12 students the chance to gain insight into university life. Participants also receive e-mentoring support throughout Year 13 and help with revision for A-Level exams. The University offers two programmes – Nottingham Potential regional summer school for students in the Midlands and the Sutton Trust Summer School open to students across the UK.

• Learn with US at the University of Southampton works in partnership with schools and colleges in Hampshire and surrounding areas to improve academic attainment, raise aspirations and increase awareness of university education. As part of a programme which runs from Year 6 until Year 11, academically gifted students are selected to take part in a series of aspiration raising activities, such as university visits and master classes. The programme also offers support for teachers, parents and guardians.

• UCL Horizons is a two-year widening participation programme for academically able GCSE students who attend non-selective state schools in or near Greater London. Students take part in a number of workshops and sessions working with UCL students and staff to develop their academic skills and ensure they remain on track to achieve A* or A grades in their GCSEs.

• UniTracks is the University of Warwick’s national programme for gifted and talented 14-18 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. Participants get tailored support from the University of Warwick and can attend events, workshops and summer schools that will build their skills, confidence and academic attainment. This structured programme of support covers the four-year journey from Year 10 through to Year 13.

3. The Russell Group Opening Doors report and accompanying films examine the root causes of under-representation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and gives examples of what Russell Group universities are doing to help tackle the problem.

4. 'Progression to Russell Group universities' conferences were held at the University of Cambridge on Monday 18th April and at the University of Liverpool on Tuesday 26th April. Building on the success of the conferences, materials and presentations have been developed into an online resource, Advancing Access, which will be launched shortly.

5. Our guide Informed Choices, first published in 2011, includes advice on the best subject combinations for a wide range of university courses as well as advice on the best choices for students if they don't know what they want to study after school and need to keep their options open.