Aimhigher area studies
Summary
The Aimhigher programme aims to widen participation in higher education by raising the aspirations and developing the abilities of people from under-represented groups. It is funded by HEFCE with support from the Department for Education and Skills.
HEFCE commissioned independent consultants EKOS Consulting in 2004 to give a clear picture of how Aimhigher partnerships work, what ways of working are successful and how the programme could be more effective.
The consultants interviewed students, teachers, tutors and practitioners in seven of the 45 Aimhigher area partnerships. The research found that Aimhigher is having a significant impact on young people's aspirations and suggests that the following activities are particularly effective:
- visits to higher education institutions, particularly residential visits
- curriculum enrichment
- mentoring
- revision classes
- support with writing applications.
The report emphasises the importance of a coherent sequence of activities for learners and recommends that Aimhigher partnerships take an increasingly cohesive approach to targeting their beneficiaries and to evaluating the impact of their work.
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