Common use of Outreach work Clause in Contracts

Outreach work. The University College has a thriving and expanding programme of outreach provision focused through the School and College Liaison Team and the faculties and is an active and committed member of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Aimhigher partnership. BCUC’s Regional Development Unit currently hosts and supports five members of staff employed by Aimhigher and works closely with the Aimhigher network in order to ensure that there is a high level of synergy between the two organisations and no duplication of effort. Activities which are undertaken by the School and College Liaison Team and the faculties include taster days, master classes and visits to schools and colleges to provide information and support through the UCAS process. These activities are largely targeted at institutions where there are lower levels of achievement, low levels of aspiration and little tradition of progression to higher education. The activities are funded through Aimhigher and BCUC’s Widening Access and Improving Retention budget. Aspiration raising is also supported through summer schools, funded through HEFCE’s national specialist programme and Aimhigher south east. BCUC’s Student Ambassadors scheme has been highlighted as an example of good practice by the Learning and Skills Council. This initiative has grown from a pilot (now embedded) providing support for pupils attending a partner further education college as part of the DfES’s 14-16 increased flexibility programme. Student Ambassadors are now engaged in a variety of supportive roles including acting as mentors and role models for pupils identified by schools as having the ability to progress to higher education but who appeared to not be considering university as an option. An example of the close relationship which BCUC staff and students have developed with local schools can be seen in the wide package of support provided to a local Fresh Start school which has included access to BCUC facilities, notably the recording studios, information technology and sports facilities. Curriculum links have been developed by BCUC’s Citizenship team who have worked with staff and pupils to establish the School Council and through links with students in the Leisure and Tourism faculty to provide sports coaching. In addition an increasing number of contacts are being established between course teams and senior managers at the school and BCUC. It is clear that not all decisions to continue into higher education are based on academic achievement and BCUC has therefore instigated a range of supportive measures. In conjunction with the BCUC Students’ Union, successful applicants from low participation postcodes are contacted by an existing student using text messaging. The BCUC students who are selected and trained then act as a point of contact between the potential student and the University College. The role involves welcoming new students to the University College, answering queries and arranging to meet during Freshers Week to ensure that they do not become lonely and isolated. The contact continues until the beginning of the second semester of the first year to encourage and support new students to return after the Christmas break. This initiative has been warmly welcomed by existing and new students and will be extended as part of the Access Agreement. A further example of pre entry support which will be included as part of the Access Agreement and directly targeted at widening participation groups is the pre entry residential event. This is focused on developing study skills and preparing students with non-traditional qualifications, lower levels of academic achievement or no family history of higher education to make a successful transition into the University College. To date this initiative has been piloted in the Health and Leisure and Tourism faculties with impressive results in relation to both achievement and retention.

Outreach work. The University College has a thriving and expanding programme of outreach provision focused through the School and College Liaison Team and the faculties and is an active and committed member of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Aimhigher partnership. BCUC’s Regional Development Unit BUCKS’ Marketing, Recruitment and Communications Directorate currently hosts and supports five members of staff employed by Aimhigher and works closely with the Aimhigher network in order to ensure that there is a high level of synergy between the two organisations and no duplication of effort. Activities which that are undertaken by the School and College Liaison Team and the faculties include taster days, master classes and visits to schools and colleges to provide information and support through the UCAS process. These activities are largely targeted at institutions where there are lower levels of achievement, low levels of aspiration and little tradition of progression to higher education. The activities are funded through Aimhigher and BCUC’s BUCKS’ Widening Access and Improving Retention budget. Aspiration raising is also supported through summer schools, funded through HEFCE’s national specialist programme by BUCKS and Aimhigher south eastSouth East. BCUC’s BUCKS’ Student Ambassadors scheme has been highlighted recognised as an example of good practice by the Learning and Skills Council. This initiative has grown from a pilot (now embedded) providing support for pupils attending a partner further education college as part of the DfES’s 14-16 increased flexibility programme. Student Ambassadors are now engaged in a variety of supportive roles including acting as mentors and role models for pupils identified by schools as having the ability to progress to higher education but who appeared appear not to not be considering university as an option. An example of the close relationship which BCUC staff and students have developed with local schools can be seen in the wide package of support provided to a local Fresh Start school which has included access to BCUC facilities, notably the recording studios, information technology and sports facilities. Curriculum links have been developed by BCUC’s Citizenship team who have worked with staff and pupils to establish the School Council and through links with students in the Leisure and Tourism faculty to provide sports coaching. In addition an increasing number of contacts are being established between course teams and senior managers at the school and BCUC. It is clear that not all decisions to continue into higher education are based on academic achievement and BCUC BUCKS has therefore instigated a range of supportive measures. In conjunction with the BCUC BUCKS Students’ Union, an existing student using text messaging contacts successful applicants from low participation postcodes are contacted by an existing student using text messagingpostcodes. The BCUC BUCKS students who are selected and trained then act as a point of contact between the potential student and the University CollegeUniversity. The role involves welcoming new students to the University CollegeUniversity, answering queries and arranging to meet during Freshers Week to ensure that they new students do not become lonely and isolated. The contact continues until the beginning of the second semester of the first year to encourage and support new students to return after the Christmas break. This initiative has been warmly welcomed by existing and new students and will be extended as part of the Access Agreement. A further example of pre entry support which will be included as part of the Access Agreement and directly targeted at widening participation groups is the pre entry residential eventevent ‘Flying Start’. This is focused on developing study skills and preparing students with non-traditional qualifications, lower levels of academic achievement achievement, or no family history of higher education education, to make a successful transition into the University College. To date this initiative has been piloted in the Health and Leisure and Tourism faculties with impressive results in relation to both achievement and retentionUniversity.

