Guest speaker - 13/03/12

Today's guest speaker was Alice Davies. She came into speak to us about what is widening Access in Wales, the aims of the programme as well as how it works. It works by increasing opportunities for people from a diverse range of backgrounds to benefit from higher education.  Social classes A (upper) B (middle) dominate HE. WA (widening access) aims to increase the number of people from 'under-reprosented' groups in Higher Education. These being:

• people from specific black and ethnic minority communities
• disabled
• low income families
• looked after children + care takers.

Here are some other things i noted from this session.

• Income
• Employment
• Health
• Education
• Housing
• Access to services.

HEFCW Widening Access Funding.

• Fee planning - justify why they charge so much for fees,
• Wa premium - University gets a bit of money for certain students,
• Wa strategy funding - goes to institution,
• Reaching wider - established in 2002 by HEFCW to look after young people, disabled, ethnic and welsh speakers.

A phew other aims are: 

• Raise Aspiration - making people wanting to go to school,
• Raise Attainment - people are not getting the grades they need.

Progressive Programme,

Primary 

• Arts in action 
• STEM workshops

Year 7

• Literacy support

Year 9

• ACE days
• Mentoring - students who do not always have the support at home,
• Saturday clubs
• Technocamps.

Year 10

• Spring school - Introducing them to the environment
• STAR days - study to achieve results
• Task of University or College life days
• Saturday clubs

Year 11

• GCSE revision - help get their GCSE
• College taster days - young people from schools to the colleges
• Study skills sessions
• Mentoring

Year 12

• Subject specific summer schools - law, modern foreign language through the medium of welsh

Year 12 summer university 

• 4 weeks residential - pic a subject
• Range of subject options
• Skills for HE
• 60 ucas point/grade reduction

Year 13

• Ucas support for summer university cohort.

Enhancing the undergraduate experience.

• Work experience
• Paid work and volunteering
• Student residencies in schools
• Signposting function

LAC and care leavers

• Homework club - Neath Port talbot college
• Well being course - Pembrokshire college
• Performing Arts/Communication workshops
• Talks to foster carers and social workers
• Publication

BME Communities

• Gypsy and traveller groups
• Local community groups

Measurable Outcomes

• GCSE results
• Attendance
• Retention in FE
• Progression to HE
• Impact measurement