Outreach work. The University College has a thriving and expanding programme of outreach provision focused through the School and College Liaison Team and the faculties and is an active and committed member of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Aimhigher partnership. BCUC’s Regional Development Unit currently hosts and supports five members of staff employed by Aimhigher and works closely with the Aimhigher network in order to ensure that there is a high level of synergy between the two organisations and no duplication of effort. Activities which that are undertaken by the School and College Liaison Team and the faculties include taster days, master classes and visits to schools and colleges to provide information and support through the UCAS process. These activities are largely targeted at institutions where there are lower levels of achievement, low levels of aspiration and little tradition of progression to higher education. The activities are funded through Aimhigher and BCUC’s Widening Access and Improving Retention budget. Aspiration raising is also supported through summer schools, funded through HEFCE’s national specialist programme by BCUC and Aimhigher south eastSouth East. BCUC’s Student Ambassadors scheme has been highlighted recognised as an example of good practice by the Learning and Skills Council. This initiative has grown from a pilot (now embedded) providing support for pupils attending a partner further education college as part of the DfES’s 14-16 increased flexibility programme. Student Ambassadors are now engaged in a variety of supportive roles including acting as mentors and role models for pupils identified by schools as having the ability to progress to higher education but who appeared appear not to not be considering university as an option. An example of the close relationship which BCUC staff and students have developed with local schools can be seen in the wide package of support provided to a local Fresh Start school which has included access to BCUC facilities, notably the recording studios, information technology and sports facilities. Curriculum links have been developed by BCUC’s Citizenship team who have worked with staff and pupils to establish the School Council and through links with students in the Leisure and Tourism faculty to provide sports coaching. In addition an increasing number of contacts are being established between course teams and senior managers at the school and BCUC. It is clear that not all decisions to continue into higher education are based on academic achievement and BCUC has therefore instigated a range of supportive measures. In conjunction with the BCUC Students’ Union, an existing student using text messaging contacts successful applicants from low participation postcodes are contacted by an existing student using text messagingpostcodes. The BCUC students who are selected and trained then act as a point of contact between the potential student and the University College. The role involves welcoming new students to the University College, answering queries and arranging to meet during Freshers Week to ensure that they new students do not become lonely and isolated. The contact continues until the beginning of the second semester of the first year to encourage and support new students to return after the Christmas break. This initiative has been warmly welcomed by existing and new students and will be extended as part of the Access Agreement. A further example of pre entry support which will be included as part of the Access Agreement and directly targeted at widening participation groups is the pre entry residential eventevent ‘Flying Start’. This is focused on developing study skills and preparing students with non-traditional qualifications, lower levels of academic achievement achievement, or no family history of higher education education, to make a successful transition into the University College. To date this initiative has been piloted in the Health and Leisure and Tourism faculties with impressive results in relation to both achievement and retention.